Does the Weather Have an Impact on Your Hair?

Does Hot or Cold Weather Cause Hair Loss?

It’s one of the most common weather-related hair loss questions we get — particularly when it comes to cold weather and hair loss. If anecdotes are anything to go by, winter hair loss seems to be a thing.

Yet scientists have found it’s actually the opposite. We tend to grow more hair over winter, perhaps as a way to insulate against the cold — or at least, that’s just one theory.

There aren’t many studies on the impact of weather on hair, and those that do exist are small-scale. But they’ve all come to the same conclusion — more on that below, but first, a glance at the studies.

Three of the most significant studies, including a 1991 UK study, a 1996 study, and a 2010 Iraqi study observed no more than 14 people each. Hardly definitive.

The best research comes from 2009, with two bigger retrospective studies: One from Chile studied 514 hairs pulled from scalps. The other was the first to include a decent representation of women — 823 women, to be precise.

Despite the limitations, here’s what every study found:

Seasonal hair loss is a thing. And it affects both men and women. 

The 1991 UK study found that at the end of winter, more than 90% of scalp hair follicles were in the anagen (growth) stage of the hair growth cycle — the most of any time throughout the year. Researchers found that hair shedding peaked around August and September.

The other studies have backed that up, showing that on average, we get a higher percentage of hair follicles in the telogen (shedding) phase at the end of summer. At the end of winter, it’s the lowest.

If you don’t know what anagen and catagen phases are, you can find out now with our comprehensive guide on the hair growth cycle.

But what does this data mean in real-world terms?

In theory, it means that our hair should grow thicker in winter, followed by increased hair shedding once summer is over.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean that hot or cold weather can cause hair loss. It just tells us that our bodies have a cycle that tends to align with seasonal variations.

So Why Does My Hair Fall Out in the Winter?

We can’t say for sure why our hair growth cycle follows this seasonal trend, with more hair on average falling out in late summer/early autumn.

Scientists have suggested it might be evolutionary. Like animals, we might grow our hair thicker in winter for extra insulation.

Or perhaps it’s a direct product of the sun — in summer, our hair is generally exposed to more UV sunlight, which may damage hair follicles and impair the structural integrity of the hair shaft.

It could be a combination of these factors — or it could be caused by something we haven’t discovered or considered yet.

The cold alone doesn’t cause hair loss.

But that doesn’t mean you won’t lose hair in other ways as a byproduct of winter. Cold weather hair loss may be caused by environmental factors.

Here are just a few things that might be adding extra hairs to the pillow or the shower drain in winter:

• Additional friction: Thanks to your beanie or cap, you might be creating more friction against the fabric and your hair. Extra friction can weaken or break more hair shafts than usual.
• Extra dryness: Cold air is generally drier — as are indoor heating systems — which can deprive your hair of moisture and make it more brittle.
• Seasonal illness: In winter, we’re more prone to illnesses that cause fever (hello flu season!). Fever can cause a type of temporary hair loss called telogen effluvium.
• More infrequent washing: Since you don’t sweat as much in winter, you may find yourself washing your hair less frequently. It’s natural to notice more hair loss on the day you do wash or comb.

How to Care for Your Hair in Winter

Worried about your hair in winter? Here are a few tips to keep it moisturised and healthy throughout the cool, dry months:

• Use a leave-in moisturiser or conditioner in winter to hydrate the scalp.
• Air dry your hair rather than using heat styling tools. If you do blow dry, stick to the low heat settings or use a styling product with heat protection.
• Eat plenty of foods that are good for hair growth.
• Lower the water temperature in the shower; hot showers can strip your scalp and hair of natural oils.

Does Hot or Cold Weather Make My Hair Grow Faster?

A lot of people seem convinced that hot weather increases the rate of hair growth, yet there’s no concrete scientific evidence that this occurs.

Does your hair grow faster in hot weather? We just can’t be sure yet.

If it does, it may be because blood circulates your body more easily in summer, which means it can more easily deliver nutrients to your hair follicles.

Or perhaps it’s because you’re getting more Vitamin D — after all, there’s a known link between vitamin D deficiency and hair loss.

But they are just educated guesses.

What we do know with greater certainty is that there are plenty of things that contribute to the rate of hair growth, including:

• Genetics
• Age
• Diet
• Hormones
• General health

Does Weather Affect My Hair Texture?

The thermometer hits 30 degrees Celsius, humidity skyrockets to 90% and suddenly, your hair becomes… well, a hairy beast.

Humidity means there are more water molecules in the air. Your hair absorbs this vapour.

We all know that H2O is particularly high in H — hydrogen. This excessive hydrogen makes your hair bind to other strands of hair or fold in on itself. This means that:

• Straight hair becomes wavy.
• Wavy hair becomes curly.
• Curly hair coils even more tightly.
• Thin hair loses volume and becomes flat.
• Thick hair expands and becomes frizzy.

Dry, curly, fine, or porous hair tends to absorb more moisture, making it even more prone to frizz.

Naturally, the reverse can happen in winter, when the lack of moisture in the air can turn your hair dry, flat, or brittle.

How to Style Hair in Humid Weather

Frizzy hair affected by humidity can be tricky to tame. Here are some tips to help keep your hair healthy and stylish on the muggiest of days:

• Try a moisturising shampoo and conditioner.
• Use a leave-in conditioner.
• Avoid heat styling tools (like a blow-dryer, hair straightener, or curling wand) or apply a heat protectant before using them.
• Set your hairstyle with hairspray.
• Try slicked-back ponytails, tight braids, or buns.

Protect Your Hair All Year Long

As we’ve said, there are a range of things at play when it comes to the health of your hair. It’s not just weather that can impact your hair. 

Age, genetics, diet, and many other factors also have a role. In fact, so many different things can affect your hair that we’ve dedicated an entire section of our hair loss hub to the causes of hair loss.

If you’re worried about the rate at which you’re losing hair, The Hairy Pill^® may be able to help.

The Hairy Pill^® is a personalised hair loss treatment, with both hair loss medication for men and hair loss treatments for women. 

These treatments contain underlying technology that has been researched, clinically tested, proven and patented by world-renowned Australian dermatologist Professor Rodney Sinclair.

Each pill contains ingredients prescribed specifically for you. It’s then compounded by a pharmacist and sent directly to your door. 

Even the doctor consultations — included with the subscription — can be done from the comfort of your couch. Get started now.