When you were a child your grandmother probably told you that going out in the winter with wet hair would give you a cold. You know today that was just an urban legend and your grandmother wanted you to dry your hair. What about the weather and hair loss? Will the weather cause you to experience hair loss and thinning? The answer is no. The weather in itself will not cause hair loss or hair thinning. However, the effects that weather can have on your hair may lead to hair loss or hair thinning. This is your guide to how temperature changes affect your hair and how you can combat it.
Old Man Winter's Effect on Hair
Cold weather brings with it a lack of humidity which is not good news for your hair. You've noticed your skin becomes drier than normal during the cold, winter months; so does your hair. It often isn't able to receive adequate moisture which leads to brittle hair that easily breaks, leading to hair loss and thinning. In an effort to keep your head warm, many people opt to wear hats when going out. As fashionable as they may be, putting them on and taking them off causes friction between the hat and the strands of hair. This increases the chance of already brittle hair breaking.
What you can do: Reduce how much you wear hats during the winter. When you decide to wear a hat, minimize the number of times you put it on and take it off in a day. For instance, if you're running errands, try not to take it off every time you get back in the car to drive to your next destination. Deep condition your hair on a regular basis to help put moisture back into your strands of hair. This helps prevent your hair from becoming brittle and breaking off.
The Dog Days of Summer and Hair
The humidity tends to be higher in the summer, so drying out is less of a concern. However, summer brings its own set of concerns when it comes to your hair. An increase in exposure to sunlight means that your body produces less melatonin. This, in turn, causes your hair follicles to remain dormant for extended periods of time in the summer. The production of less melatonin also signals to hair follicles to carry out the natural shedding phase for longer periods of time than normal. The combination of dormant hair follicles and a longer shedding phase can lead to hair thinning.
Warmer weather also means that levels of testosterone tend to be higher in both men and women. Testosterone can shorten the life cycle of hair and shrink hair follicles. This also contributes to higher levels of shedding and reduced capabilities to grow back.
What you can do: Protect your hair and scalp from the effects of UV rays when going out in the sun in hot weather. Be sure to apply plenty of sunscreen to your scalp, stay in the shade when possible, and where a loose-fitting hat to protect your hair and scalp.
When It Is More Than the Weather
When hair loss and thinning is more than the weather, it is time to seek professional treatment from New Look Institute. As San Jose's most trusted hair restoration specialists, we offer a variety of hair loss prevention, and regrowth solutions. Whether you are in the early stages of hair loss or find yourself in the later stages, we have solutions for any lifestyle and every budget. Contact us today to schedule a FREE hair loss analysis and begin the journey to regaining your confidence with a full head of hair!
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