Holiday Hair Loss – How the Seasons Impact People
The short answer is “yes.” Holiday hair loss happens.
While the holiday season offers wonderful opportunities to be with family and friends, celebrate, and give thanks, it can also be stressful.
Are you making travel plans? Are you hosting a crowd for a holiday meal? Is the fear of Covid-19 affecting your activities? Is the weather going to be ok? Are your gifts lost in the mail? When trying to plan the “perfect” holiday celebration, there are so many considerations that it can make even the most organized person a bit anxious and stressed out.
Unfortunately, the stress of holiday events and some seasonal factors can cause real, physical symptoms. One of them is increased hair shedding, also called telogen effluvium. Understanding what can cause increased hair shedding during the holidays can help you manage it.
Holiday Stress and Hair Loss
Stress can cause excessive hair shedding. Telogen effluvium often occurs a few months after a single highly stressful, traumatic event or after a period of time during which extreme stress, anxiety, or emotional trauma are present. This type of hair loss is usually temporary but can be an alarming and unwanted side effect of stress.
Managing your level of stress throughout the year can prevent telogen effluvium. During the holidays, making an extra effort to address your emotional health can help you avoid excessive shedding in the Spring.
How can you reduce your holiday stress? Do things unrelated to the holidays – things that can help you focus on self-care.
It can be challenging to find time to tend to yourself during this busy time but try. Doing so can help your emotional and physical well-being.
Consider some of these ways you can stay calm during the holidays, preventing hair loss and other adverse effects of stress:
- Maintain regular exercise
- Practice meditation
- Practice Yoga
- Delegate
- Read quietly
- Get fresh air
- Expose yourself to sunlight (especially during the shortest days) by either going outside or sitting by a sunny window
- Ask for help with holiday prep
These can be effective ways to lower your stress levels all year-long, helping combat telogen effluvium.
Holiday Nutrition and Hair Loss
Your diet can also affect hair loss. Ensuring your body receives the hydration and nutrients it needs can help keep your hair healthy, strong, and in its normal growth cycle. Unfortunately, the holiday season is often filled with foods and drinks that don’t do our bodies any nutritional favors.
Eating a healthy, balanced diet during the holidays can help reduce excessive shedding. Consider these suggestions:
- Include fruits and vegetables in your diet
- Drink plenty of water
- Don’t drink too much alcohol
- Avoid foods that disagree with you
- Limit caffeine and sugar
- Make sure you are getting the vitamins and minerals you need
As with managing stress, eating a well-balanced diet can provide health benefits all year-long.
It is not something unique to the holiday season. It can, however, be more of a challenge during the holidays!
Seasonal Changes and Hair Loss
Seasonal changes can also affect hair loss. Colder, dryer air that comes with fall and winter can impact the health of your hair and scalp. Focusing on hair care during these months can prevent excessive shedding. How can you protect your hair during the winter months?
- Wear a hat when you go out
- Don’t go out with wet hair when it is cold
- Use a humidifier
- Use a scalp moisturizer
- Let your hair air dry – avoid blow dryers and irons
- Use warm water to wash your hair instead of hot – rinse with cool water
- Use a deep conditioning treatment weekly
- Consider a hot oil treatment
- Cut or trim your hair regularly to eliminate dead ends
Paying a little extra attention to your hair now can help you avoid some of the excessive shedding that might follow this holiday season.
Call Riviera Hair Replacement If You Experience Telogen Effluvium
Remember that if you do experience excessive hair shedding, it might be temporary. But, it might be enough to make you self-conscious or concerned.
At Riviera Hair Replacement, we see many clients who come to us because of telogen effluvium. We help them look and feel their best by designing and creating the head of hair they want.
Is your hair thinner than you would like it to be? Do you want to know if a hair integration system can work for you and maximize the hair you have? Would you like to consider exploring a full-coverage wig?
Call Riviera Hair Replacement today at 516-364-0110 to schedule a free consultation. You will be glad you did.
