Summer hair: why it looks like you have less (and what to do)
Quick answer
You don't lose more hair in summer, but the hair that's missing shows more. The sun lightens your hair and reduces the contrast with your scalp, so your temples and crown stand out more. On top of that, chlorine, salt water, wind, sweat and constant showers dry it out and wreck any style. What helps: a cap in the midday sun, rinsing your hair with fresh water after the beach or pool, a gentle shampoo that doesn't punish your scalp, and not dropping your hair treatment. The hair loss that really does increase comes later, between late summer and autumn, and it's almost always temporary.
Nobody really talks about summer hair. Summer bodies, yes. Getting beach-ready, too. Coming back in September a few kilos heavier… that's practically a tradition.
But… what about that moment you look in the mirror of your holiday flat and think… "Has my hairline always looked like this?"? Funnily enough, nobody talks about that.
And no, you haven't gone half bald in three weeks. Summer just has a special talent for putting your hair on display.
In fact, some studies suggest that hair shedding follows a seasonal pattern, with an increase between late summer and early autumn. But even before that kicks in, July and August manage to make your hair look thinner thanks to a combination of factors less friendly than your building's WhatsApp group.
Summer hair… crown in the spotlight
The rest of the year, your hair plays at home. It has its hairdryer. Its wax. That style you've been perfecting for years… but then summer arrives… and the rules change.
There's chlorine, which dries hair out. Salt water, which doesn't exactly help keep it soft. The wind, which demolishes the small feat of engineering that is your quiff-with-scaffolding in seconds. Constant showers. Air con. And of course that hotel shampoo that seems to have been formulated to degrease the extractor fan on Kitchen Nightmares.
And let's be honest, you and your lifestyle aren't helping either: you go from the sea to the pool, from the pool to the beach bar and from the beach bar to another dip. If you also do sport, wear a cap or a helmet, or simply sweat more than usual… keeping your hair in shape becomes mission impossible.
That said, if we had to name the number one culprit for exposing your hair flaws, it'd be an easy call: the sun.
Day by day, your hair tends to get slightly lighter. It seems like a minor detail, but with less contrast between your hair and your scalp, your temples and crown catch the eye much more. On top of that, summer light comes straight from above. Exactly where it's least welcome and where it burns the most.
In short: summer doesn't make your hair loss worse… but it does shine a spotlight on it. Literally.
What summer does to your hair, factor by factor
The usual suspects, so you know who to blame and what to do about each one:
| Factor | What it does to your hair | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | Lightens and dries out your hair and burns your scalp. With less contrast, your temples and crown show more. | A cap in the hottest hours. If your hair is very short or you have a sharp parting, protect your scalp too. |
| Chlorine | Dries out the hair fibre and makes it rougher and more brittle. | Rinse with fresh water as soon as you get out of the pool. |
| Salt water | Dries and tangles: your hair loses softness and shape. | Rinse after the beach instead of waiting for your evening shower. |
| Wind, sweat, caps and helmets | Mess up your style and flatten your hair. They don't cause hair loss. | A cut that works without styling and a light product instead of wax. |
| Constant showers and hotel shampoo | More washes with a harsh shampoo strip your scalp's natural oils and irritate it. | Bring your own shampoo, gentle and made for daily use. |
| Air con | Dry air that adds extra dryness to your hair and scalp. | Nothing heroic: water, a gentle shampoo and go easy on the hairdryer. |
Happy follicles, summer sorted
Luckily, it's not all bad news. There are a few pretty easy habits that stop September looking like a casting call for a Turkish airline.
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CapWhen you're spending hours in the sun, it's a great ally. Not because it makes your receding hairline disappear (if only), but because it protects your scalp. And no, wearing one won't make you bald: we've already busted that myth in our guide to hair loss.
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Fresh waterAnother really simple habit is rinsing your hair after the beach or the pool. The less time salt or chlorine spends on your skin, the better.
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A decent shampooSince summer causes enough trouble on its own, at least don't make it worse with your shampoo. For example, our strengthening shampoo Hairicane, designed for scalps undergoing treatment, looks after your scalp without stripping everything in its path. If you want to know what a shampoo like this should (and shouldn't) do, we explain it here.
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Keep up your treatmentFair enough, summer isn't the time for diets or the gym, but sticking with your hair treatment all year round is what makes the results last. For example, you can keep using our Follicool hair serum after your shower and before your stroll along the seafront: it's not greasy and nobody can tell.
What if you lose more hair in September?
Then it's not the spotlight any more: it's the calendar. Hair shedding has a seasonal peak that usually hits between late summer and autumn, and in most cases it's telogen effluvium: lots of hairs entering the shedding phase at the same time, without the follicle being lost. It lasts a few weeks and settles down on its own.
It's different when the shedding doesn't stop, concentrates on your temples and crown and gets worse year after year. That points more towards male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia), and it pays to act early.
- If you're suddenly losing a lot: telogen effluvium and autumn shedding, what it is and how long it lasts.
- If you suspect it's getting worse: why your hair is falling out and what actually works.
P.S.: This week's blog is brought to you by our strengthening shampoo and hair serum duo: Hairicane and Follicool. 2 simple habits for an untameable holiday mane.
€22.99
Hairicane
Strengthening and redensifying shampoo with niacinamide, biotin, ginseng and red onion extract: cleanses without stripping, strengthens the hair fibre and adds volume and a feeling of density.
- Gentle cleansing: plant-derived surfactants
- Made for daily use in summer (and the rest of the year)
€45.99
Follicool
Advanced topical treatment to help reduce hair fall and support hair growth. Intensive spray serum for topical use, designed for men over 18 dealing with thinning or hair loss. Formulated with biomimetic peptides, botanical extracts and key vitamins backed by clinical research on their active ingredients, to stimulate the growth (anagen) phase, improve microcirculation around the follicles and strengthen hair anchoring. Lightweight, fast-absorbing texture: leaves no residue.
- Straight onto the scalp, no rinsing
- Not greasy: works at the beach as well as at the office
FAQ about hair in summer
Why does it look like I have less hair in summer?
Because the sun lightens your hair and reduces the contrast between your hair and your scalp, so your temples and crown show more. Summer light comes from directly above, right onto those areas, and chlorine, salt water, wind and sweat leave your hair dry and shapeless. You don't have less hair: the hair that's missing is just more noticeable.
Does the sun cause hair loss?
The sun doesn't cause alopecia, but it lightens and dries out your hair and can burn your scalp, especially if your hair is very short or already less dense. That's why it's worth protecting your scalp with a cap during the hottest hours.
Does chlorine in pools cause hair loss?
Chlorine dries hair out and makes it rougher and more brittle, so it can snap more easily, but it doesn't act on the root and doesn't cause alopecia. Rinsing with fresh water when you get out of the pool reduces how long it stays on your hair and skin.
Does wearing a cap in summer make your hair fall out?
No. A cap doesn't cause baldness; if anything, it protects your scalp from the sun. Just make sure it's clean and not too tight.
Is it normal to lose more hair at the end of summer?
Yes. Hair shedding follows a seasonal pattern, with an increase between late summer and early autumn. It's usually temporary telogen effluvium that settles within a few weeks. If the hair loss is sudden, patchy or doesn't stop, see a dermatologist.
Should you pause your hair treatment on holiday?
No. Hair works in cycles of several months and treatments work through consistency: stopping in summer means losing some of the ground you've gained. With a lightweight serum like Follicool, which isn't greasy and doesn't need rinsing, keeping it up on holiday doesn't complicate your routine.
Now what?
Summer ends and the spotlight goes off. What's left is the hair you looked after in the meantime: a gentle base in the shower and a treatment that doesn't take holidays.
Try FollicoolNote: this content is for information only and doesn't replace a diagnosis or advice from a healthcare professional. Hairicane and Follicool are cosmetics, not medicines. If your hair loss is sudden, patchy or comes with other symptoms, see a dermatologist.