Have you noticed a little more hair in your brush lately?
As summer gives way to fall, many of us experience an increase in hair shedding. While it can be unsettling to see more strands in the shower or on your clothes, seasonal shedding is a documented phenomenon, and it may be part of your hair's natural growth cycle.
Just as our skin responds to changes in temperature, humidity, and environmental exposure, our hair follows biological rhythms that can fluctuate throughout the year.
Understanding these cycles can help us approach seasonal changes with a little more knowledge and a lot less concern.
And while we can't necessarily prevent natural shedding, there are ways to nourish the scalp, condition the hair we have, and minimize the breakage that can contribute to the appearance of thinning.
1. Why Does Hair Shed More in Fall?
Our hair is constantly cycling through periods of growth, rest, and shedding.
Most of our scalp hair is actively growing at any given time. Eventually, individual follicles transition into a resting phase called telogen, which typically lasts two to three months before the hair is released.
This is why losing approximately 50–100 hairs per day is considered normal.
But here's where things get interesting.
In a 2009 study published in Dermatology, researchers examined hair-growth data from 823 women over a six-year period.
They found that the proportion of hair follicles in the resting phase was highest during summer, with the lowest levels observed in late winter.
Because hairs typically remain in this resting phase for several months before being shed, this seasonal pattern may help explain why some people notice increased shedding toward the end of summer and into fall.
In other words, the hair you're shedding in September may have begun preparing to fall out months earlier.
While the exact biological mechanisms behind seasonal hair cycling are not fully understood, research suggests that these fluctuations are a natural part of human hair biology.
Of course, not all shedding is seasonal. Hormonal changes, postpartum recovery, nutritional deficiencies, illness, and physiological stress can also influence the hair-growth cycle.
If you're experiencing sudden, persistent, or unusually heavy shedding, it's worth speaking with a general practitioner, trichologist or dermatologist rather than assuming the season is responsible.
2. Shedding vs. Breakage: Understanding the Difference
One of the most important distinctions in hair care is the difference between shedding and breakage.
Shedding happens at the follicle. A hair completes its natural growth cycle and is released from the scalp.
Breakage happens along the hair shaft. The existing hair fiber fractures as a result of physical or chemical damage.
While we cannot necessarily prevent a follicle from entering its natural shedding phase, we can take steps to improve the condition of the hair fiber and reduce avoidable breakage.
Hair is composed primarily of keratin proteins, surrounded by a protective outer layer called the cuticle.
Repeated washing, heat styling, coloring, brushing, and environmental exposure can compromise this structure, leaving hair more vulnerable to dryness, tangling, and breakage.
This is where botanical oils become particularly interesting.
Far from simply adding shine, certain plant oils can interact with the hair's lipid structures, helping improve softness and resistance to mechanical damage.
A 2024 study published in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science investigated how coconut, camellia, and safflower oils interact with hair fibers.
Researchers found that components of these oils could penetrate the hair's lipid-rich structures and improve the fibers' resistance to repeated mechanical stress.
Although this study did not examine REPLENISH specifically, it demonstrates that botanical oils can offer benefits beyond surface-level conditioning.
The takeaway? We may not be able to control every hair that naturally sheds, but we can be more intentional about caring for the hair that remains.
3. Meet REPLENISH: Botanical Nourishment for Skin and Hair
While we originally developed REPLENISH as a nutrient-rich facial and body oil, its botanical composition makes it a beautiful addition to a hair-care ritual.
Four ingredients are particularly interesting: amla, buriti, passionfruit, and perilla.
Together, they provide a complementary blend of plant-derived fatty acids and naturally occurring antioxidant compounds that help nourish the skin and condition the hair.
Here's what makes each one special.
AMLA
Phyllanthus emblica
An ancient hair-care botanical attracting modern scientific attention.
Also known as Indian gooseberry, amla has a long history of use in traditional Ayurvedic and Persian medicine, particularly in preparations intended to support hair and scalp health.
The fruit is rich in phytochemicals, including polyphenols, which have attracted scientific interest for their antioxidant properties.
More recently, researchers have begun investigating amla's potential relationship with hair growth.
In a randomized clinical trial published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 60 women with female androgenetic alopecia were assigned to receive either an oral amla preparation or a placebo for 12 weeks.
Researchers observed a statistically significant improvement in the ratio of growing to resting hairs in the amla group compared with placebo.
This is an intriguing finding, but an important distinction is that the study investigated an orally consumed amla preparation in women with a specific form of hair loss.
It does not establish that applying amla oil to the scalp prevents seasonal shedding or stimulates hair growth.
Nevertheless, amla remains a fascinating botanical whose traditional applications continue to inspire modern research.
In REPLENISH, amla contributes to our nutrient-rich botanical oil blend, bringing a long tradition of hair and skin care into a modern formulation.
BURITI
Mauritia flexuosa
A carotenoid-rich oil for softness, nourishment, and luminous hair.
Native to South America, buriti is a richly pigmented fruit prized for its naturally occurring carotenoids, including beta-carotene, and vitamin E compounds known as tocopherols.
Its oil is also rich in oleic acid, an omega-9 fatty acid that contributes to its emollient properties.
These lipids help soften and lubricate the hair fiber, improving the feel and appearance of dry hair.
Buriti's rich composition makes it a beautiful ingredient for conditioning hair that has been exposed to sun, salt water, and frequent washing.
Think of it as a little extra nourishment for hair that's had a very full summer.
PASSIONFRUIT
Passiflora edulis
An omega-6-rich oil for conditioning without unnecessary heaviness.
Passionfruit seed oil is rich in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid that plays an important role in normal skin-barrier function.
In skincare, linoleic-rich oils are valued for their ability to replenish the skin with emollient lipids.
In hair care, passionfruit seed oil contributes to the blend of fatty acids that help soften the hair fiber, improve manageability, and reduce friction between strands.
Its relatively lightweight character makes it a lovely complement to richer botanical oils, helping create a versatile treatment for both skin and hair.
PERILLA
Perilla frutescens
An omega-3-rich botanical for lipid nourishment.
Perilla seed oil is particularly rich in alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid that can account for approximately 60–70% of its fatty acid composition.
It also contains smaller amounts of linoleic and oleic acids, alongside naturally occurring phytosterols and tocopherols.
This distinctive fatty acid profile makes perilla a valuable ingredient in formulations designed to replenish and soften dry skin.
When applied to hair, it contributes conditioning lipids that help improve softness, suppleness, and manageability.
Together with amla, buriti, and passionfruit, perilla helps create a balanced blend of botanical oils that can be incorporated into both skin and hair-care rituals.
4. How to Incorporate REPLENISH Into Your Hair Ritual
You don't necessarily need an entirely new collection of products to give your hair a little extra care.
Sometimes, a few small adjustments to your existing routine can make a meaningful difference.
Here are three ways to incorporate REPLENISH into your hair-care ritual.
1. A pre-wash scalp treatment
Before washing, apply a small amount of REPLENISH to your fingertips and gently massage it into your scalp.
Allow the oil to sit for at least 15 minutes before shampooing as usual.
This can be a lovely way to incorporate a little extra nourishment into your routine, particularly if your scalp tends to feel dry.
For those prone to dandruff, folliculitis, or scalp irritation, oil treatments may not be appropriate.
2. A conditioning treatment for dry lengths
Work a few drops through the mid-lengths and ends of your hair, concentrating on areas that feel particularly dry or fragile.
Leave on before washing, or use a very small amount as a finishing oil, depending on your hair's texture and needs.
The emollient lipids in botanical oils can help improve lubrication and manageability, reducing some of the friction that contributes to mechanical breakage.
3. A little extra care between washes
Warm a drop or two between your palms and lightly smooth over dry ends.
This is an easy way to add softness and shine while helping tame the appearance of frizz.
Start with a small amount and adjust according to your hair's thickness and porosity.
5. Remember That Hair Health Begins Within
While topical care can improve the condition of your scalp and hair, the biological processes responsible for hair growth are influenced by much more than what we apply externally.
Adequate protein and iron intake, hormonal balance, thyroid function, and overall health can all influence the hair-growth cycle.
Major physiological changes, including childbirth, illness, and significant stress, can also trigger increased shedding several months later.
If you notice substantial or persistent changes in your hair's density, don't assume it's simply a seasonal phenomenon. A trichologist can help identify whether an underlying factor deserves attention.
Supporting healthy hair means considering both the environment in which it grows and the care we give to the existing hair fiber.
A Little More Nourishment for the Season Ahead
Our bodies are constantly adapting.
Our skin changes with the weather, our nutritional needs evolve, and even our hair follows rhythms that can shift throughout the year.
Seasonal shedding may be a natural part of that process, but caring for our hair is something we can be intentional about.
With its complementary blend of amla, buriti, passionfruit, and perilla, REPLENISH offers a beautiful way to extend your skincare ritual to your hair, helping condition dry lengths, improve softness, and support the appearance of healthy, nourished hair.
A little nourishment for your skin. A little extra care for your hair. A ritual worth carrying into fall.
Scientific references
For the published blog, I'd include a short selection of studies at the bottom rather than interrupting the reading experience with extensive scientific citations. You can also link the relevant studies directly within the article.
1. Seasonal hair shedding
Kunz M, Seifert B, Trüeb RM. (2009). Seasonality of hair shedding in healthy women complaining of hair loss. Dermatology, 219(2), 105–110.
2. Botanical oils and hair-fiber strength
Marsh JM, et al. (2024). Penetration of oils into hair. International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 46(6), 905–917.
3. Amla and hair growth
Akhbari M, et al. (2024). The effect of an oral product containing Amla fruit (Phyllanthus emblica L.) on female androgenetic alopecia: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 318, 116958.
4. Normal hair shedding and when to seek treatment
American Academy of Dermatology. Do you have hair loss or hair shedding?
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