Who doesn’t love Fall? Clumps of trees tinged with startling shades of red, pumpkin spice lattes, Halloween movie marathons, buying the umpteenth red berry lipstick…it’s all fun and games until you give your crown a comb and realise that as the leaves fall, your hair does too.
No need to panic though, experts say. Seasons changing and shifting gradations of sunlight, as it may, can affect your hair. That’s right, Spring and Summer provide a larger supply of sunlight, which triggers hair growth hormones, whoopee…your hair flourishes! This is known as the telogen phase, protecting the scalp from sunrays, as well as securing dozens of likes to your #shamelessbeachselfie, of course. Once the hair has reached this phase, it usually begins to fall approximately 100 days later. It is no surprise at all then, that as the days grow shorter and colder, your hair enters the shed phase, which usually lasts for a period of 4 to 6 weeks.
But nothing is lost forever- unless it’s a bobby pin, in that case, say your farewells. Chances are, the hair you lost will grow back as the follicles eventually cycle back into the telogen phase.
All that makes you wonder how the White Queen mastered long luscious hair. Can it only be done in Wonderland? Not quite.
1) Give your Scalp some TLC
If getting a back rub from bae is on the top of your daily to-do list, giving your scalp a good massage should come straight after that. This stimulates blood circulation and the production of sebum- an oily substance secreted by the sebaceous glands. For better results, use a specific oil scalp. What’s in it for you? Faster hair growth and a lubricated scalp. Win-win.
2) Don’t be greedy with the Conditioner
This is the time to experiment with all the DIY hair masks you have been reading about on Pinterest, the ones with the nowhere-to-be-found ingredients. Does anyone within two miles radius even sell kaolin- unless you are planning to go straight to the source and make a trip to China? Well, you better throw your Indiana Jones hat on -figuratively speaking, we sincerely hope you do not own one of those- and find out. Or you can treat yourself to a million dollar hair mask worthy of a VS angel two days before the show. Entirely up to you. However, we must warn you: deep conditioning will bring real benefits- reduced hair shedding, itching, irritation- only if performed regularly. And by regularly we mean at least once a week. So…raise your hands who is going for the kaolin?
3) Pay a visit or two to Edward Scissorhands
Don’t you worry, we are talking monthly here, not weekly. We heard your sigh of relief. Trimming your ends helps to get rid of damaged hair and invigorate your scalp, which in turn stimulate hair growth. Step 3 is, perhaps, the hardest one so far, given that the idea of a hairdresser who knows the difference between trimming and cutting ten inches of hair is as visionary as the last jedi. May the Force be with you.
4) Gorge on all the things you hated as a child
Yes, all the veggies that your mum had to force into your mouth disguised as an airplane. All the green stuff she prayed you wouldn’t notice in your plate and the fruits too. Healthy foods increase your immune system and provide your body with the nutrition it requires to produce healthy hair.
5) Don’t go Bridget Jones on your hair
We love Bridget, but ironing your hair- literally- is not an option. Try to limit heat styling to the minimum. How? Follow steps 1 to 4 and act before showering, rather than after. Now, Erasmus of Rotterdam might have not referred to hair problems- as it looks like he had quite a few himself, but he did say that prevention is better than cure. And we agree.
6) KEEP CALM AND DO NOT STRESS
Have you ever heard that your mind is your worst enemy? Well, if you have, you are about to hear it again. Stress can be potentially responsible for anything that’s wrong with your body. Take a bath, watch a Disney movie, sing your favourite song, read inspirational quotes, take a nap, call a friend…and count your blessings. Namaste.
And you? What is your Fall hair care routine? Do you know of any lifesaving hacks we haven’t mentioned?
Leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts and suggestions!
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Written by: Gaia Stasi