Hair loss in women during autumn: Why more hair falls out suddenly + my 3-year routine

Briefly explained: Why do we suddenly lose more hair in autumn?

Written by Eva Jurić, founder of MYSK and creator behind @myskinisgettingbetter

Briefly explained:

  • Seasonal hair loss can be particularly noticeable in late summer and autumn.
  • More hair in your brush, shower, or drain is not automatically a cause for concern.
  • Stress, hormones, medical conditions, or nutrient deficiencies can also influence hair loss.
  • Good hair care can reduce breakage and support both the scalp and hair lengths.
  • I’m sharing my Nuggela & Sulé routine, which I have been using for about 3 years.

Are you finding more hair in your brush, on your sweater, or in the drain after washing your hair in September or October?

This can actually be related to a seasonal hair shed in late summer and autumn. Studies show that the natural hair cycle can change over the course of the year, with some women having more hairs enter the resting phase simultaneously during certain seasons.

Nevertheless, it is important to note: Not every instance of increased hair loss in autumn is automatically seasonal. Stress, hormonal changes, medical conditions, medications, or nutrient deficiencies can also play a role.

And that is precisely why it is important to distinguish between two things:

Hair loss has potential medical causes. Hair care products cannot diagnose or treat these causes.

However, good hair care can: nourish the scalp, protect hair lengths, and reduce hair breakage.

I have been using Nuggela & Sulé myself for about three years now. Here, I’ll show you my complete routine – including the step I usually perform the night before washing my hair.

Is increased hair loss in autumn normal?

A hair does not grow forever.

Every single hair goes through different phases. The longest of these is the growth phase. This is followed by a transition phase and finally a resting phase. At the end, the hair falls out and a new cycle begins.

The fact that hair falls out daily is therefore completely normal. As a rough guideline, about 50 to 100 hairs per day are often cited.

What is interesting, however, is that the hair cycle does not seem to follow the exact same pattern all year round.

One study of more than 800 women, for example, found seasonal changes in the proportion of hair in the resting phase. The highest percentage of so-called telogen hairs was observed in summer. Earlier studies also found seasonal fluctuations extending into late summer and early autumn.

This does not mean that every woman automatically experiences increased hair loss in autumn. Some don't notice any change at all. Others suddenly see significantly more hair in their brush or the shower.

More hair while washing doesn't automatically mean more hair loss

Wash day can also look more dramatic than it actually is.

For instance, if you only wash your hair two or three times a week, several hairs that were already at the end of their natural hair cycle will come out all at once during washing.

That is why I personally don’t try to count every single hair in the drain.

I find it much more important to look at the trend over several weeks:

  • Does it start to decrease again?

  • Is my hair visibly thinning?

  • Is the part widening?

  • Are individual bald spots appearing?

  • Are other symptoms accompanying it?

This often tells you more than the amount of hair after a single wash.

Seasonal hair loss or something else?

This table can provide initial guidance – it does not, of course, replace a professional diagnosis.

Observation More likely to fit seasonal shedding Should be checked medically
Timing Late summer or autumn Regardless of the season
Distribution Relatively uniform Individual bald spots
Course Temporary Gets worse over a longer period
Hairline/Part No major change Part becomes visibly wider
Scalp Unremarkable Severe redness, pain, inflammation, or other changes
General well-being No other abnormalities Additional physical symptoms

Especially if you are suddenly losing a lot of hair, notice bald spots, or the hair loss continues over a long period, I would not attempt to solve the problem with just shampoo or a serum.

In that case, the cause needs to be investigated.

What can hair care actually do for hair loss?

This is particularly important to me regarding this topic.

A shampoo, hair mask, or cosmetic scalp serum cannot treat a medical cause of hair loss.

Nevertheless, hair care makes a difference – just in a different way.

For me, there are three main points:

1. Don't forget the scalp

I used to focus almost exclusively on the lengths of my hair when it came to hair care.

Shampoo. Conditioner. Maybe some oil.

Today, my routine starts much more consciously at the scalp.

2. Reduce hair breakage

If you want to grow your hair long, it’s not just about what happens at the hair root.

The hair must also reach the desired length without constantly breaking off.

Dryness, high heat, mechanical stress, and very damaged ends can result in hair growing, yet the length hardly increasing at all.

3. Finding a routine you can actually do regularly

I am not a fan of complicated hair care routines involving 15 products.

My routine has several steps, but by now I do them almost automatically.

And above all: I have been doing them for years.

My Nuggela & Sulé hair care routine for 3 years

I have been using Nuggela & Sulé for about three years now.

In this time – despite regular haircuts – my hair has grown a total of about 20 cm longer.

Of course, I cannot say that a single shampoo or serum is responsible for this. Hair grows at different rates for many reasons, and hair growth is very individual.

However, what I can say about my own hair is this:

My hair lengths have been so healthy over the last few years that I have cut them mostly for aesthetic reasons, and not because my ends were completely destroyed.

I recently had my hair cut significantly shorter, simply because I felt like a change.

My routine itself, however, has remained almost the same.

Step 1: Scalp serum about 6 hours before washing

The first step of my hair wash routine usually starts the night before.

I apply my Nuggela & Sulé Scalp Serum directly to the scalp and leave it to work for at least about six hours.

Usually, this just means:

Apply serum in the evening → go to sleep → wash hair in the morning.

I massage it briefly into the scalp with my fingertips and then let it be.

And because I would have had this question myself immediately:

No, it doesn't make my pillow completely greasy.

Of course, this can vary depending on hair volume, product amount, and scalp type. I only use as much product as I need for my scalp.

During phases of increased hair loss, I particularly like to use the Nuggela & Sulé Anti-Hair Loss Serum Forte.

According to the instructions, it is applied directly to the scalp and left to act for at least six hours or overnight.

Can you leave a scalp serum on overnight?

For a product that is explicitly intended for that purpose: yes.

However, not every scalp treatment is an overnight product. Scrubs or certain intensive scalp treatments, for example, must be rinsed out after a specified time.

Therefore, always follow the usage instructions for the respective product.

Here is what the application looks like for me in practice:

Video:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbGEoN4qC7v/?stkn=MTV3eWZnZXJnYWQzdw==

Step 2: In the morning, I wash my hair twice with shampoo

The next morning, I wash my hair with the Nuggela & Sulé Nº1 Premium Shampoo.

And yes: I shampoo twice.

During the first wash, I focus primarily on removing sebum, product residue, and the serum from the scalp.

Then I rinse thoroughly.

Then comes a second small amount of shampoo.

During the second wash, I usually need less product and again massage it mainly into the scalp.

I don't scrub my hair lengths with shampoo.

Enough shampoo runs through the lengths while rinsing anyway.

Do you always have to shampoo your hair twice?

No.

If you wash your hair daily or hardly use any styling products, one wash might be enough for you.

However, I don't wash my hair daily and I use a scalp serum beforehand. For my routine, double cleansing therefore works very well.

Especially if you use a lot of dry shampoo, styling products, or pre-wash treatments, a second wash can make sense.

But more shampoo doesn't automatically mean better care. The scalp should be clean – not aggressively scrubbed.

Step 3: Conditioner

After the shampoo, I use the Nuggela & Sulé Conditioner.

I distribute it through my hair and leave it on for a moment.

The conditioner primarily helps me detangle my hair more easily and makes it feel soft and smooth after washing.

That is also important to me when it comes to long hair.

Because every bit of aggressive brushing, pulling, and detangling can put extra strain on the hair lengths.

Step 4: Tucuma hair mask for the lengths

Then comes one of my favorite steps: the hair mask

For me, the mask is primarily for the lengths and ends.

It contains ingredients like Tucuma butter and is intended for dry, dehydrated, and damaged hair.

I leave it on for a few minutes and then rinse my hair thoroughly.

How often should you use a hair mask?

I don't see hair masks as a product that must necessarily be used every time you wash your hair.

How often it makes sense depends heavily on your hair.

Very dry, bleached, or damaged hair often needs more care than very fine, healthy hair.

For the Tucuma hair mask, an application of about once or twice a week is recommended.

I adjust the frequency based on how my hair feels at the moment.

Conditioner or hair mask – what is the difference?

For me, both do not serve exactly the same purpose.

Conditioner: quick care, better manageability, and smoother hair after washing.

Hair mask: more intensive care for the hair lengths and ends.

Again, you don't have to make it a complicated science.

If your hair feels heavy or flat after using both, you can also use the mask during a different wash.

My hair handles both steps well.

Here you can see another part of my hair care routine:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DceEhMflzeD/?stkn=MXdmdXY4MmRkeWg2dw==

Step 5: Hair in a towel – but don't rub it dry

After rinsing, I briefly wrap my hair in a towel.

I don't rub my hair dry for minutes on end.

Wet hair is more sensitive to mechanical stress. Therefore, I try to be careful when drying and detangling.

After a short time, I take the towel off.

Step 6: Onion Hair Milk as a leave-in

I then apply Nuggela & Sulé Onion Hair Milk to my towel-dried hair.

That is my leave-in step.

I focus primarily on the lengths.

Important for transparency: Onion Hair Milk is currently not part of the MYSK range.

I mention it anyway because I want to show my real routine here, and not just the products that I sell myself.

Step 7: Dry hair and Amber Oil in the ends

After that, I dry my hair.

At the very end, I add a small amount of Nuggela & Sulé Amber Oil to the ends.

The Amber Oil is also not currently available at MYSK – but it has long been part of my personal routine.

And then I'm done.

Serum.

Shampoo.

Conditioner.

Mask.

Leave-in.

A bit of oil for the ends.

No 20 steps.

Here you can find another video from my hair care routine:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRm8yHhjDJK/?stkn=MXM5OGY4eWY0YjZ6Yg==

Growing my hair out: Why I pay more attention to hair breakage now

When someone says:

“My hair just doesn't grow.”

it doesn't always mean that nothing is happening at the hair root.

Sometimes the hair grows while the ends keep breaking off at the same time.

The actual hair length then hardly changes.

That is why I pay as much attention to my hair lengths today as I do to my scalp.

What makes a difference for me:

  • regular hair care instead of SOS-care every few months

  • conditioner for better manageability

  • a richer hair mask

  • less aggressive brushing

  • care for dry ends

  • regular trimming when necessary

  • as little unnecessary mechanical stress as possible

I continue to trim my hair regularly.

I don't believe in the idea that you shouldn't trim your ends for years if you want long hair.

My goal was never just “as long as possible.”

I want long hair that also looks healthy.

Does an anti-hair-loss shampoo or serum help with hair loss?

Here you have to distinguish carefully.

Cosmetic hair care can nourish the scalp and hair, and products can be developed for specific needs like weak hair or phases with increased hair loss.

But:

A cosmetic serum does not replace a medical diagnosis and does not treat an underlying medical condition.

Hair loss can have very different causes.

These include, for example:

  • genetic factors

  • hormonal changes

  • physical or psychological stress

  • medical conditions

  • certain medications

  • significant weight changes

  • some nutrient deficiencies

  • pregnancy and the postpartum period

If I personally just notice that my hair is shedding a bit more seasonally, I don't immediately change my entire routine.

I focus on consistent scalp and hair care and observe how it develops.

However, if the hair loss were unusually severe or did not improve, my next step would not be a fifth serum, but a medical consultation.

My routine at a glance

When? Step What I use
Evening before washing hair Scalp care Nuggela & Sulé scalp serum, approx. 6 hours/overnight
Morning 1st shampoo Nº1 Premium Shampoo
directly after 2nd shampoo Nº1 Premium Shampoo
after shampoo Conditioner Nuggela & Sulé conditioner
as needed intensive care Tucuma hair mask
after washing Leave-in Onion Hair Milk
after drying Ends care Amber Oil


Frequently asked questions about seasonal hair loss and my routine

Why do I suddenly have more hair in my brush in autumn?

The hair cycle can be subject to seasonal fluctuations. Studies on women have shown differences in the proportion of hair in the resting phase throughout the year. This is why some people may temporarily lose more hair in late summer or autumn.

However, more severe hair loss can have many other causes. Therefore, one should not automatically assume that the season is the reason.

How much hair do you normally lose per day?

As a rough guide, about 50 to 100 hairs per day are often cited.

The number can look different from day to day – depending in particular on how often you wash and brush your hair.

Why do I lose so much hair when washing it?

When washing and detangling, hairs that are already at the end of their natural cycle come loose.

If you don't wash your hair every day, the amount may therefore seem significantly larger on a wash day.

More important than a single wash day is whether your hair loss changes visibly over a longer period of time.

Can I leave a scalp serum on overnight?

Yes, if the product in question is intended for this purpose.

The Nuggela & Sulé Anti-Hair Loss Serum Forte is left on the scalp for at least six hours or overnight.

For other serums or scalp treatments, you should always follow the respective instructions for use.

Should you wash your hair with shampoo twice?

Not everyone needs to shampoo twice.

I do it because I use a scalp serum before washing my hair and do not wash my hair every day.

For me, the first wash mainly removes sebum and product residue. During the second wash, I focus on cleaning the scalp again.

How often should you use a hair mask?

That depends on hair type, hair condition, and product.

For the Nuggela & Sulé Tucuma hair mask, an application of about once or twice a week is recommended.

Very fine hair may need less intensive care, while dry or damaged lengths can benefit from it more frequently.

What helps if I want to let my hair grow longer?

In addition to natural hair growth, the condition of the hair lengths also plays a role.

If the ends constantly break off, it becomes more difficult to build visible length.

That is why for me, conditioners, hair masks, gentle detangling, ends care, and regular trimming are just as much a part of the long-hair routine as scalp care.

When should I go to the doctor because of hair loss?

If your hair loss is suddenly very severe, persists for a long time, individual bald spots appear, your parting becomes visibly wider, or additional symptoms occur, you should have the cause clarified medically.

My conclusion after three years of Nuggela & Sulé

I haven't just been using Nuggela & Sulé since the brand became available at MYSK.

The products have been part of my personal hair care for about three years now.

During this time, my hair has become significantly longer despite regular haircuts. Even more important to me: my lengths were healthy enough that I usually had them cut at the hairdresser because I wanted a different look – not because my hair was completely ruined.

I cannot, of course, promise that exactly this routine is the right one for your hair.

But what I can recommend is the approach behind it:

Don't forget the scalp. Protect the hair lengths. Reduce hair breakage. And choose a routine that you will actually stick to over a longer period of time.

→ [View Nuggela & Sulé hair care at MYSK]

Medical note

This article is based on my personal experience with my hair care as well as general information about the hair cycle. It is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Hair loss can have various medical causes. Cosmetic hair care products can nourish hair and scalp, but they cannot diagnose or treat an underlying medical condition.

In case of sudden severe, persistent or unusual hair loss, bald spots, visible thinning or other symptoms, you should consult a doctor or a dermatological specialist.

Medical sources for further information:
MSD Manual – Alopecia (hair loss)
Kunz, Seifert & Trüeb: Seasonality of Hair Shedding in Healthy Women Complaining of Hair Loss, Dermatology, 2009.

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