Here’s a sneak peek at episode six of ‘Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist’

But if you think that all you have to do is put cornrows in your hair, throw on a wig, and go about your daily business to get the hair results you want on St. Patrick’s Day, then you might want to read on. Believe it or not, while hair loss is completely normal (more on that later), it actually happens most often in the fall.

That’s the bad news. The good news is I’m going to tell you why — and what you can do about it.

First, what you need to know about hair loss in general

Hair Loss What To Do

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Okay, so you’ve probably heard somewhere that your hair goes through four cycles when it comes to growth: there’s the anagen phase (this is when your hair grows and it can range from 3-7 years; your genes play a role in the time frame), the catagen phase (this is when your hair follicles start to shrink and the growth process slows down; it lasts about 10 days), the telogen phase (your hair “rests” in this phase; it doesn’t grow or fall out and it lasts about three months), and finally the exogen phase – this is when your hair falls out.

Because each hair follicle essentially has its own schedule, that’s why different hairs fall out at different times. What you can be sure of is that you’ll probably lose somewhere between 50-100 hairs a day — and that’s completely normal.

While we’re on the subject, it’s important to know the difference between hair loss, excessive hair loss, and hair breakage. You have about 100,000 hair follicles on your head, so losing 100 strands of hair a day isn’t that big of a deal. However, if you (gently) pull on your hair and 2-5 strands come out at a time, or if you comb or brush your hair and notice that there are way more than 50-100 strands, then that falls under the category of excessive hair loss.

It should also be said that about 40 percent of women lose more hair than they should on a daily basis, due to the amount of hair they have and/or the way they style it (which is probably the case if your hair has been in braids or twists for weeks and you take them out, it will seem like your hair has made a lot more progress).

Either way, if you find yourself losing a lot of hair, it could be a sign that you have a nutritional deficiency or that you are dealing with an underlying health issue. Because excessive hair loss can sometimes lead togeneral hair lossit is a good idea to consult your doctor so that he or she can address the root of the matter.

As for hair breakage, if the hair that comes out has a bulb (root), it is a form of hair loss. If all you see is clumps of hair, it is likely due to hair breakage. There are many things that can lead to hair breakage, such as your hair being too dry, your hair products being too strong, not trimming your hair often enough, not getting enough protein or other nutrients in your diet, your styling tools being too hot, your hairstyles being too tight, and being under a lot of stress (health-related issues can also be a factor).

The “good news” about all of this is that the process of elimination can help you figure out what’s causing your hair breakage – which is ultimately getting in the way of your length-maintaining experience – so you can get your hair goals back on track.

Why is there more hair loss in the fall?

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Now that you know a little more about hair loss, what is it about fall that causes you to lose more hair than any other time of year? Apparently, fall (and sometimes early winter) enters another level of the exogenous (hair loss) phase in preparation for your head’s need for more hair to survive the cold winter.

Yes, there is something in your body that intuitively feels that your head needs more “shelter” in the summer to protect your head/scalp from the summer heat (supposedly you have the most hair on your head in the month of July) and then again in the winter to keep it from freezing in the cold.

Another thing to keep in mind is that reportedly over 60 percent of people feel extremely stressed during the holidays, which can also lead to more hair flying around (shout-out to those of you who fall into the 10 percent category like me; I see you — LOL).

As for how your system might naturally feel about all of this, part of it depends on how much sun exposure you get in the summer versus the fall and winter. Since sun and weather affect your hormone levels to some extent, that can also shed light on when your hair naturally sheds more or less.

So, what does this all mean (ultimately)? Am I saying that when fall rolls into your life, you just have to accept that less hair is going to be a part of your reality? Um. Yes… and no.

5 Things You Can Do to Prevent/Reduce (Excessive) Hair Loss

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One of the good things about this kind of information is that you can be proactive when it comes to cultivating ways to make “it” — in this case, hair loss — less of a problem. Today I have five tips that can help you experience less hair loss (especially this time of year).

1. Before washing your scalp with shampoo, treat it.

Your hair follicles come from your scalp, so you definitely need to ‘take care’ of them. Not only does it help keep your scalp healthy, but it can also help nourish your hair follicles so they stay beautiful and strong. Allure has an impressive list of scalp treatments that you can check out here.

2. Deep condition.

On a whole other level. Hair and scalp hydration are super important now that the temperatures are dropping. That’s because you’re probably spending more time indoors, which means you’re going to have to deal with the dry air from central heating and air conditioning. So if you normally deep condition your hair for, say, 30 minutes, up that to 45 minutes or an hour (with a hair steamer). Don’t forget to apply a leave-in conditioner to your hair as well, just to give it some extra hydrating support.

3. Oil your scalp a few times a week.

While this can be a bit of a controversial topic with—er—other people, there’s nothing wrong with oiling your scalp. In fact, it’s another way to give it some extra hydration you need between wash days (check out “How to Properly Use Oils for Long, Healthy Hair”). The key is to avoid things like petroleum (applied directly to your scalp), as it can clog your follicles and potentially even dry out your scalp. Instead, opt for lighter, pure oils like sesame, sweet almond, rosemary, jojoba, or, a personal favorite of mine, grapeseed.

4. Close it.

I’ve had a hair care routine where I didn’t wrap my hair at night and one where I did — and there really is a big difference between the two. Wrapping your strands in silk or satin while you sleep reduces friction, which takes away the pressure on your hair that can lead to hair loss and breakage. So definitely make sure you wrap your hair every night, especially during the fall season. You’ll notice how much it benefits your hair if/when you do.

5. Watch your diet.

As for fruits that are in season during the fall, pears are packed with several forms of B vitamins, which can help stimulate your hair follicles, while pumpkin can help thicken your hair. Foods rich in omega-3s like salmon and Brussels sprouts can nourish your scalp and hair follicles and increase blood circulation to them, while ginger can also strengthen your hair and even slow the aging process.

And definitely take a multivitamin; it will help make up for some of the nutrients your diet may be lacking. Oh, and don’t forget to check out “10 Teas That Are Great for the Fall Season — For Hair Growth.” It also has some tips on how to keep you and your scalp/hair warm and hydrated.

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Fall is my absolute favorite season of the year. Hair loss? Not so much. If this sounds like you, you don’t have to worry about hair loss anymore. You can embrace fall and all it has to offer — with more hair on your head and less in your detangling brush. Enjoy!