More hair shedding in the shower? Why you notice it now (and why it is usually normal)

More hair shedding in the shower? Why you notice it now (and why it is usually normal)

You are in the shower, you look at your hands or the drain and think:
Wait… this is more hair than usual, right?

You have not changed your shampoo, you are not using new styling products and your diet is more or less the same. Yet suddenly it feels like more hair is coming out, right when it is early spring.

Very familiar. And in many cases also very logical and normal.

In this article:

• why hair loss can suddenly become noticeable even when your routine has not changed
• which role season, light and the winter to spring transition can play
• other factors that are often overlooked
• when it actually makes sense to worry
• and what you can calmly do right now

Hair loss always comes in waves, not in a straight line

First of all: hair does not grow in a straight line. It goes through phases:

• Growth phase (anagen) – hairs actively grow, often for several years.
• Transition phase (catagen) – a short phase in which the hair stops growing.
• Resting and shedding phase (telogen) – the hair rests and then falls out while a new hair is already forming underneath.

At any given time, a portion of your hairs is on the way to shedding. That means:

• some days and weeks it feels like almost nothing is coming out
• other periods it feels like twice as much

Without anything actually being “wrong”. You are simply seeing the result of many hairs that reach the end of their growth cycle at the same time.

Does the season matter now (in March)? Yes, but not how you might think

Many studies show that there can be a seasonal pattern in hair shedding, with:

• a higher percentage of hairs in the shedding phase in late summer and autumn

But that does not mean nothing happens in other periods. Your hair responds continuously to:

• light
• temperature
• lifestyle and stress

And especially in countries like the Netherlands, with dark winters and a lot of indoor time, something important happens:

• In the winter months your body gets less daylight, many people move less, sit indoors in dry heated air and wear hats and scarves more often.
• That is not dramatic, but it is a period in which for some people more hairs enter the resting phase (telogen).
• Those hairs stay “parked” for a while and only fall out a few months later.

So what you see now in March / early spring:

• can very well be the result of what you did or experienced in December / January
• and happens to fall exactly in a moment where you go from winter into spring and are more sensitive to changes anyway

In short:

The extra hairs you see in the shower now are often winter hairs that are only letting go now.

Not an official medical term, but a helpful way to frame it for yourself.

Why you suddenly notice it now (even though you did not change anything)

Even if your products are the same, several things can play a role.

1. You suddenly pay attention

Most people do not inspect the drain carefully every time they shower. Until:

• you get startled by a clump once
• you read or watch something about hair loss
• you are in a period where you feel a bit more insecure in general

From that moment on you start scanning. Your brain goes from “background noise” to “search mode”. That makes it feel worse, even if the actual amount is not dramatically different.

2. Small shifts in stress or sleep (with a delay)

Your life might feel “fine” at the moment, but:

• December and January may have been more stressful (holidays, work, money, the grey season)
• you might have had a period of poorer sleep
• your body may have been running on slightly higher stress hormones for a while

Your hair reacts slowly. Hairs that entered the shedding phase then, are now – in March – coming out. This is telogen effluvium and is often temporary.

3. Hormonal fluctuations

Your hormones can also affect timing:

• menstrual cycle (some people notice more shedding around or after their period)
• starting or stopping hormonal contraception
• postpartum phase after pregnancy
• thyroid that is running slightly slower or faster

You might not have obvious symptoms, but your hair can still pick up on those subtle shifts.

4. Build up and catch up

If you:

• do not wash your hair for a few days
• or mostly wear it in a ponytail or bun

loose hairs can “stay put” for longer. At the next wash, they may all come out at once. That makes it look like that day is extreme, when in reality it is simply:

• the normal 50–100 hairs per day
• plus a small backlog all coming out at the same time

When is it probably just normal variation?

It is likely a normal fluctuation if:

• you see more shedding across the whole scalp, but no round bald patches
• your scalp looks normal (no severe redness, thick scaling, wounds)
• you do not see clear “holes” in your hairline, temples or crown
• you have no other serious symptoms like fever, big weight changes or feeling very unwell

In that case, you are probably in the middle of a temporary shedding wave, possibly due to:

• winter that has just passed
• a mix of less light, stress and lifestyle
• and natural fluctuations in your hair growth cycle

Not fun, but usually reversible.

When is it smart to see your doctor?

Get checked if you:

• see round or oval bald patches
• have intense itch, burning, pain, wounds or thick yellowish scales on your scalp
• have hair loss together with clear symptoms like extreme fatigue, palpitations, unexplained weight loss or gain, fever
• notice a really obvious loss of hair density in a short time with no clear reason

Then there may be more going on than a seasonal wave or mild hormonal shift, and it is good to have a doctor look with you.

What can you do now to feel calmer?

Even if you rationally know it is probably normal, it does not always feel that way. A few practical steps:

1. Stop analysing the drain

• Do not count hairs in the shower every time.
• We are really bad at estimating what “normal” looks like and easily blow up anything that triggers anxiety.

Better: take photos once of:

• your hairline
• your parting
• your crown

In daylight. After 6–8 weeks, take the same photos again. That comparison is far more honest than your memory.

2. Check three basics: sleep, stress, nutrition

Ask yourself (really honestly):

• Over the past few months, am I sleeping enough on average?
• How high is my stress level on a scale from 1 to 10?
• Am I eating “real food” (protein, vegetables, healthy fats) several times a week or mostly quick snacks?

Pick one mini upgrade:

• go to bed 15–30 minutes earlier
• walk 20–30 minutes every day
• add one solid protein rich meal per day (yoghurt, eggs, legumes, fish, chicken, tofu)

Your hair will react with a delay, but your overall recovery starts improving immediately.

3. Give your scalp a calm environment

Instead of trying to “save” your hair by barely touching it (not washing, no brushing), this usually helps more:

• keep washing your hair regularly, but with a gentle shampoo
• avoid blasting your scalp with very hot air from the dryer
• do not wear your hair tightly pulled back all day
• brush gently, better a bit more often and soft than rarely and aggressively

The hairs that are shedding now would have fallen out anyway. What you can influence is how kindly you treat your scalp and the new hairs that are coming through.

Why now is a good moment to look at your shampoo

Especially in a period where you notice more shedding, it is worth asking:

“What exactly am I putting on my scalp every wash?”

Many conventional shampoos, even those with “natural”, “strong hair” or “hair growth” on the front, use Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) as a main ingredient:

• a strong cleanser that creates lots of foam
• which can cause dryness, itch and irritation in a sensitive scalp

If your hair is already in a natural shedding wave (because of winter to spring, stress, cycle), you want your scalp to be as calm as possible. Extra irritation from a harsh detergent does not help.

At ZENLUCA we therefore formulate:

• without sodium laureth sulfate as a base
• with milder, plant derived surfactants that clean without stripping your scalp
• with 100 percent natural ingredients aimed at scalp balance and supporting thinning hair

Our products will not change the season, your hormones or stress level overnight. But they do help ensure that:

• your scalp feels less tight, itchy and irritated
• the environment around your follicles is as healthy as possible while your body does the rest

If you want to switch to a gentler, natural routine, you can check this page for more information about our shampoos and scalp serums and how to build them into your routine step by step.

Short Q and A about “suddenly” more shedding in spring

1. Is it normal to see more hair loss in March or April?
Yes, it can be. Hairs that entered the resting phase during the darker, more stressful winter months can shed together now, a few months later. You notice that as a temporary wave.

2. How long can such a wave last?
Often it is a few weeks to a few months where you see more shedding than usual. Then things stabilise again. If heavy shedding continues for more than 6 to 12 months, it is wise to see a doctor.

3. Do I need to buy different hair products now?
You do not have to throw everything out. But it is a good moment to switch to gentle, scalp friendly products without strong sulfates, especially if you are prone to thinning hair.

4. When should I really be worried?
If you develop bald patches, wounds, severe itch, feel very unwell or lose a lot of density in a short time. Then it is time to call your GP instead of relying only on Google or blogs.