Why am I shedding so much hair this fall?

You pull a clump of hair out of the shower drain, stare at it, and start doing math in your head. Then you find more on your sweater. By the time you sit down in our chair, you've usually Googled it twice.

We hear this question constantly in October, from guests here in Byron Center and from the ones who drive in from Grandville, Caledonia, Wyoming and Hudsonville. Most of the time the answer is a relief: fall shedding is common, it's usually temporary, and there's a lot we can do while it passes. Here's what we tell people in the chair at Cedar Rose Salon and Suites.

First, how much is too much?

Everyone loses hair every day, somewhere around 50 to 100 strands. That's just old hair making room for new. You don't notice it until a bunch of hairs hit their resting phase at the same time and let go together, usually two or three months after whatever kicked it off.

That's why it feels like it came out of nowhere. It didn't. Your hair is just running a couple of months behind.

So why now?

Think back to late summer. Sun, chlorine, heat, travel, back-to-school chaos. Your hair noticed, even if you didn't, and a lot of people see a seasonal shed right around now.

Other things guests tell us about when they're shedding:

- A stressful stretch at work or at home

- A new baby, since postpartum shedding usually shows up a few months after birth

- Being sick, especially with a high fever

- Perimenopause and menopause

- Big changes in diet or weight, including weight-loss medications

- Low iron or other nutrient gaps

When we'll tell you to call your doctor

We know hair. We're not doctors. If your shedding is sudden, comes out in patches, or your scalp is red, itchy, flaky or sore, please get it checked. Same goes if it's been going on for more than about six months. Simple bloodwork can catch things like low iron or thyroid issues, and once you know the cause, everything else works better.

What we actually recommend at home

Start with your scalp. It's skin, and it needs care just like your face does. A few easy habits make a real difference:

- Massage your scalp for a minute every time you shampoo.

- Be gentle with wet hair. Use our thermal detangling brush and skip the yanking.

- Give tight ponytails a break for a while. (Hello, cute claw clips.)

- Turn your hot tools down, and use heat protectant every single time. We recommend Kevin Murphy Untangled and Kevin Murphy Young Again Oil.

Our go-to scalp line: Surface Awaken

When guests ask what to use at home, this is where we point them. Surface Awaken is made for scalp health and thinning hair, and it's sulfate-free. It has a cool, minty tingle from capsicum and menthol that people notice the second it hits their scalp at the shampoo bowl. It also has saw palmetto and amino acids to support a healthy scalp.

The routine is simple:

1. Awaken Therapeutic Shampoo

2. Awaken Therapeutic Conditioner, massaged into your scalp for about a minute

3. Awaken Therapeutic Treatment, a leave-in you apply right to your scalp

4. Awaken Blow Dry Foam, if you want a little extra lift when you style

Give it a few months. Scalp care is a habit, not a one-time fix.

Nutrafol, for the inside part

Your hair is built from what's happening inside your body, so we also carry Nutrafol, a physician-formulated hair supplement. There's a formula for each stage of life:

- Women, ages 18 to 44

- Women's Balance, for before, during and after menopause

- Postpartum, for the first year after baby, including while breastfeeding

- Men

You take it daily, and most people check their results around the three- to six-month mark. Like any supplement, talk to your doctor before you start, especially if you're pregnant, nursing or on medication. Not sure which one is yours? Ask us next time you're in.

Want fullness now? Let's talk extensions

Scalp care and supplements take time. If you want more volume before then, extensions get you there today. We offer three kinds:

- Clip-ins. Pop them in for a night out, take them out before bed.

- Halos. A clear band with no clips, no glue and no tension on your own hair.

- Wefts. Installed by your stylist, so you wake up with fullness every day.

If your hair is fine or thinning, halos and clip-ins are a gentle place to start. Wefts can work beautifully too. We'll just take a look at your hair and scalp first to make sure they're the right fit.

Come see us

If you've been side-eyeing your hairbrush lately, come talk to us.

Grab Awaken or Nutrafol off our shelf, or online! Ask your stylist what your scalp needs, or book online. We'll help you make a plan that fits your hair and your life.