18, September 2025
What the Changing Seasons Really Mean for Your Hair (and How to Care for It Naturally)
We love the seasons; they’re a quarterly reminder of just how amazing Nature is. But changes in weather and lifestyle can have an impact on hair and scalp. From the harsh chill of winter to summer’s humid heat, seasonal shifts can affect the texture and health of our tresses. Understanding how your hair responds to the environment can help you prevent damage – and keep your locks looking and feeling their best all year round. You change your wardrobe to suit the time of year, so it makes sense to adapt your haircare routine too. Here’s our season-by-season guide…
Autumn: Shedding Season
What’s happening to your hair?
As trees start to shed their leaves and seeds, you might notice you’re shedding a little more hair than usual. Autumn’s drop in temperatures can mean a drier scalp and strands, but one of the most typical hair issues at this time of year is an increase in shedding. This is because, just like the natural world, hair growth has cycles.
This study found that the telogen (resting) phase of hair growth peaks in summer, which is why you might notice more build-up in your hairbrush in autumn. During telogen, strands have finished growing, and the follicles they grew from take a breather. After about two or three months, the fully-grown hair falls out naturally, making way for a new strand. Autumn shedding happens because more follicles were in telogen when the weather was warmer. It’s known as seasonal telogen effluvium and, just like September showers, it’s usually a temporary thing.
What to do about it
Use a Moisturising Shampoo and Conditioner: You can’t stop your hair’s natural shedding cycle, but you can take better care of the strands you have. Chillier weather, wild winds and central heating can all make hair brittle and dry. Using more moisturising hair products on wash days can help smooth and detangle strands, helping to make them less prone to breakage. Our Jojoba Shampoo and Conditioner and Coconut Shampoo and Conditioner are your friends here. Or, if your hair’s curly or very coarse, you’re looking for Shea & Argan Shampoo and Conditioner.
Pamper with a Hair Mask: Treat yourself to a weekly treatment and scalp massage to help boost circulation and improve follicle health ready for new growth. Our Rosemary Hair Mask is perfect for the job – rosemary essential oil is known to stimulate the skin, rejuvenate the scalp and help promote stronger, healthier hair (plus it smells incredible!).
Eat nutritious foods: Haircare isn’t just about the products you put on your head – nourishment for hair can happen from the inside, too. Nutrients like biotin, omega-3s and iron support healthy hair growth by improving blood flow to the scalp, nourishing follicles and strengthening strands. Foods like leafy greens can provide this goodness.
Winter: Dryness & Breakage
What’s happening to your hair?
When the first frosts arrive and tender plants wither, hair can feel frail too. After autumn’s increase in shedding, hair is re-entering the anagen (growth) phase, with follicles regenerating and new growth beginning. Meanwhile, older, longer hairs have much to contend with, thanks to the environment. Cold weather, central heating and harsh winds can all wreak havoc for strands – leaving them drier, more brittle and prone to static, breakage and split ends. And while hats and hoods might keep you warm and dry, they can rough up the hair cuticle, weakening strands and potentially causing damage.
Up on your scalp, things might be a little delicate in these chilliest of months. A lack of humidity can leave skin looking and feeling parched, which is why you might be using a more intense moisturiser on your face, and slathering on the hand and body lotion. But just as your face, hands and the rest of your body might be crying out for hydration, the same goes for your scalp, which deserves just as much care. When your scalp’s dry, it can lead to itchiness and more hair fall. Thankfully, with a little special winter TLC, you can keep both scalp and strands happy ‘til spring. Phew!
What to do about it
Switch to a hydrating shampoo: If you can, wash your hair less in winter. At this time of year, your locks need the natural oils from your scalp for moisture. When you do have a wash day, opt for a formula with naturally hydrating ingredients, like our smoothing Jojoba Shampoo or hydrating Coconut Shampoo. Scalp in need of a little soothing? Try our Aloe Vera Shampoo. It’s made with organic aloe vera, famed for its skin soothing and cooling properties, and is dermatologically tested on sensitive skin.
Use deep conditioning masks: Once a week (or even twice if you need it!), pamper your hair and scalp with a deep conditioning treatment. Try our hydrating Coconut & Shea Hair Mask. It’s made with organic coconut oil and shea butter, both famed for their conditioning credentials.
Don’t go outside with wet hair: Seriously. Not only will you feel very chilly, frozen hair strands can snap!
Seek out Silky Accessories: Sleep on a silky pillowcase to reduce friction and out-of-control locks in the morning. Look for knitted hats with silky linings to keep things smooth for your strands when you venture out into the cold.
Spring: Renewal & Recovery
What’s happening to your hair?
As bees buzz amid the earliest of blooms, Nature is starting to thrive again – and with the right care, so too can your hair. The anagen (growth) stage is in full swing now, so it’s important to look after your locks. Strands will be recovering from any damage they suffered in the harshness of winter, so they may need a little extra love.
April showers bring back the humidity that was lacking in the colder months. This is good news for scalps that felt dry and uncomfortable in winter, but it can make hair behave a little differently to normal. Those prone to it might notice more frizz than normal, and kinks and bends might appear in straight hair. Curls may lose their shape, styles might not hold and texture might feel uneven. Longer daylight hours and more time in the sunlight can affect our circadian rhythms (body clock) and hormones, so you may notice an increase in oil production on your scalp.
What to do about it
Clarify your scalp: Treat your hair to a spring reset, using a gentle detox shampoo to purify your scalp and remove any excess sebum. Try our Seaweed & Citrus Shampoo. It’s made with organic Scottish rock wrack seaweed, which is packed with minerals, antioxidants and amino acids. We add a blend of citrus essential oils renowned for their cleansing qualities (and their refreshing, uplifting aromas!).
Time for a trim: It’s good to have regular haircuts at every time of year, but hair is usually readier than ever for the scissors come spring. Book in for a trim to start afresh, get rid of any winter split ends and encourage healthy new growth.
Use leave-in conditioner: If frizz is an issue for you, use a lightweight, leave-in conditioner to keep it in check without weighing your hair down. Try making your own spray using your favourite conditioner – dilute a small amount with distilled water, give it a shake and spritz through damp ends to detangle and smooth.
Summer: Sun, Sweat and Sea
What’s Happening to Your Hair?
As Nature comes into full bloom and the weather warms up, most of us spend more time outside (hooray!). But in the hottest months, the Nature we love isn’t always too kind to our hair. UV rays from the sun can damage hair proteins, chlorine from swimming pools and saltwater from the sea can make strands brittle and dry, and high humidity can make hair feel puffy and out of control.
Heat and humidity also stimulate your sebaceous glands, which produce the sebum (natural oil) on your scalp. This can mean summer hair might feel greasier than it does at other times of year. Excess oil, sweat and even sand can combine on your scalp, sometimes leading to clogged follicles and scalp irritation if not taken care of. Plus, those longer days and outdoor adventures can make strands vulnerable to dryness and breakage.
What to do about it
Protect from the sun: Use a reef-friendly UV-protectant spray before heading outside, or protect both scalp and strands from the sun with a hat. Opt for protective styles like plaits, braids or buns to limit exposure to the elements if your hair is long. If your scalp feels hot and bothered, wash with our soothing Aloe Vera Shampoo & Conditioner – they’re enriched with organic aloe vera, which is known for its soothing and cooling effects on the skin.
Mix and Match Shampoo and Conditioner: If your hair and scalp need different things, don’t be afraid to mix and match your shampoo and conditioner. For greasy, roots, try our detoxifying Seaweed & Citrus Shampoo or our purifying Grapefruit & Orange Shampoo (bonus: both smell like summer in a bottle!). If your lengths and ends are dry, pair with a hydrating conditioner like our Coconut Conditioner, which is made with organic coconut oil and perfect for this job. If your hair’s extra thirsty, treat it to a weekly hair mask.
Rinse well: If you’ve been swimming in the sea or a pool, rinse hair thoroughly with fresh water afterwards to fully remove saltwater or chlorine.
Embrace air-drying: It’s already hot enough out there, so put down your hairdryer and heat styling tools and let your locks dry naturally – they’ll thank you for it!
Year-Round Care
Taking consistent care of your hair is the best way to keep it looking its healthiest best, come rain or shine. Follow these tips to look after your locks, all year round.
Hydrate: Hair health begins from within. Drink plenty of water, no matter the season.
Scalp care: A healthy scalp = healthy hair. Treat it like skin: exfoliate, moisturise and protect. Give it some extra love with a DIY head spa at home.
Regular trims: To maintain healthy hair, get dead ends trimmed off every 8-12 weeks.
Adjust your routine: Listen to your hair and scalp. As the seasons change, your products might need to as well.
Enjoyed this? You might like:
How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?
How to Recreate a Japanese Head Spa at Home
