Does Coloring Your Hair in the Fall Really Increase Shedding?
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The Autumn Coincidence: New Color, More Hair in the Brush
It’s a classic autumn ritual. As the leaves begin to turn, many of us head to the salon to trade our sunny summer highlights for richer, deeper tones. You leave feeling refreshed and renewed, but then, over the following weeks, you notice something alarming: what seems like a lot more hair in your brush and in the shower drain.
It’s a connection many of us have made, leading to the anxious question: “Did coloring my hair cause it to fall out?”
The short answer is: No, the hair dye itself is almost certainly not causing you to shed more hair from the root. However, the timing is a perfect storm of coincidence, and the coloring process can be contributing to a different problem that looks and feels very similar.
The Crucial Difference: Shedding vs. Breakage
To understand what’s really happening, you need to know the difference between two distinct types of hair fall.
Shedding Comes From the Scalp
True shedding, including the seasonal shedding that naturally peaks for many people in the fall, is when an entire hair strand falls out from the follicle at the root. If you look closely at the end of a shed hair, you can often see a tiny, whitish bulb. This is a normal, healthy part of your hair’s life cycle. Hair color, when applied correctly by a professional, does not penetrate deep into the scalp to interfere with this biological process.
Breakage Happens Along the Hair Strand
Breakage, on the other hand, is when a hair strand snaps somewhere along its length. These will be shorter (or longer) pieces of hair that will not have the white bulb at the end. Chemical processes like hair coloring and especially bleaching work by altering the hair’s protein structure. This can damage the hair’s outer layer, compromising cuticle health, and leaving the strand weaker, more porous, and more susceptible to snapping.
The Verdict: So, What’s Really Going On?
When you see more hair fall after a fall color appointment, it’s usually one of these scenarios.
Scenario 1 (Most Likely): A Case of Mistaken Identity
It is highly likely that the increased hair fall you’re seeing is the normal, temporary seasonal shedding that would have happened anyway. The timing is simply a coincidence. Because you just invested time and money into a new color, you are naturally paying closer attention to your hair, which means you’re noticing the natural shed more acutely than you otherwise would have.
Scenario 2: The Compounding Effect
This is a key insight. While the dye isn’t causing hair to fall from the root, it is likely causing some degree of increased breakage due to the chemical processing. This breakage, happening at the same time as your peak seasonal shed, makes the overall volume of hair fall feel much more dramatic. This one-two punch is what can contribute to a temporary feeling of thinning hair.
The Rare Exception: A Scalp Reaction
In very rare cases, an allergic reaction to a component in the dye (like paraphenylenediamine or PPD) or a mild chemical burn can cause inflammation on the scalp. This can lead to an itchy scalp, redness, or pain and can trigger a type of shedding called traumatic alopecia. As this is further explained here, these reactions are a scalp health issue, not a normal shedding pattern, and they warrant a visit to your doctor or dermatologist.
How to Color Your Hair Smartly During Shedding Season
You don’t need to cancel your appointment. You can enjoy a new fall color by taking a few protective steps.
Fortify Before You Go
In the week leading up to your appointment, give your hair some extra love. Using a deep conditioning or protein hair mask can do wonders for hair strengthening. Arriving at the salon with well-moisturized, healthy hair gives your strands the best possible starting point to withstand the chemical process.
Communicate With Your Stylist
Tell your stylist that you’re feeling sensitive about seasonal shedding. A good professional can take extra steps to protect your hair and scalp, such as using a gentler formula, applying a barrier cream to your scalp, and being careful not to overlap bleach on already-processed ends.
Double Down on Post-Color Care
After your color, commit to a gentle care routine. Use a high-quality, sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner specifically designed for color-treated hair. Continue with a weekly reparative or moisturizing hair mask to replenish what was lost and keep your hair strong and resilient against breakage.
This post-color routine is essential for managing chemical-induced breakage. However, it doesn’t stop the seasonal shedding itself, which can still be unsettling. Understanding that this shedding is temporary and having a plan to nurture your follicles during this time is crucial. It’s about moving from the terror of autumn shedding to regaining thick hair with a holistic approach that supports your hair’s natural cycle.
Color with Confidence, Not Fear
The link between your new fall hair color and your autumn shed is almost always a coincidence in timing, not a cause-and-effect relationship. The real culprit is the natural, seasonal cycle of your hair.
So, rest assured. You don’t need to fear your fall hair appointment. By understanding the difference between shedding and breakage and by giving your hair the extra support it needs before and after, you can confidently enjoy your beautiful new autumn color.
