That Extra Hair in Your Brush? It’s Not Just You. Why “Daylight Savings Time Ends” Is the Real Culprit.

The Clock Shock: Why One Hour Can Put Your Hair Under Pressure

It’s autumn, and you’ve noticed more hair in your brush. It’s easy to write it off as seasonal shedding and try to ignore it. But if you feel like the shedding has become more intense in recent weeks, you’re not alone, and you’re not imagining it. There is a hidden and powerful factor that can amplify this phenomenon: the end of daylight saving time.

That abrupt one-hour “fall back” is more than just a darker evening; it’s a shock to our body’s internal biological clock. This physiological stress can have a direct and surprising impact on the health of your hair follicles.

We’re exploring the fascinating science behind this connection to explain why that single hour might be the real culprit behind your increased hair fall, and how you can protect your hair from its effects.

The Science: How the Time Change Affects Your Hair Follicles

The link between the clock change and your hair is a cascade of biological responses.

The Circadian Rhythm Disruption

Your body runs on a precise internal clock called a circadian rhythm, which regulates everything from your deep sleep to your hormone release. A sudden one-hour time shift disrupts this rhythm, creating a form of “social jet lag.” This disruption is a real physical stressor for the body. As health experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explain, disruptions to our circadian rhythm can have wide-ranging effects on our overall health and well-being.

The Cortisol Connection

This is the most critical link. A disrupted sleep rhythm and the stress of adapting to a new schedule can cause an increase in the production of the body’s primary stress hormone, Cortisol. Elevated Cortisol levels are a powerful signal to your hair follicles, telling them to prematurely shift from the active growth (anagen) phase into the resting and shedding (telogen) phase.

The “Double Whammy” Effect

The stress from the clock change happens at the exact time of year when your hair is already naturally prone to seasonal shedding. These two factors combine and amplify each other, which can make the hair fall seem much more significant and alarming, further increasing your anxiety.

The At-a-Glance Comparison Table: Your Body Before and After the “Fall Back”

Your Hair Rescue Plan: How to Counteract the Clock Change Effect

You can’t stop the clocks from changing, but you can support your body through the transition.

Strategy 1: Prioritize Morning Light

The most effective way to reset your internal clock is with bright light exposure in the morning. As soon as you wake up, open the curtains or, even better, go for a short walk outside. This tells your brain it’s officially the start of the day.

This strategy of prioritizing morning light is especially critical during darker months when natural sunlight is scarce. For those who can’t get outside, this is where using light therapy to fight winter fatigue becomes an essential tool for managing that circadian disruption.

Strategy 2: Protect Your Sleep

Be extra diligent with your night routine in the weeks following the time change. Avoid screens an hour before bed and create a cool, dark, and quiet sleep environment to help your body re-synchronize and achieve restorative deep sleep.

Strategy 3: Manage Stress Proactively

Counteract the anxiety from shorter, darker days with active stress management techniques. A few minutes of meditation, deep breathing exercises, or gentle yoga can help lower Cortisol levels and support your mental health.

The Verdict: An Amplifier, Not a Sentence

So, does the end of daylight saving time single-handedly cause your hair to fall out? No. But it is a significant physiological stressor that can absolutely amplify and accelerate the natural seasonal shedding process.

You can’t control the time, but you can control how you support your body during this annual transition. By prioritizing sleep, managing stress, and getting morning light, you are actively investing in the health and strengthening of your hair for the coming season.