All your hair related questions answered:  Hair Health, Type + Texture Course.

Usually I can go 3-4 weeks, but I'm barely making it two weeks between fills!

You may be asking yourself or your lash artist the very same question, "What's going on?"

Welcome to the Fall Shed ladies and gents. That's right, it's that dreaded time of the year that lash artists and clients alike fear. Newer lash artists who may be unaware of Fall Shed begin questioning their skills and clients begin questioning if they're doing something wrong. Good news is, it's not you and it's not your lash artist. All humans experience this season of increased hair shedding. But why?

To understand Fall Shed, you must first understand how your hair grows.

The 3 phases of the lash growth phase

1 | Anagen Lash Growth Phase

In the anagen phase the hair is rooted to the follicle and it is receiving nutrients from your blood which promotes healthy growth. Have you ever tweezed or waxed, then immediately noticed spot bleeding? This is because the hair was pulled out during this active growth phase. Hair pulled out in this phase will often damage the hair follicle and can ultimately result in a dormant follicle that produces no hair. Which is great for unwanted hair in your bikini line, but not for your lashes and brows!

2 | Catagen Lash Growth Phase 

In the catagen phase the hair is no longer growing or receiving nutrients and the follicle begins to collapse. 

3 | Telogen Lash Growth Phase 

The last 100 days of the cycle, the hair is in the telogen or resting stage. The hair is detached and ready to be shed. Roughly 10% of all the hairs on your body, including your lashes, are in the telogen phase. On average you will loose up to 100 hairs and 3-5 lashes per day. 

Once the hair sheds, the cycle starts again. This entire cycle for all the hair on your body takes between 3 and 5 years. 

So, Why does "Fall Shed" happen?

No one really knows...

Disappointing isn't it. 

We do have some hints though. Swedish scientists examining this phenomenon suggest that,

They discovered that at the end of summer there was an increased percentage of hair in the telogen phase among the women tested. Because the telogen phase always precedes shedding, it makes since that more noticeable hair shedding was observed during the fall season. Fall Shed usually begins around the first week in October and will come to an end in December. 

What can you do about it?

Educate yourself

Congrats! You've already completed the first step! You now know about Fall Shed and why it happens. If you want to get into even deeper detail, check out our Hair Health, Type + Texture Course. We dive into all you need to know about hair! 

Take your (SPRAY) vitamins

Taking care of your body internally is extremely important. Hair is not essential to your survival, so if your body needs nutrients, it will send the nutrients away from the hair and direct those nutrients to where they need to go. The condition of your hair can be one of the first signs of your inner health. 

Use a lash serum such as the Lash and Brow Serum from Lash Affair. Our serum is filled with vitamins and peptides that work to deliver nutrients straight to the area that it's needed. It's also designed to send a message to hairs that are getting ready to shed, to have them stay put a little bit longer. 

Exercise

As you read earlier, hair grows in the anagen phase due to the nutrients provided by the blood. Exercising at a moderate intensity will increase your heart rate and blood flow, thus delivering more nutrients to your hair. According to Physiotherapist, Shamshu Charaniya, "Inversion yoga postures, such as downward dog and sun salutation, work by increasing blood flow to your scalp and head area, supplying essential nutrients for hair growth. These postures are purported to correct hormonal imbalances, which is another cause of hair loss."

De-Stress

When the body experiences stress, it produces a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol is quite helpful in dealing with short-term stress as it helps you have energy, quick reflexes, and heightened awareness. But over the long-term, stress can take it's toll and result in adrenal fatigue. When stress is sustained, some claim that the adrenal glands can be overworked due to excess cortisol production. This means that your cortisol levels, and other hormone levels, could fall. The result of this fall is that your body is unable to produce other important hormones that impact hair loss, such as testosterone. 

Here is another of our blogs that talks about 4 Self-Care Practices to Improve Your Health.

Practice good aftercare

You already have Fall Shed to worry about, so now, more than ever, you need to practice good aftercare for your lashes. These practices include proper cleansing using the TLC Foaming Cleanser at least once a day, sleeping on your back (if that's impossible for you, than make sure you are using an eye mask and/or Lash Pillow), and wear makeup that is approved for lash extensions. 

Get more frequent fills 

Now that you know all about Fall Shed, you don't have to be afraid as a client or as an artist. You can be empowered to take this season into your own hands. This season will soon pass and you can continue these tips to have healthy hair and lashes all year long!

Find a Lash Affair Lash Extension Certification Course near you.

If an Online Certification Course is your jam,

we have many online options for you too, babe.

If you need help launching your lash career,

consider applying for a Lash Affair Scholarship.

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