Spring: What hair-care routine should you follow?

The wind, freezing temperatures, and wearing hats and scarves put hair under intense strain during the winter and weakened the hair fibers. These various factors tend to alter the cuticle, the hair’s protective outer layer, by lifting its scales. This makes hair drier, duller, and more brittle, with a greater tendency to develop split ends. By the time spring arrives, this accumulated fragility can also heighten the perception of seasonal hair shedding, which is already common at this time of year. Therefore, to restore cohesion to the fibers and prepare them for the change of season, the first step is to repair them using nourishing treatments. These will help rebuild their protective sheath and re-seal the lifted cuticle scales.

• Do oil baths.

  To restore this protective barrier, you can do baths with plant-based oils, for example with avocado oil, once or twice a week. These oils provide lipids that can strengthen the cohesion of the cuticle scales. Rich in fatty acids such as linoleic acid, plant oils help fill in any irregularities between the ceramides, which are found in the intercellular “cement” of the cuticle and ensure that the cuticle scales adhere to one another. At the same time, the fatty acids present in plant oils help rebuild a protective film on the surface of the hair, reducing dehydration and improving its resistance to everyday damage (repeated brushing, hair dryer, hair coloring, bleaching, UV rays, straightening, etc.).

  Specifically, apply a few drops of oil to the lengths and ends, leave it on for about fifteen minutes, then proceed with your shampoo.

• Apply a nourishing, restorative mask.

  To deeply nourish and repair the hair fiber, you can also apply a mask to your ends instead of an oil treatment. This step is done once or twice a week on washed hair, before rinsing thoroughly. These treatments generally contain plant-based oils and butters, which help fill in the hair cuticles and provide shine and suppleness.

The transition from winter to spring is frequently accompanied by seasonal hair loss, sometimes perceived as more pronounced than during the rest of the year. This phenomenon can be partly explained by changes in light exposure: as the days grow longer, there is a decrease in the production of melatonin, a hormone involved in the regulation of biological rhythms. Melatonin also plays a role in the hair cycle, supporting the growth phase, known as the anagen phase, and exerting antioxidant effects. Its decline can therefore promote a faster shift of hairs into the shedding phase, or telogen phase, contributing to hair loss in the spring.

Note : Springtime hair shedding is a well-documented phenomenon in the scientific literature.

As an example, a group of researchers followed more than 800 women for six years and observed two peaks in the proportion of hairs in the telogen phase over the course of a year: in April and in July.

At the same time, the change of season imposes on the body a phase of physiological adaptation. Variations in temperature, humidity, and lifestyle can generate transient stress that may affect the balance of the hair cycle. A varied and well-balanced diet plays a key role here: adequate intake of micronutrients (iron, zinc, B vitamins) and antioxidants helps support the health of the hair follicle and limit excessive shedding. Certain plant extracts rich in antioxidant compounds, such as green tea or rosemary, are also being studied for their potential to improve scalp circulation and reduce oxidative stress, although clinical studies on this topic remain limited.

Finally, a few simple steps can help limit hair weakening in the spring. Choose lukewarm water rinses and avoid excessively high heat sources, such as high‑temperature hair dryers, which can damage the hair fiber. When drying, gently blot the hair with a towel instead of rubbing it, in order to preserve its integrity and reduce breakage.

In the spring, exfoliating the scalp can be particularly relevant to help the body adapt to seasonal changes. Just like the skin on the face, the scalp undergoes continuous cellular renewal, but this process can be disrupted by the buildup of sebum, product residues, or environmental particles (pollen, pollution), which are more prevalent at this time of year. The result: dead cells accumulate, which can lead to itchy scalp in spring and disrupt the skin microbiome.

Doing a scalp scrub thus helps to gently unclog the scalp and reduce blockage of hair follicles. Used in addition to shampoo, it promotes a healthier environment that supports optimal hair growth, and improves the penetration of active ingredients in subsequent treatments, whether they are purifying, soothing, or strengthening.

Tip : For a healthy scalp, perform one to two exfoliating treatments per week.

After the various types of damage they endure during the winter—particularly rubbing against scarves and tangling caused by the wind—hair typically develops split ends in the spring. From a microscopic perspective, split ends appear when the cuticle scales, which are normally tightly packed together, begin to “lift” or separate. Once exposed, the hair fiber is weakened and splits into several fragments. To give your hair a boost and restore its vitality, it is best to cut off all the damaged sections.

Once a split end has formed, it cannot be eliminated. A trim with scissors also provides a solid foundation to face the new season and the return of warmer weather.

With the return of sunny days, hair is more exposed to the sun, which has consequences for its structure. The hair fiber absorbs UV radiation, which interacts directly with its components, particularly keratin. Certain amino acids, such as tryptophan, are especially sensitive to UVB and undergo chemical transformations that serve as markers of hair photodegradation. At the same time, UV can alter disulfide bonds, which are essential for the cohesion and mechanical strength of the fiber, making the hair more brittle and fragile. UVA, for their part, promote the formation of free radicals, which are responsible for the oxidation of hair proteins and pigments. This results in progressive lightening, with yellowish tones, and a loss of shine. Finally, sun exposure is often accompanied by dehydration of the hair fiber, increasing dryness, particularly in curly or coily hair.

To limit the effects of the sun on hair, the simplest solution is still to wear a hat or a scarf, which creates a barrier against UV rays.

The use of hair care products containing UV filters or antioxidants can also help protect the hair fiber against oxidative stress. Additionally, remember to regularly apply moisturizing or nourishing treatments to compensate for water loss, and to rinse your hair with clean water after prolonged exposure to the sun. Finally, limiting the use of heated styling tools during the summer helps avoid adding extra sources of damage to an already weakened hair fiber.

In spring, the increased presence of pollen in the air can also affect the scalp. These fine particles easily settle on the hair and can build up over the course of the day, which can be uncomfortable, especially for people who are sensitive or prone to allergies. This can lead to scalp itching and may even worsen certain types of irritation. To limit this effect, it is recommended to wash your hair more frequently during high-pollen periods, avoid handling it excessively after being outdoors and, if needed, tie it back to reduce its contact with allergens. Rinsing your hair at the end of the day also helps effectively remove residual pollen.

• TRUEB R. & al. Seasonality of hair shedding in healthy women complaining of hair loss. Dermatology (2009).

• VELASCO M. V. & al. Effects of solar radiation on hair and photoprotection. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology: Biology (2015).

• WILLICUT R. J. & al. UV and visible light exposure to hair leads to widespread changes in the hair lipidome. International Journal of Cosmetic Science (2022).

• TROMPEZINSKI S. & al. Protective and cleansing effect of a skin care product against pollen allergen accumulation in the hair follicle. Journal of Investigative Dermatology (2022).

• ABOU-HUSSEIN D. & al. Pathophysiology, conventional treatments, and evidence-based herbal remedies of hair loss with a systematic review of controlled clinical trials. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology (2025).

• HALAYOUBI H. & al. Herbal remedies for hair loss: A review of efficacy and safety. Skin Appendage Disorders (2025).