My Fall Hair-Care Routine

Alright, it’s official: the temperature has dipped and pumpkin spice is in the air (aka Fall is here). Just as you’d swap in richer moisturizers or balmy cleansers for your fall skincare routine, your hair and scalp deserve the same seasonal TLC. Here are the exact steps I’ll be taking (and yes, feel free to copy + paste any of these into your own routine).

Step 1: Quick Hair + Scalp Check-In

I’m a big believer in seasonal check-ins for both skin and hair. It doesn’t have to be complicated, but asking yourself a few questions can make your routine so much more targeted:

• Scalp: Does it feel itchy, tight, flaky, or greasy too fast?

• Ends: Do they feel brittle, limp, or rough?

• Shedding: Are you seeing more strands than usual in your brush or shower drain?
  

Think of these little “tests” give you a roadmap. If your scalp feels congested → focus on clarifying. If your ends feel dry → prioritize hydration. If shedding is up but otherwise mild → know it’s usually seasonal and normal. 

Now that you have that in your back pocket, here are some of the general shifts I make in my routine (please feel free to tailor it to your hair/scalp as much as you need)!

Step 2: Scalp TLC

It may be a cliche, but it’s a cliche for a reason: healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp. Especially after a summer of SPF, sweat, salt, and product buildup, a reset is pretty much a non-negotiable. I have a whole blog dedicated to some of my scalp staples, but here is a roundup of what I will be doing:

• Detox shampoo
  Again, after likely spending time in chlorine, the ocean, etc. your hair needs a solid detox routine. Let this be your sign to hop on the detox shampoo bandwagon. I like to use a gentle clarifying shampoo as my first wash every shampoo day. I find it to be the most efficient way to remove all hair build up (if you are using product in your hair, this is especially a must)

• Scalp serum or spray
  If you’ve noticed a lot of shedding with the turn of season, I highly recommend incorporating a targeted treatment. They can make a big difference if you’re dealing with thinning, irritation, or just want extra support. Two of my favorites are Maya Chia’s Power Fol and Arey To The Root — both contain peptides and nourishing ingredients that help support scalp health. Added Bonus: Arey’s scalp serum has clinically backed ingredients to prevent & reverse gray hair!

• Scalp scrub
  Ok you’ve probably picked up on the fact  that half my haircare routine is to combat some of the summer impacts (ie sun, swimming, etc) and half is to prepare for colder months. Fortunately, a scalp scrub works on both fronts. By gently exfoliating, it clears away the buildup that can clog follicles after summer and prevents the dryness and flakiness that often show up as the weather cools.

Step 3: Moisture, Moisture, Moisture

Just like you would reach for a more nourishing moisturizer in winter, the same goes for your hair. I like to think of it as extra hydration to prevent brittle hair later. Here are the 3 moisture suggestions I have:

• Weekly masks: I use a conditioning mask pretty much year round, but the frequency definitely shifts during dryer colder months. I talked about this in a youtube video, but conditioning masks are one of the first steps I suggest for anybody looking to level up their haircare routine (especially in Fall & Winter). There are so many good ones on the market, but Briogeo’s and Gisou’s are my favorites, they are just so rich and yummy.

• Pre-shampoo oiling: Air gets cooler = your ends are going to show it. That’s why I love pre-shampoo oiling even more in fall. I always get questions about this technique, so I want to set the method straight, once and for all! Adding oil before you wash creates a protective barrier, so your shampoo cleanses without pulling out the little moisture your strands are holding onto. Ideally have the oil on your ends for 15-20 minutes, prior to washing your hair!

• Wash cadence: This one is a little more case by case, but Fall tends to slow down oil production on the scalp, which means you may not need to wash as often as you did in summer. I suggest just playing around with your wash schedule and seeing if modifications need to be made!

Step 4: Don’t Skip the Trim

What a perfect time for me to remind you to get your dusting (roughly every 4–6 months) to prevent split ends from creeping upward. Personally, I like timing this with the turn of the season, but that is by no means necessary. 

Happy Fall everyone! I hope this helps your hair with the transition. As usual DM me any and all questions!

**Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links and may contain products gifted in PR. This means that I may earn a small commission when you purchase via these links at no additional cost to you (thank you! It helps me keep things up and running)… As always I ONLY recommend products, goods and services that I stand behind and personally love and use.