The anti-hair loss serum built to protect your scalp from summer's hidden damage

We talk a lot about "holiday hair" - usually in the context of beachy texture, sun-kissed lengths or our best hair products for humidity. What we don't talk about nearly enough is what summer might be doing to our scalp.

Because between UV exposure, sweaty workouts, sea swims, chlorinated pools and extra wash days, the warmer months can create a very different environment for the skin beneath our hair. For some of us, that shift comes with an unexpected side effect: noticing more strands in the shower, on the hairbrush or tangled in the drain.

The good news is that shedding isn't something to fear, and there are ways to give your scalp the same seasonal attention you'd give the rest of your skin.

Pantene's Grow Abundant Anti-Hair Loss Scalp Serum is formulated as a daily dose of scalp-nourishing ingredients, built around a 3,000mg Pro-Vitamin Complex with antioxidants - including Pro-Vitamin B5, niacinamide and piroctone olamine - designed to help combat oxidative stress and support a healthier scalp environment.

The formula is lightweight and non-greasy, so it won't weigh hair down even if you're layering it under SPF or styling products, and it's clinically proven to help reduce hair loss by anchoring hair at the roots. In an 8-week clinical study, 80% of users saw improved hair density, with an average of 6,000 more hairs retained at the root - and 9 out of 10 users reported their hair felt healthier overall.

Why summer is tougher on your scalp than you think

Seasonal shedding tends to get talked about in the context of autumn, but summer brings its own set of scalp stressors - and they're easy to underestimate. A recent Pantene study of 2,000 Brits found that over a third of us (36%) find dry or irritated scalp highly frustrating during the summer months.

That's not surprising when you consider everything the scalp is dealing with. Sea water can dehydrate the scalp and compromise its natural barrier, leaving it more prone to dryness and sensitivity. UV exposure causes oxidative stress and direct cellular damage, weakening the scalp's resilience. Chlorinated pool water strips away protective oils and can act as an irritant, contributing to dryness and flaking. And sweat that sits on the scalp for long periods - after a workout, say, or a day in the heat - can encourage irritation and microbial imbalance, potentially worsening conditions like dandruff.

Even the habits we adopt to cope with summer can add to the problem. Washing more frequently is often necessary, but overdoing it (or using harsh cleansers) can strip too much sebum and disrupt the scalp barrier. And tight styles - buns, plaits, ponytails to keep hair off the neck in the heat - place mechanical stress on the scalp and follicles, which over time can contribute to inflammation and even traction-related hair loss.

"Many people associate seasonal shedding with autumn, but the scalp experiences a unique set of challenges throughout summer," says Dr Cedric Callens, Scientific Communications Lead at Pantene. "Increased perspiration, stronger UV exposure, chlorinated water and repeated washing can all influence the scalp environment and how consumers perceive changes in hair fall."

Before you panic, it's worth remembering that losing hair is not, in itself, a red flag. "It's important to remember that some degree of shedding is a natural part of the hair cycle," Dr Callens explains - on average, we lose somewhere between 50 and 100 hairs a day. "The goal isn't to eliminate shedding entirely, but to support the scalp conditions that help hair feel stronger, healthier-looking and better cared for at the root."

That's a helpful reframe. Because hair fibres can't simply be "glued" back once they've shed or broken, the more useful question isn't how do I stop losing hair? but how do I protect my scalp so hair grows back stronger from here? A healthy scalp environment is, essentially, the foundation everything else is built on.

"The scalp is skin, yet it's often excluded from conversations around seasonal care," adds Dr Callens. "Supporting the scalp barrier and caring for hair at the root can help support healthier-looking hair and better retention over time. Small, consistent habits incorporated into daily routines can make a meaningful difference."

None of this means you need to obsess over every strand that falls out, or avoid the pool, the sea or a good workout for the sake of your scalp. It just means treating the skin under your hair with the same seasonal care you'd give the rest of your skin - so you're supporting stronger, healthier-looking hair from the root up, and can get on with actually enjoying the summer.