lose more hair in autumn than at other times of the year, according to experts. Who knew?
So if you feel like your ponytail is thinner than it used to be, or you find a worrying amount of hair going down the plughole, there could be some natural ways to boost your volume and prevent hair loss.

We asked Shona Wilkinson, head nutritionist at Nutricentre for her top tips on which foods are high in the key nutrients for your hair.

1. Selenium

Brazil nuts are packed with essential beauty nutrients (edwaado/Flickr)

Not only can selenium benefit the skin, it also helps to keep your hair nourished.
“Brazil nuts and wheat germ are a great source of selenium. Other foods rich in selenium are whole grains (barley, wheat, rye, buckwheat, oats and brown rice), fish, seafood and lean meats, sunflower seeds and other nuts such as pecans and almonds,” Wilkinson says.

owever, sometimes soil in certain areas can be low in selenium, so organic Brazil nuts or a good quality supplement can be a great way to improve the condition of your hair.”

2. Zinc

Oysters

Not exactly an everyday food so try garlic, oats and pecans (avlxyz/Flickr)

If you have low zinc levels in your system this can lead to the deterioration of the protein structure that makes up the hair follicle. This weakening of follicles can in turn cause hair shedding and hair loss.

She says: “Oysters, pumpkin seeds, ginger root, pecans, Brazil nuts, oats, almonds, turnips and garlic are all great sources of zinc, and are another great way of keeping your hair in tip-top condition.”