If your hair has changed after giving birth, you’re not alone. While some people notice an increase in dryness or oiliness, or a change in texture, postpartum hair loss is one of the most common post-pregnancy symptoms. Noticing your hair falling out can be jarring. You’re already going through huge life and hormone changes, the last thing you want to deal with is hair loss. But rest assured, it’s totally normal and there are things you can try to help. Take a look at these postpartum haircare routine tips for new moms!
How Does Pregnancy Affect Your Hair Health?
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can affect your hair. Many women experience their hair feeling thicker around 15 weeks of pregnancy. This is due to hair staying in its growth phase for longer, which means less hair falls out than usual. Pregnancy hormones actually prevent normal day-to-day shedding.
During pregnancy, your body increases the amount of estrogen and progesterone it produces, which signals more follicles to enter the growing phase than the resting phase of the hair growth cycle. During this time, you may notice thicker, fuller hair. You may also notice that your hair grows significantly faster than it did before you were pregnant.
Following childbirth, these hormone levels drop and the hair follicles enter the resting phase. After about 100 days in the resting phase, the hair begins to shed. In addition to changes in estrogen and progesterone levels, stress and nutrition also impact hormone levels, which can affect hair growth.
7 Things to Know About Postpartum Hair Health
- Postpartum hair loss is normal. It affects 40% to 50% of people following childbirth.
- It’s common to experience hair loss after pregnancy due to your estrogen and progesterone levels dropping and returning to normal. Since you stopped shedding for several months during pregnancy, the hair that’s been sticking to your head needs to come out. The medical term for postpartum hair loss is telogen effluvium.
- Many people who give birth experience excessive hair loss after pregnancy – hair shedding tends to peak about four months after giving birth.
- You may notice hair falling out around your head, or clumps that come loose when you brush it or shower. Some postpartum people lose some strands around their hairline, so the hair looks very fine at the front, as if they’re balding.
- Hair can also start to feel different during postpartum. This can include an increase in dryness or oiliness, as well as changes in texture.
- Some factors put you at higher risk for postpartum hair loss: family history of post-pregnancy hair loss, having twins (or any multiple birth), or other medical conditions such as thyroid disease, anemia, or autoimmune conditions.
- You can expect your hair growth to go back to normal six months to one year after giving birth- if it doesn’t, or if you feel your hair loss is excessive, you should speak to your doctor.
6 Easy Postpartum Haircare Routine Tips for New Moms
1. Don’t Over Wash Your Hair
Keep your hair clean, but make sure not to over wash it. Your hair follicles become weaker after giving birth, and if you’re experiencing postpartum hair loss, washing it too much can worsen the problem. Try not to wash your hair more than twice a week, three times at most. Use a quality shampoo that won’t cause your hair to dry out or break. The Nutrafol Root Purifier Shampoo hydrates the hair while improving volume and strength. Formulated with antioxidant-rich wild berries, vegan proteins, and probiotics, it helps support healthy hair and deeply cleanses without stripping your hair of beneficial oils.
2. Use a Strengthening Hair Mask
A strengthening hair mask such as the OUAI Treatment Mask will help make your hair healthy and strong. It’s formulated with shea butter to help hydrate, soften, and condition your hair, and hydrolyzed keratin to prevent breakage and reduce frizz. It also contains panthenol to improve overall strength. After washing and pat-drying your hair, apply a quarter size amount of products starting from the ends and working to the roots. Comb through with a wide-tooth comb, let it sit for five minutes, and rinse with cool water. Use it once a week to strengthen your strands.
3. Consider a Haircut
They call it the mom cut for a reason. The “mom haircut” is essentially a lob (long bob) that falls between the chin and collarbone. It’s a classic style that suits most face shapes and hair types, and many new moms opt for this shorter cut due to practicality and ease. While a lob can be easily styled and worn down, it can also be quickly thrown up into a ponytail or claw clip. Lobs are super trendy, with celebs like Emma Stone and Rose Brynn donning the style. Plus, it makes the hair look fuller and healthy, which is ideal if you’re experiencing thinning.
4. Maintain a Healthy Diet
After giving birth, nutrition may be the last thing on your mind, but it’s super important to follow a healthy, nutrient-rich diet postpartum. It will help your overall recovery and can also be beneficial for postpartum hair loss. Include a variety of fruits, vegetables, healthy proteins, and whole grains. There are certain foods that are specifically good for hair health including dark leafy greens, eggs, avocados, and fish.
5. Take It Easy with Styling
Try allowing your hair to air dry until the thinning subsides. Heating it with a blow dryer or straightener can make it appear thinner, not to mention, cause damage. If you do heat style your hair, make sure to use a heat protectant and stick to once a week at most. Brushing your hair too hard can also cause your hair to fall out in clumps, so be extra gentle when brushing. When you wash your hair, try brushing it through in the shower after you condition instead of waiting until you get out of the shower.
6. Care for Your Scalp
It’s important to cleanse your scalp regularly to reduce buildup that can contribute to seborrheic dermatitis, which can lead to redness and inflammation. Work a scalp massage into your routine to boost circulation, remove dead skin cells, and enhance the penetration of hair-loving ingredients. You can use your fingers or a hand-held scalp massager– either way make sure to be extra gentle so you don’t pull out any existing hairs.
If you’re experiencing postpartum hair loss, don’t worry. Be patient and try these tips to get your hair back to its healthy state.
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