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What to Know & Do About Postpartum Hair Loss

There’s plenty of things that are no fun about pregnancy, but there’s a few that make it seem all worth it. One of these things, of course, is your beautiful baby at the end. Another undoubtedly cool perk; awesome hair. You may have noticed during your pregnancy that your hair was shiny and glowing like never before. You weren’t imagining things, this is the case for so many mamas to be. Then when your hair begins to fall out postpartum, it can come as a huge shock and to be honest just feels so unfair! However, as normal as it was for you to have amazing locks during pregnancy it’s equally normal for you to lose a seemingly absurd amount of hair after. So, let’s go over everything to know about postpartum hair loss.

Postpartum Hair Loss

What to Know About Postpartum Hair Loss

The number one thing you need to know about postpartum hair loss is that it is totally normal, so while there might seem to be a lot of freaky changes going on with your body this is definitely one to stay calm about. While it’s nothing to freak out about, we completely understand how frustrating it can be. And, we aren’t going to the lie that the exhaustion of a new baby can really push you to the edge, making your frustration with hair loss even worse. Understanding it may help you see the light at the tunnel, though!

When Does Postpartum Hair Loss Begin

postpartum hair loss

Hair loss usually begins about 3 months postpartum and may continue through the first year. You’ve probably already guessed the correct answer to why this is happening because they are pretty much the reason for all the wonky things going on with your body; hormones. Because of elevated estrogen levels, you lose less hair while pregnant. When estrogen levels go back down after you welcome your baby, you begin to lose hair at the same pace you did before pregnancy. The catch is that in addition to this, you lose all that extra hair that wasn’t falling out during your pregnancy.

Why Does Postpartum Hair Loss Happen

postpartum hair loss

To go a bit farther in depth, hair grows in cycles with a growth and a rest period. When estrogen levels are high, your hair stays in the growth period for longer. This is what makes your hair extra thick during pregnancy because very little falls out during growth cycles. When estrogen levels go back down, a large portion of your hair enters the rest period in which you typically shed.

What to Do About Postpartum Hair Loss

    • Don’t aim for prevention, aim for living with it for the time being.

      What we mean by this, is try some things that make the hair loss more bearable. The tips below will help you out with this! Afterall, you aren’t going to look back at these days and think about your hair struggles. You will think about the amazing days of getting to know the new addition to your family. Throw your hair up in a messy bun and go on with your day, it’s totally in style anyways.

hair loss postpartum

    • Try a new hairstyle.

      While the messy bun may be your new go to, you might also want to consider a new haircut. Cutting your hair shorter can make the fall out seem a bit more manageable. Find a trusted hairstylist and ask them what they think would be best. They understand hair better than both you and I and can suggest what they think will be best to help you feel better about postpartum hair loss. A new shorter do might be easier to deal with when you’ve got a new baby around anyways!

      There’s definitely some great extensions out there these days, meaning you can add some length to your locks easily if you regret the cut a few months down the road. Check out Barefoot Blonde if extensions sound like they may be your thing. I have a friend who is absolutely in love with her Barefoot Blonde Extensions and because you can sample colors, she was able to match her hair perfectly.

    • Invest in some volumizing, ultra moisturizing shampoo.

      Shampoo can actually make a huge difference in your hair when it’s going through big changes like this. Go for products that say they are thickening and add volume, like Not Your Mother’s Blue Sea Kale and Coconut Water or R+Co Dallas Thickening Shampoo. It’s also good to stick with shampoo that doesn’t strip your hair of its essential oils and is free of parabens & sodium laureth sulfate.

    • Keep heavy products, like conditioners and creams, off your roots.

While a good shampoo is important, besides that it is best to let your hair do its own thing. It will get back to normal within the year, just be patient!

  • Stay healthy and remember to take your vitamins.

    You are probably already doing this for the sake of your baby and getting back into shape, but these things should also help encourage healthy hair growth.

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Amber Mamian
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