Changing Your Hair Habits
One important way to cut back on the amount of hair youre losing requires you to rethink your hair habits.
Styling your hair with heat from a blow dryer, straightener, or electric curler can damage your hair. This can speed up hair loss and even make it worse. It can also weaken your hair, leaving your already thinning hair looking even worse.
If you think that youre experiencing postpartum hair loss, consider dropping these habits for a while.
You might even consider brushing your hair less often and using a conditioner to break up tangles so that you wont have to yank and tug with a brush to get them loose.
Its also a great idea to swap your regular hair products for organic alternatives. Organic shampoos and conditioners are gentler on your locks, and also healthier to have around your baby!
Postpartum Hair Loss: Your Guide To Shedding After Pregnancy
You might notice some excessive shedding soon after welcoming your baby, and thats totally normal. Heres what new parents need to know about postpartum hair loss.
During pregnancy, you might have been blessed with a thick and lustrous mane of hair. After having the baby, however, your locks could start shedding excessively. This normal symptom results from hormonal changes in the body. So how long does postpartum hair loss last, and can you prevent it from happening? Keep reading to learn more.
What Can Be Done To Treat Hair Loss
In most cases, hair loss is just a temporary condition that will stop after six months maximum however, there are treatments available if your doctor deems them necessary: low-level laser therapy , topical minoxidil solutions, and even oral contraceptives to help balance hormonal fluctuations.
Both topical minoxidil solution and low-level laser therapy are quite effective in cases of temporary hair loss however, they can take up to six months or even longer start showing results.
Lastly, your doctor may prescribe oral contraceptives if you experience prolonged postpartum hair loss that lasts more than a year however, they can cause side effects such as weight gain, headaches, and abdominal bloating.
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How To Cope With Postpartum Hair Loss
If you feel discouraged by hair loss, he says to keep in mind that this is a temporary phase. According to the doctor, most shedding will resolve about three months after it starts. Knowing when this shedding will likely subside can help prepare you mentally and emotionally for this change.
Remember, postpartum hair loss occurs because you have just given birth to a baby. Try to focus on the bigger picture and have a long-term view.
Don’t get down on yourself, says Pacheco. Your body just did a fantastic thing, and it took a lot of work. Postpartum hair loss happens to every new mom to varying degrees. My best advice is to focus on regrowth because once it starts to fall out, it needs to run its course.
Since this fallout has nothing to do with your hair health or hair shaft, it cannot be stopped once it starts. However, there are ways to mitigate the loss.
Stress hormones can also lead to hair loss, says Pacheco. So try not to panicthe follicles aren’t dying off into baldness they are just resetting and letting go of old growth. Your hair will come back. Often stronger and fuller than before, and maybe with a new texture or wave than you had before.
What To Do About Postpartum Hair Loss
You can’t prevent postpartum hair loss. It’s a normal part of the recovery from pregnancy. There aren’t any treatments to stop telogen effluvium or to speed up new hair growth. Doctors recommend eating a healthy and balanced diet. This may help hair grow after the shedding phase ends.
The hair you shed after having a baby will grow back over time. However, you may notice that you have a lot of new hairs that are much shorter than the rest of your hair. These are the new strands growing in, and they are a normal part of the postpartum hair growth process.
You may not like the look of your hair during the shedding and regrowth phase. In that case, you can use styling products or techniques to improve the way your hair looks. Try lightweight conditioners to avoid weighing hair down and making it look limp. Volumizing products can make your hair appear fuller. A fresh cut or new color can also improve how your hair looks. Your stylist might be able to suggest styling tips that would help as well.
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How Much Loss Is Normal
There does come a time that most new moms will wonder if the hair loss they are experiencing is normal. It is pretty easy to convince yourself that there must be something wrong and you are surely going to go bald.
You do need to know how much loss is considered normal so you will know when to go to your doctor and have a consultation. So how much hair loss is normal postpartum?
Keep in mind that you will be losing nine months of hair that did not shed like it would have if you had not been pregnant. When you are not pregnant then you will typically shed around 80 strands a day. It is really common to find strands on your pillowcase and in your hairbrush.
But when you are postpartum you will on average, shed 400 strands of hair a day. That is a dramatic difference. Because it is so dramatic, it is understandable that you will be concerned with going bald. Trust us, its normal. If the hair loss has not slowed down by six months postpartum then you might want to talk to your doctor.
How To Hide Thinning Hair At The Temples
The most common place I see postpartum hair loss is in the temple regions and around the hairline. This is especially frustrating for women because it gives the appearance of a mans receding hairline.
Not to mention, losing hair in the temples can actually change the visual shape of the face, making it look less feminine.
But, heres a quick and simple fix I use all of the time!
Simply, use a matching eyeshadow or eyebrow powder and apply this with a brush to your thinning hairline.
After you have applied the powder, you can also use a brow gel with a spoolie to set the powder and lay down any postpartum hair regrowth.
Hairspray applied to a small comb or spoolie will also do the trick!
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How Long Does The Shedding From Postpartum Hair Loss Last
Every woman who gives birth will have a different hair loss presentation . If you do experience shedding, most women can expect it to continue shedding for a few months. This can mean 3 months for some women, 6 months for others, and very rarely it can last a year or more.
If you are still noticing increased hair shedding after around a year , it may be a good idea to speak with your doctor. Excessive shedding can be a sign of nutritional deficiencies, thyroid issues, or other health conditions, so it is important to rule those out and ensure it is just normal postpartum hair loss.
Best Hair Color For Postpartum Hair Loss
The first question to be answered, is if you can or even should dye your hair during postpartumhair loss.
The answer is YES!
There is no reason why you shouldnt color your hair even while it is not in the best shape.
In fact, if youre in good hands, coloring your postpartum hair can drastically improve the look and the quality of it!
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How Much Postpartum Shedding Is Normal
If youre finding a surplus of strands on your pillow or clogging the shower drain, youre not imagining things. Salinger explains that when you havent just had a baby, losing about 80 hairs a day is normal, but that new moms shed about 400 hairs a day. By six months postpartum, the hair loss should slow to pre-pregnancy amounts.
If you feel the shedding is not slowing down, chances are good that there are other health issues at play. Pregnancy can change your level of ferritin and can put your thyroid out of whack, so make sure to tell your doctor that youve noticed a lot of hair loss, and ask to have blood tests done to check both.
Taking Care Of Yourself
The postpartum period is one of the best times while also being one of the toughest times.
During the postpartum period, it is important to take good care of yourself. Taking care of yourself will help to reduce your postpartum hair loss.
Good nutrition is important, as you read about in this post. But you need to take care of your whole self. It can be tough but you should also pay attention to what you are putting on your body.
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Medical Related Hair Loss
Hair loss can be a symptom of various illnesses including thyroid disorder, lupus, and alopecia areata, and a side effect of medicines such as those used in cancer chemotherapy. Oftentimes, hair will grow back if you stop taking the medication at fault. Certain types of medical hair loss can be remedied through the use of natural ingredients, such as those in Zenagen products.
There are more causes of hair loss that can be more nuanced that we will discuss throughout the month!
Diagram showing the hair follicle with DHT blockage. Once DHT starts to build up, it becomes more difficult for thicker, fuller hair to grow.
Hair Loss In New Moms
Hair loss in new moms
Many new moms see noticeable hair loss a few months after having a baby. This is normal and not true hair loss. Dermatologists refer to this condition as excessive hair shedding. The excessive shedding is caused by falling estrogen levels.
If the excessive hair shedding bothers you, these tips from board-certified dermatologists can help until your hair regains its normal fullness.
Many new moms see noticeable hair loss a few months after having a baby. This is normal and it is not true hair loss. Dermatologists refer to this condition as excessive hair shedding. The excessive shedding is caused by falling estrogen levels.
The good news is that this excessive shedding is temporary, and you do not have to do anything to remedy it. Most women see their hair return to its normal fullness by their childs first birthday. Many women regain normal fullness even earlier.
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Why Postpartum Hair Loss Occurs
Most women notice their hair changing while theyre pregnantoftentimes hair will thicken up, become fuller, and maybe a little on the dryer side. After pregnancy, however, these same women might notice that their hair starts falling out in earnest.
The simple explanation is this: there are a lot of different hormone shifts happening while youre pregnant, one of them promoting hair growth. The hormones going on inside your pregnant body are actually preventing you from shedding. Everyone sheds every day, but that typically stops while youre pregnantsomething subtle that you might not notice. Instead, youll notice your hair getting thicker.
After pregnancy, your hormones return to their status quo, meaning theres a big drop in estrogen. This drop triggers your regular shedding schedulewhich you havent been on for months. So, your body starts shedding more than usual to get rid of all the excess hair. This event is called telogen effluvium and is usually triggered by a significant event like giving birth. It normally takes about three months of all that excess hair to shed out, which is why most women notice shedding around three months postpartum.
Diet For Postpartum Hair Loss
A proper diet can help decrease postpartum hair loss. Biotin along with vitamins A, C, D, E, and zinc have been shown to be beneficial.
The best Vitamins & Minerals for postpartum hair loss
Biotin is considered part of the B vitamins. It typically is a good source of protein as well. Foods that are rich in biotin include eggs, seeds, and nuts.
Vitamin A plays a crucial role in cell growth. This includes hair cells. Vitamin A also helps the body produce sebum. Sebum is an oily substance that keeps the scalp moisturized. Foods high in Vitamin A include sweet potatoes, pumpkins, carrots, and kale.
Vitamin C contains antioxidants that help protect against stress. It also helps your body produce collagen. Lastly, vitamin C assists your body in absorbing iron. Iron is necessary for hair growth. Foods that are high in vitamin C include strawberries, citrus fruits, and peppers.
Vitamin D works to stimulate hair follicles. This stimulation assists with hair growth. Additionally, alopecia has been linked to low vitamin D levels. Our bodies process vitamin D with the help of rays from the sun. Supplements are your best source of vitamin D.
Vitamin E is an antioxidant like vitamin C. A small study was completed using tocotrienols from vitamin E. This study found positive hair growth in the group taking tocotrienols. Sunflower seeds, almonds, and spinach are all good sources of vitamin E.
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Jessie James Decker Is Dealing With Postpartum Hair Loss
Being a new parent comes with plenty of surprises, some more welcome than others. As country singer Jessie James Decker explained on Instagram this week, one of those less pleasant surprises is that your hair might start falling out.
Any other mamas losing their hair like me right now? she captioned a gif of herself carrying her baby. I really thought this time it wouldnt go because it held off for so long.”
Fans sympathized in the comments and offered up suggestions, ranging from biotin supplements to collagen powder. So we talked to experts about what really causes this phenomenon and if there’s any way to deal with it.
Instagram content
Technically, telogen effluvium is actually a form of hair shedding rather than hair loss, the organization says, meaning that your hair is falling out earlier in its cycle than usual, but it will be replaced by new hair.
Under normal circumstances, your hair goes through three major phases: a growth phase, a transitional phase when your hair stops growing, and a resting phase. After the resting phase, your hair falls out.
When new hair grows in later, it pushes out that old hair and causes shedding. In fact, its normal for you to shed between 50 and 100 hairs a day. But, in some cases, your body might shed an excessive amount of hair .
But even if your hair loss is just what it seems, your dermatologist can talk to you about your options.
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