How To Help Postpartum Hair Loss
First, the bummer: There’s not exactly much you can do to prevent postpartum hair loss from happening. “Once the triggering event happens and that shifts the hair cycle, there is nothing you can do to prevent it from coming out,” explains Dr. Francis.
However, there are steps you can take to make sure it doesn’t continue for longer than it should. In large, this comes down to making sure you’re doing your best to take care of yourself post-pregnancy by eating healthy, resting when you can, and letting your body heal.
Specifically, diet can play a big role, says Kingsley. A biggie nutrient? Protein. “Proteins are used to build tissue cells, including the cells of your hair, skin, and nails,” she explains. “Eighty to 85 percent of your hair is composed of a protein called keratin. Dietary proteins are your hairs’ building blocksthey make your hair strong and help keep it in its growing phase.”
Other key nutrients, according to Kingsley? L-lysine, an amino acid that helps the body form collagen to give hair shape and elasticity B12, which helps your body make enough red blood cells to transport oxygen to your tissues and vitamin D, which plays a role in the creation of hair follicles .
In the meantime, however, products can help make your mane look and feel thicker until your hair regains its normal fullness. Here are a few great buys from supplements to hair care supplies to add to your postpartum hair-care routine.
How To Manage Postpartum Hair Loss
Its best to try to limit scalp irritation and inflammation during this time. Try to avoid ingredients like sulfates, parabens, and other harsh chemicals found in shampoos and styling products. They can cause inflammation at the scalp, leading to excess hair loss and weakened new growth, says Pacheco. Use vitamin and protein-rich shampoos, conditioners, and masks. Look for ingredients like keratin and collagen to help fortify the hair.
Dr. Yates has a Daily Thickening Shampoo that helps with fine and thinning hair. It is a volumizing cleanser containing pumpkin seed oil, yucca root extract, and biotin. Its formulated to thicken each hair strand and gently cleanse the scalp by removing residue and DHT build-up. The result is healthier, fuller-looking hair, says Dr. Yates.
Caffeine is another great ingredient to stimulate blood flow. It’s commonly used in skin care and hair care for its antioxidant properties. You can also stimulate blood flow by manually massaging your scalp daily. This can be done manually, simply by moving your fingers around your head in the shower. You could also use a tool like the Briogeo Scalp Revival Stimulating Therapy Massager.
Cédric recommends using silk scrunchies instead of harsh elastics, a microfiber towel , and avoiding hot tools as much as possible to prevent any further breakage or damage on your already delicate hair.
How To Prevent Postpartum Hair Loss
Can you stop postpartum hair loss? Probably not, but you might be able to control it. According to Dr. Shah, good nutrition is essential after giving birth, and it can help keep your hair strong, healthy, and intact . Don’t skimp on your protein and iron intake!
That said, if the shedding seems out of the ordinary, you may want to check with your doctor. They may test you for thyroid disorders or other health issues.
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Why Do I Still Look Pregnant 3 Months Postpartum
Even though your baby is out, you may still have a round, squishy midsection that makes you look like you’re six months pregnant. Many women also have a dark line down their abdomen (called a linea nigra and a web of stretch marks, which are actually little scars caused by the extensive stretching of skin.
Avoid Intense Hair Treatments
Now is not the time to try a new keratin treatment that just hit the market instead, its a time to be gentle with your strands. Dr. Garshick recommends using conditioners that are formulated for fine hair, such as Briogeo Blossom and Bloom Volumizing Conditioner, and avoiding such intensive conditioning treatments. While these may seem to help the hair look and feel softer and smoother, it is important to avoid any conditioning products that are too heavy and will weigh the hair down, she says.
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Hair Care Tips For New Moms
If excessive hair loss is taking away the joy of motherhood, we have some tips that can help you. These are tips from certified dermatologists on how to look after your hair post pregnancy.
Washing your hair
Tip 1: Use a volumizing shampoo and conditioner to get your hair to bounce back. Volumizing products contain ingredients like protein that coat the hair to make it appear fuller, thicker and more voluminous.
Tip 2: Avoid any shampoo labeled as conditioning shampoo. Heavy conditioners can weigh down your hair and make it appear limp.
Tip 3: Use a conditioner formulated for fine hair to make your hair appear smooth and voluminous. The lighter formula should not make your hair appear flat. Avoid intensive conditioners for your hair. They make your hair fall flat and greasy.
Tip 4: Avoid the scalp while conditioning your hair and focus primarily on the ends of your hair. This keeps your hair looking light and clean for a longer period.
Read our blog post on the 12 Best Shampoos for Fine Hair here!
How To Stop Or Prevent Postpartum Hair Loss
If the hair loss youâre experiencing is caused by hormonal changes associated with pregnancy and childbirth, the hair loss may simply stop on its own without any treatment at all.Still, there are steps you can take to help prevent some of the hair loss:
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Get enough vitamins and nutrients by eating lots of fruits and vegetables
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Be gentle when you wash and brush your hair
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Donât wear tight hairdos that can pull on your hair
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Use only the cool setting on your hair dryer.
Above all, try to be patient with yourself. You have lots on your plate right now and there might not be much more you can do than wait it out.
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When To See A Doctor
While your hair will likely start to grow back before your babys first birthday, if youre not noticing any new hair growth after this period, it may be time to see a doctor. If the hair loss is severe, or doesnt improve by 12 to 15 months after birth, I recommend seeing your doctor for an evaluation, says Dr. Roskin.
While postpartum hair loss isnt anyones favorite thing to deal with, its worth remembering that its a temporary, and typical, part of the postpartum processand for the vast majority of people, youll have your full head of hair back in no time.
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Nutrafol Core For Women
What Is Postpartum Hair Loss
Many women experience some hair loss after giving birth. You might find that your hair seems a little thinner all over your head, or you might notice that youâre âsheddingâ a little more than usual when you run your fingers through your hair or when you wash your hair, for example.Although you may feel worried about it, remember that this kind of hair loss is common during the postpartum period and is usually temporary. As the effects of pregnancy-related hormonal changes on your body slowly subside, your hair will usually return to normal â in other words what it was before you were pregnant.
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Postpartum Hair Loss Is A Scary Upsetting Issue More People Need To Talk About
After you have a baby, there’s hardly time for yourself. Showers are few and far between, meals are generally eaten while standing in the kitchen, and fixing your hair is out of the question. But while your hair is probably the last thing on your mind, it is part of an issue that not enough people talk about: postpartum hair loss. Dr. Heather Hawthorne, MD and board-certified family physician at Doctor On Demand, spoke to POPSUGAR about postpartum hair loss, which affects a lot more women than most people realize.
Take Your Postpartum Hair Loss Vitamins
Multivitamins should never replace a nourishing diet, especially when you are a new mom. However, they may be of assistance if your diet lacks balance. While no particular vitamin can stop hair loss completely, they are essential for overall health. Doctors often recommend taking your prenatal vitamins after childbirth, especially if you are breastfeeding.
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Postpartum Hair Loss Is A Dispiriting Reality Heres How I Found Help And Hope
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It started in the shower. I have thick, curly hair and am accustomed to shedding when washing or combing100 strands a day is, apparently, normal. What I was not accustomed to was when, around two months after I gave birth to my son last May, seemingly thousands of hairs began leaving my head every time I shampooed. Soon it was no longer just in the shower: It was when I gently raked my hair back into a ponytail and my hand emerged with a competing ponytail of escaping strands or when my pillowcase appeared to be covered with floating clouds of dark coils or, God forbid, when I actually brushed it and an American Girl dollsworth of hair clogged the bristles. Worse still is that I began noticing patchy spots around my hairline. My scalp was newly visible and I was not pleased to see it. Was the muffin-top of residual baby weight hanging over my C-section scar, and my ballooning, milk-leaking breasts not enough aesthetic trauma to suffer? Apparently not.
How Long Does Postpartum Hair Loss Last What Timeline To Expect For Hair Shedding After Giving Birth
Postpartum hair shedding is very common for women in the months after giving birth. And, while this is startling and frustrating, it is perfectly normal and most women can expect their hair to bounce right back.
Sometimes, part of the frustration from hair loss can be not knowing what to expect, or how long shedding will continue.
Below, we will outline some of the most common timelines for postpartum hair loss including when it normally begins, how long the shedding tends to last, and when you can expect your hair to look relatively back to where it was pre-pregnancy.
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Make An Appointment With Your Board
Hair loss is estimated to affect some 35 million men and 21 million women in their lifetime, per The Hair Society. Whats more: The American Academy of Dermatology Association has seen a stark increase in hair loss cases during the COVID-19 pandemic, so this is an issue that certainly shouldnt be overlooked.
If youre dealing with postpartum hair loss and have not found a useful remedy that works for you, consider making an appointment with your board-certified dermatologist. Certain treatment options may be available for you, such as platelet-rich plasma treatments, which can help with hair loss. Performed in the in-office setting, platelet-rich plasma injections have been used to help different types of hair loss, says Dr. Garshick. While results can be variable, it is possible that this treatment helps to promote hair growth and increased hair density.
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.
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How Hormones Affect Your Hair
Hormones are the biggest reason for your pregnancy hair changes and postpartum hair loss.
During pregnancy, your high levels of estrogen prevented your usual rate of hair loss. Normally, your hair falls out in small amounts every day. During pregnancy, your hair loss decreases. The effect is compounded by your increased blood volume and circulation, which also causes your hair to fall out less than normal.
So after your baby arrives and your hormone levels drop, your hair makes up for lost time by falling out in much bigger clumps than it normally does. The total volume of your hair loss probably isnt more than you would have lost over the last nine months, it just seems like it because its happening all at once.
Postpartum hair loss can set in any day after your baby arrives, and it sometimes continues as long as a year. It usually peaks around the 4-month mark, so if your baby is a few months old and youre still losing clumps of hair, that doesnt mean its time to panic!
When Does Hair Stop Falling Out After A Baby Is Born
After pregnancy, a lot of new moms experience a lot of hair shedding. Approximately four months after giving birth, hair losing normally peaks. Most mothers restore their natural hair growth by their childs first birthday. If your hair has not returned to its original fullness after a year, you should consult a dermatologist.
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Hair Loss After Pregnancy
Losing hair can be upsetting at any time, but it can be especially distressing if youve just gone through childbirth.
You may have noticed that your hair was thicker during pregnancy, when you shed less hair than usual. However, it can then start to fall out more and get thinner a couple of months after giving birth.
Known as postpartum hair loss, this can feel alarming. But its actually just your hair going back to its usual cycle of growth and loss after the changes of pregnancy. Its completely normal, and temporary.
Here, we explain why postpartum hair loss happens, how long its likely to last and what you can do about it as well as looking at other possible causes of hair loss after pregnancy.
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Making The Most Out Of A Hairy Situation
Theres no doubt about it postpartum hair loss can be a tough pill to swallow. It can shake your confidence and make you self-conscious at a time when youre already undergoing so many changes.
But try not to let it get you down too much. Sometimes the best attitude to adopt during times of adversity is gratitude, even when its hard to do. There are worse conditions you could be dealing with, and I tried to keep that in mind when I faced this problem.
Luckily, until your body corrects itself, there are ways to disguise the severity of your hair loss. Use the tips mentioned above, particularly finding a good volumizer, blow-drying your hair upside down, and freshening up your layers or going with a shorter style.
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Can You Prevent Postpartum Hair Loss
Unfortunately, postpartum hair loss is not a condition that can be prevented. It is possible to minimize the severity and promote healthy hair by maintaining a well-balanced diet and continuing to take you prenatal vitamins. In order to lower the risk of hair loss, you should also refrain from using products that lead to hair breakage, typically hair styling implements that use heat, such as straightening irons, blow dryers, or curlers. Dr. Green also recommends hair styles that do not pull at your scalp, which includes tight ponytails and braids.
Postpartum Hair Loss Is Totally Normalbut There Are Things You Can Do To Stop It
Your hair is falling out in clumps, and you’re starting to panic. Hair loss after pregnancy is quite common. Here’s when it will stop and what you can to slow down the shedding.
A few months following the birth of her third child, amid the sleep deprivation and endless nursing sessions, 29-year-old Alicia Mideys hair started coming out in alarming clumps. It really started to accelerate three months after I gave birth, says the Chesapeake, Va., mom. I knew it was a part of the postpartum process, but that didnt make dealing with the bald spots around my hairline easier. It was worse than it had ever been with my first two children.
Stephanie Black, a 38-year-old mother of one from Charlton, Ont., had a similar experience, though her hair loss was delayed. In my case, it didnt start until about a year after I had my son, and it happened so fast I thought I was going bald, Black says. My doctor said it was likely pregnancy related, but I was surprised that it took so long to take effect, since I only breastfed for a few months and didnt go back to work until months after my hair started falling out.
Shedding hair at a noticeable rate in the first two to six months after having a baby is not unusualonline parenting groups and social media status updates are full of new moms posting, Is this normal? Im freaking out! But the experience can vary among women.
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