Cold Washing/rinsing Your Hair
This may be much harder to do in the winter or if you live in a cold climate, but washing your hair in hot water allows pores to open. Porous hair not only looks unhealthy but is vulnerable to frizzing and breaking. If you do wash your hair with hot water, at least try to finish it with a cold rinse at the end.
Hair Care And Styling Tips
When youre experiencing significant shedding its important to be extra gentle with your hair. Scott Ade, senior hairstylist at Larry King Hair, says to avoid all chemical services, the use of high heat when styling, and even brushing as much as possible. When you do brush your hair, always start at the ends and work your way back towards the root, he suggests. If you start at the root and comb down towards the end you will compound tangles and theyll be even harder to get out. This can result in further, unnecessary shedding. I highly recommend using a Tangle Teezer, he says.
In addition to this effective detangling brush, to prevent knots Ade says to try the Larry King Liquid Hairbrush, a brilliant, lightweight detangling conditioner, followed by Redken One Unitedspritzed through your mid-lengths when the hair is damp if you have mid-to-long length hair. Go easy on sticky or heavy styling products such as mousse, wax and gel, he adds.
If the loss leaves your hair looking significantly thinner or patchy, a root concealer is a good temporary solution to replace some lost density. Try a product originally designed for those experiencing hair loss like Manes Hair Thickening Spray, applied along the hair line and parting, while your hair regrows.
Can Taking Hormonal Birth Control Cause Or Prevent Hair Loss
TLDR: No, birth control does NOT cause hair loss. No birth control does NOT prevent hair loss.
Birth control pills are the most popular form of contraceptives in the U.S. Women dont just take birth control pills to prevent pregnancy, though. The birth control pill and other forms of hormonal contraceptives can also help women manage the symptoms of numerous health conditions, including polycystic ovarian syndrome , endometriosis, and even hair loss.
While most people may think that hair loss and baldness only affect men, women actually make up about 40% of all hair-loss treatment candidates. For most women, their hair is a huge source of their self-esteem and confidence. Experiencing hair loss as a woman can be incredibly distressing. About 15% of all hair restoration surgeries are performed on women. Fortunately, there are less invasive treatment options for what doctors call female pattern baldness.
But what types of birth control can prevent hair loss, and can some birth control pills make the condition worse? The following article will explore the symptoms of female pattern baldness, and if birth control can help or hinder the condition.
Get your birth control delivered to your mailbox by signing up for Pandia Healths FREE delivery services. #PandiaPeaceOfMind
Read Also: Does Tea Tree Shampoo Help With Hair Loss
What You Need To Know About Hair Loss
If your condition is not due to a hormonal imbalance, your doctor may recommend treatment that includes topical corticosteroids. Topical corticosteroids may lead to red or puffy face and can reduce your immune systems ability to fight infection. In some cases, fungal infections, such as tinea capitis, can lead to hair loss. Fortunately, you can take antifungal medications to treat it and get a full head of hair again.
Hair loss is a normal part of aging, and there is no need to worry. In fact, it is perfectly normal for most people to lose a bit of hair every day, and it will grow back eventually. Some men and women experience hair loss as they age, while others simply have a genetic predisposition to the problem. If youre experiencing a lack of hair, you may have a weakened immune system, which can lead to hair loss.
For more severe cases of hair loss, a dermatologist may recommend a hair transplant. This procedure involves a surgeon removing plugs of hair from your scalp. It may take several hours and multiple sessions to complete the process. Its an invasive treatment, and may not be the best option for everyone. Your doctor will need to examine your scalp to determine the cause of your condition. In addition to a healthy diet, your doctor may recommend taking supplements of various vitamins and minerals.
Does Pregnancy Cause Abnormal Hair Loss
Hair loss that is connected to pregnancy usually occurs after delivery. During pregnancy, an increased number of hairs go into the resting phase, which is part of the normal hair loss cycle.This condition is not serious enough to cause bald spots or permanent hair loss, and it should begin to diminish within 3-4 months after delivery. If you feel that you are experiencing unusual hair loss while you are pregnant, this may be due to a vitamin or mineral deficiency.
Recommended Reading: Do Silk Pillowcases Help With Hair Loss
Risk Factors For Hair Loss
Women who have a family history of hormone-related hair loss may lose hair while on the pill or just after they discontinue it. Some women lose a little bit of hair. Other women lose large clumps of hair or experience a lot of thinning. Hair loss in pregnancy is also hormonally related to hair being in the resting phase for longer periods.
Hair loss can also happen when you switch from one type of pill to another.
Strategies To Manage Postpartum Hair Loss
Women experiencing hair loss often express anxiety and fear about going bald. I get it, its freaking me out too. Hair loss, postpartum or otherwise, is associated with low self-esteem, depression and social isolation. Women specifically often associate hair with their identity, femininity, attractiveness and sexuality.
While we cant prevent postpartum hair loss from happening, there are some things you can do to promote healthy hair growth and a healthy lifestyle post pregnancy.
Also Check: What To Do If You Have Thinning Hair
Faq: Does Breastfeeding Cause Postpartum Hair Loss
Postpartum hair loss is a normal and temporary postpartum change that is unrelated to breastfeeding. Most women will return to their usual hair growth cycle between 6 and 12 months after birth.
Many new moms notice hair loss sometimes quite dramatic around three months postpartum. This is a normal and temporary postpartum change that is unrelated to breastfeeding.
Following is how the hair growth cycle works:
All hair has a growth phase, termed anagen, and a resting phase, telogen. On the scalp, anagen lasts approximately 3 years, while telogen lasts roughly 3 months, although there can be wide variation in these times between individuals. During telogen, the resting hair remains in the follicle until it is pushed out by growth of a new anagen hair.
from Telogen Effluvium by Elizabeth CW Hughes, MD
Normally, around 85-95% of your hair is in the growth phase at any point in time, but the hormonal changes during pregnancy stimulate an increase in the percentage of hairs in the growth phase. As a result, many women enjoy thicker hair during pregnancy, as more hairs than normal are growing and fewer than normal are resting/shedding.
With the birth of your baby , a larger number of hairs than normal enter the resting phase. Since the resting phase is followed by hair shedding , new mothers will experience greater than normal hair loss once the resting phase ends.
Recommended Reading: What Should I Take To Stop Hair Loss
Postpartum Hair Treatments To Try
Its normal for your hair to thin out after pregnancy. If its not worrying you, you dont need to do anything to treat it. And, unfortunately, there is nothing that has been shown to prevent or slow postpartum hair loss. But if your hair loss is bothering you, there are treatments you can try to make your hair appear fuller and healthier.
You May Like: Why Is My Hair Thinning So Much
Your Libido Might Be Affected
Dr. Agnant tells us that some of her patients complain their sex drives took a hit when they first went on the pill. This is most likely due to changes in hormonal production, she says, adding that these women usually experience an increase in libido when they stop taking birth control.
But again, every woman is differentand for some, sex could be more stressful without the protection from unplanned pregnancy that birth control pills offer.
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:
-
Get enough vitamins and nutrients by eating lots of fruits and vegetables
-
Be gentle when you wash and brush your hair
-
Donât wear tight hairdos that can pull on your hair
-
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. For some tips on handling your hair, you might like to try some of these easy hair styling cheats for new moms.
You May Like: How Much Biotin Should I Take For Thinning Hair
Can The Birth Control Pill Cause Hair Loss
In some cases, starting the birth control pill can trigger hair loss in women who are sensitive to hormonal fluctuations, especially fluctuations of androgens. Women who do not have any problems with alopecia or hair loss can experience some hair loss when first starting the pill, or if they are on the pill for a period of time and then stop taking the pill. Hair loss in these cases is typically not permanent. But, for women who are prone to hair loss stemming from hormonal issues, they need to be aware of the risk of hair loss when starting or stopping the pill.
A hair cycle consists of a growing and a resting phase. There is a chance birth control pills can cause hair to switch from the growing phase to the resting phase too soon and for too long. This is a form of hair loss called telogen effluvium.
Foods That Help Stop Postpartum Hair Loss After Giving Birth
Medically reviewed by Abbey Sharp, Registered Dietitian , BASc.
Postpartum hair loss is a normal process, but can cause stress and anxiety for new moms. We review why it happens and what foods you can eat for healthy hair growth.
Pregnancy is a beautiful thing, and all of the changes it brings along with it are nothing short of magical. But that doesnt mean its fun to watch your hair come out in clumps after youve just pushed a freaking human out of your lady flower. Ah yes, if you were enjoying that thick luscious head of hair during pregnancy get ready for a RUDED awakening. According to a statistics from the American Pregnancy Association, 40-50% of women are affected by postpartum hair loss. Okay, so now I dont feel so badd.
First, lets talk about how normal hair growth occurs before we get into postpartum hair loss.
Also Check: How To Curb Hair Loss
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.
Shbg And Our Hormones
When progesterone levels become lowered by hormonal contraceptives, it can allow our estrogen levels to climb. Additionally, many forms of hormonal contraceptives contain estrogens further raising our levels of these hormones. High levels of estrogens increase our SHBG levels which will then bind to androgens essentially inactivating them by making them unavailable to our tissues. So, high SHBG results in low free testosterone.
At the time that they stop using hormonal contraceptives, many women may find that they have low levels of progesterone, low levels of androgens , and high levels of estrogens.
As great as it would be to be able to discontinue hormonal contraceptives and have our bodys hormones to instantly return to normal, this is typically never the case. Hormonal contraceptives typically take months for our body to clear and sometimes longer for our hormones to achieve balance. Some women may even experience chronic hormone imbalances, including persistently high levels of SHBG.
With healthy progesterone levels still lagging, our levels of the enzyme 5a-reductase can still be elevated after we get off of hormonal contraceptives. If our previously elevated levels of SHBG decrease, this means that less androgens will be bound and inactivated. That decrease of SHBG coupled with the high levels of 5a-reductase can lead to what is known as androgen rebound as more potent androgens are being produced and less of them are being bound and inactivated.
Read Also: Can Saw Palmetto Cause Hair Loss
How Birth Control Pills Work
Birth control pills do several things to reduce your risk of becoming pregnant. First, they prevent your ovaries from releasing eggs during your menstrual cycle by increasing the levels of certain hormones in your body.
Second, birth control pills thicken the mucus that develops on your cervix, which stops sperm from entering into your uterus and coming into contact with an egg.
When used correctly, the pill is 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy.
However, in real life conditions, such as with the occasional missed or late pill, this type of birth control becomes about 91 percent effective at preventing pregnancy.