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Pregnancy & Postpartum Hair Loss

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Pregnancy can affect hair in many different ways. You might be surprised to know that this is often the case in both men and women, due to increased stress, anxiousness, or lifestyle changes that can happen during the preparation of a baby. Some women may say that their hair looks better during pregnancy, however, other women may find that their hair is a bit more problematic than usual during pregnancy.

This is the case because hormonal changes vary in each individual, and during different pregnancies. Also, the sensitivity of hair follicles to these changes is different. It’s impossible to estimate in advance what these effects will be. Your hair can be great during a first pregnancy and be quite the reverse in the second and so on.

If you do experience hair issues during pregnancy, it’s very rare for a woman to have problems with her hair throughout all nine months.

Rest assured, if you do experience hair issues during pregnancy, it is very rare for a woman to have problems with her hair throughout all nine months. The last three months in particular should be very good for your hair.

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Hair Loss During Pregnancy

In general, very few hairs are shed during pregnancy, so your hair will often be much thicker and fuller towards the middle and end of your pregnancy. This is because raised estrogen levels will allow your hair to remain in the growing (anagen) phase for longer than usual.

However, post-partum hair loss can occur a few months after giving birth due to your estrogen levels dropping back to a normal state.

What is Postpartum Hair Loss?

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If you have postpartum hair loss, (hair loss after pregnancy) you'll notice sudden shedding (sometimes in clumps) within a six month window after giving birth.

The average person loses about 100 hairs a day, but not all at once, so you don't this form of shedding right away. When you're expecting, however, your pregnancy hormones will keep those hairs in place, leaving your hair looking very full, healthy, and thick.

Unfortunately, this exciting hair state will soon come to an end. When the pregnancy hormones return to their to normal state, the hairs that were locked in place during pregnancy, will begin to shed all at once.

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Things to keep in mind about postpartum hair loss

Relax, you're not going bald, you're just getting back to your normal state. If you're breastfeeding, some of your extra hair may hang on to your scalp until you start to supplement with formula or solids.

But whether you are nursing your baby or not, keep in mind that by the time your baby is ready to blow out the candles on that first birthday cake, your catch-up hair loss will be finished, and your locks should be fully restored.

What can you do about postpartum hair loss?

Keep your hair healthy by maintaining a nutritious diet and continuing to take prenatal vitamins.
Be extra gentle to your hair to prevent excess hair loss after pregnancy.

Shampoo only when necessary, and use a healthy conditioner along with a wide-toothed comb to minimize tangling.

Use soft scrunchies instead of rubber bands and avoid pulling your hair into tight ponytails.
Skip blow-dryers and curling irons if you can, and avoid any chemically based treatments such as highlights, perms, or straightening until the shedding stops.
Talk to your trichologist or scalp specialist for more specific information based on your health history.