Pregnancy is a wonderful time for most women – there might be those who would complain about nausea and the swollen feet, for most women, this is the best phase of their life, because they can feel another life growing within them.
During pregnancy, most women are able to enjoy thick lustrous hair, but the moment the baby comes out, the hair starts to fall out at almost double the speed. Post-partum hair loss is completely normal and is common for almost all new mothers; and while there is a substantial amount of hair loss, it is not going to leave you completely bald.
What you need to know about post-partum hair loss:
The very first thing that you need to know about post-partum hair loss is that it is not going to last forever – once the body’s natural cycles are back in place, the hair will start to regrow.
The reason why you feel like you have a lot more hair during your pregnancy is that there is an increased level of estrogen in your body and this almost ‘freezes’ the hair in its growing phase.
However, once the baby is out, the levels of estrogen start to return to normalcy and that is when all those hair that was in the ‘frozen’ state, start to fall out. It is important to understand that this hair loss is not because of any nutritional deficiencies. But, just the body responding to pregnancy and delivery. In most cases, the hair loss should stop within three to four months, post-delivery.
For most women, the hair is back to normal, within about one year of delivery.
There is also the chance that you might not notice much hair loss after your delivery, and if that is the case, you should be extremely happy. There is also the chance that you might continue to lose hair even after the first few months, in which case, you should meet a doctor.
Talking to a doctor could help clear up whether the hair loss is still because of the imbalance in the hormones, or whether it is due to other conditions such as anemia or post-partum thyroiditis, both of which could lead to hair loss, but are completely treatable.
What can you do about it?
There is not much you can do about your hair loss, because it is going to happen, no matter how much you try to stop the same. However, there are some things that you can do to handle the hair loss that is bound to happen.
There are tips and tricks that will keep your hair looking healthy enough during the tough times and then there are also home remedies that will help speed up the hair growth process.
Here are the best tips and tricks that can help you cope with hair loss during pregnancy:
- Make sure that you keep your hair moisturized at all times – this means that while you need to invest in hydration products for your hair, you also need to hydrate your hair from within, by drinking plenty of water. Talk to your salon specialists and they will be able to suggest you the best volumizing mousses or leave in conditioners, which will have your hair look healthier and feeling great.
- If you are noticing too much hair on your pillow or bathroom drain, it might be a good idea to get a haircut. Head to a good salon and they will be able to style your hair in a way that makes your hair look a lot more voluminous and healthy. With a shorter hairstyle, the hair loss will also reduce. Once your hair loss has normalized, you can go back to a longer style, should you want the same.
- This might also be the time to add some texture to your hair – while you might have always preferred sleeker hairstyles, this might be the time to play around. Ask for a haircut that allows you to curl your hair or add some waves. You would also invest in some roller curls, which you can use at home to add some volume to your hair.
- Doing something as simple as changing the parting of your hair could bring about the difference that you are hoping for. For instance, a side parting could help cover the thinning that might be appearing at the temples.
- Along with a haircut, this would also be a good time to experiment with hair colors, because coloring your hair could give it a whole new look. For instance, if you have had light hair, you could color your hair in a darker shade, giving it more depth. Alternately, you could ask your salon to give your hair an overall shine treatment, which will make your hair look better.
- If you are not willing to treat your hair to colors or curls, you would always look at other ways of disguising your hair loss. Headbands, bandanas, and scarves are a great way to cover up hair loss, without doing much to your hair. This is also a wonderful choice for new mothers because they might not have a lot of time to devote to hair care.
As would be the case with other causes of hair loss in women, there are some treatments on offer for post-partum hair loss:
- As they say, prevention is better than cure, which is why you should talk to your doctor, while you are pregnant and ask for a prenatal supplement that will help with the hair throughout.
- Just because the baby is out, does not mean that you can neglect your diet – even after the delivery, you need to continue to eat healthy, including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet and making sure that you drink plenty of water.
- Baby your hair as much as possible – this means that you need to switch to a gentler range of hair care products and ensure that you keep heat and chemical treatments away from your hair for a while.
- You would also want to steer clear of tight hairstyles because they will strain the hair and lead to breakage.
Finally, there are some home remedies that you can try to remedy post-partum hair loss:
- Create a hair pack using egg whites and olive oil. Apply this directly on the scalp and wash off once dry.
- Treat your hair to warm oil massages, at least once a week, as this will help improve circulation and increase hair growth.
- Soak a large spoonful of fenugreek seeds overnight and in the morning, strain out the water. Apply this water to your scalp and leave for a minimum of an hour, before washing it off.
- If you can get your hands on freshly squeezed coconut milk, you should apply that directly to your scalp, washing it off after about 30-45 minutes.
The best way to deal with postpartum hair loss is by eating healthy and trying to remain stress-free.
References https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/12/05/postpartum-hair-loss_a_23297541/ https://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-Hair-Loss-after-Pregnancy https://akclinics.org/blog/tips-for-getting-thick-strong-and-healthy-hair/