How to Deal With Postpartum Hair Loss

How to Deal With Post Partum Hair Loss

You never loved your hair more, right? It was lush, shiny, bouncy, and an “added value” to being pregnant.  Now that your precious baby has arrived, you are looking forward to returning to a flat tummy and returning to your usual weight, but you are not looking forward to returning to your pre-pregnancy hair. Sorry, but it’s going to happen.

Hair has a time to grow and a time to rest. In the normal course of events, the former phase lasts around three years, the latter three months or so. It is during the resting stage that everyone loses 50-100 hairs a day—unnoticeable among the 150,000-some strands that remain. During pregnancy, there is a dramatic increase in estrogen levels, blood level and circulation, resulting in a longer resting period. Longer resting period = less hair loss, so the hair keeps growing and becoming thicker and more luxurious.

Then the time comes to pay the piper: As your estrogen levels drop and blood level and circulation return to normal, your hair is going to make up for lost time—months worth of hair is waiting to fall out. You aren’t losing any more than you would have over the last nine months, but it sure seems like it. There’s hair in the tub, in your brush, on the shoulders of your classic black suit. Be assured, however, that you are not going bald! And there are ways to minimize the effects of the hair loss.

Get a new ‘do

If you usually wear your hair long, go shorter. Not only will that make your hair look fuller, but it’s much easier to manage during those “new mommy” days (and nights).

Layered cuts are great camouflages for thin hair—long or short, and the layers add texture.

Tight hair-dos are now hair-don’ts. Pulling your hair into a tight bun or pony tail results in hair breakage, and you are already losing enough. Let your hair  be free so that it can breathe. 

Even a minor change, such as parting your hair differently, helps. For instance, if you usually part your hair down the middle, a side part does wonders for disguising thinning hair at the crown and temples.

Put away the “extreme” styling tools

That means no hot air from hair dryers, no curling irons, no flat irons. The heat and pulling and turning and twisting can damage your hair on your best day. You definitely want to avoid them when your hair is already overly thin. If you really must, use the cool setting on the tools or try Velcro rollers.

Find a brush that doesn’t pull or strain at your hair, and keep in mind that brushing too hard will pull your hair out in clumps. Use a wide-toothed comb to get through tangles more easily. 

Use products that are kind to your hair

Shampoos that contain protein, biotin or silica add body and make your hair appear fuller.

Conditioners for fine hair do not weigh your hair down and exacerbate hair loss. Apply conditioner to the ends of your hair only. Saturating your scalp and all of your hair creates too much weight. If a conditioner is advertised as “intensive,” it also creates too much weight.

Volumizing mousses and texturizers do a great job of “bulking up” your thinning hair and making it lustrous again.

No matter which shampoo and conditioner you use, do not wash your hair every day. No more than three times a week is recommended.

Add flair

You can dress yourself up while disguising your hair loss. There is an endless variety of scarves and hair ornaments and ways to wear them. It’s fun to experiment! They also come in handy when you need to go out and time is short (and when isn’t it?).

Massage Your Scalp

This is an easy remedy that you can do any place. Use an oil if you like. Move your fingers gently in circular motions for 5 or 10 minutes. Use this same technique when shampooing. Not only does the movement get your blood flowing, it also is extremely relaxing.

Conclusion

Postpartum hair loss typically lasts from three months after you give birth until your baby is a year old. If it lasts longer or if your hair loss is excessive, please see your doctor. Excessive hair loss can be due to hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland) or iron-deficiency anemia—common postpartum conditions that are easy to treat.

 

How have you dealt with your postpartum hair loss as a new mom? For more ways to combat hair loss, read our next article: The essentials for hair growth.