Losing your hair when you already feel exhausted and struggling to adjust to life as a new mum can be devastating. However, postpartum hair loss after having children is completely normal. Thankfully, there are some simple steps you can take to help your hair look its best and start regrowing as soon as possible.
What causes Postpartum Hair Loss?
Postpartum hair loss (also known as postpartum alopecia) can begin a few months after giving birth and continue for up to six months. Affecting between 40-50% of women in the months following childbirth, the change in oestrogen levels after pregnancy is the main reason for this loss. Pregnancy hormones make hair grow faster and thicker, and when those hormones return to normal levels, your hair takes a while to adjust, often making your hair shed quite rapidly.
In most cases, postpartum hair loss isn’t permanent, and any hair you’ve lost should start to grow back within six months. If you struggle to get used to your thinner hair, remember it will usually regain fullness by your baby’s first birthday.
Here are six steps you can take to help manage postpartum hair loss and encourage healthy regrowth, as well as boosting your emotional well-being:
1. Take a Relaxing Hair Bath: A warm, relaxing bath can do wonders for your body and mind, but did you know it can provide a much-needed boost to your hair too? Warm water helps open your scalp’s pores, it stimulates blood flow and encourages hair growth.
2. Massage Your Scalp: Gently massaging your scalp can also help to improve circulation and encourage hair regrowth. Aim for at least five minutes a day, focusing on your scalp rather than your hair.
3. Eat a Balanced Diet: Eating a healthy diet full of fresh, nutrient-rich produce can ensure your hair gets all the vitamins and minerals needed to stay strong. Good sources of zinc, iron, and biotin, which all promote hair regrowth, include nuts, eggs, and leafy greens.
4. Avoid Heat-Based Styling Tools: Limit your use of high-heat styling tools such as curling irons and hair straighteners. These can damage the hair shaft and weaken the hair, causing it to break and delaying the regrowth process. Diffuse on a low heat-high airflow for best results.
5. Use Natural Hair Care Products: Opt for natural, sulphate-free shampoos and conditioners as these are much gentler on your hair and won’t strip away essential oils.
6. Treat your Hair Gently: Brushing your hair twice a day (once in the morning and once at night) rather than vigorously combing it can help reduce further breakage and prevent further hair loss. If you have textured or curly hair, brushing when wet in the shower is a preferred method, as it helps form curl clumps and maintain the integrity of the hair.
Postpartum hair loss can be stressful and upsetting, but with some care and gentle styling, your hair should start regaining thickness in no time. By taking care of yourself, eating a balanced diet, and using natural hair care products, you can help your hair to grow back stronger and return to its former thickness and volume.
Louise O’Mullane, a self-proclaimed “Curly Girl, is a creative writer and blogger for LOHY, an Australian curl product company. Fueled by her love for coffee and the countryside, Louise and her family reside on a hobby farm on the south coast, NSW. Her love for coffee is only matched by her passion for writing, and she often spends long hours crafting stories and articles that capture the attention of her readers. When she’s not writing, Louise can be found tending to her chickens, reluctantly working in the garden or taking a well deserved walk along the beach.