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Why Does Hair Loss Happen After Pregnancy?
You just had your cute little baby, and after three months or so, you’ve been cleared for workouts. You’re excited about getting your pre-baby body back, and that glow back. You activate your Zen mood. Then you take a yoga mat to do that dog pose, and Boom! You start to notice your hair is thinning.
Pretty frustrating, right? You can’t seem to catch a break! And now you’ve got to find out why your hair is shedding and if it will ever stop.
If this describes your current conundrum, stay to the end and find out why hair loss happens after pregnancy.
What Causes Postnatal Hair Loss?
Every mother is different, and so are the reasons that cause postnatal hair loss. However, there are some common causes that lead to hair loss after pregnancy among all women. Here are a few of them.
1. Change in Hormonal Levels
We can all agree that our hormones go crazy during pregnancy. The progesterone and estrogen levels fluctuation affects everything from your ligament’s movement to your complexion.
Unfortunately, they don't stop at that; the hormonal levels also put your daily/usual hair loss on pause. This is why most pregnant women have thick and lustrous hair.
However once the baby is born, the hormones decide to “catch up” on the hair loss time they lost . As a result, it appears like you’re losing a lot of hair, when in reality, it’s your hormones adjusting to their normalcy. And for that to happen, you need to lose all the hair you should’ve lost in the nine months.
Regardless, this doesn’t make it easier for any mom, so it’s okay to feel frustrated.
2. You’re Stressed
Being a new mom comes with a lot of stress. I mean, most newborns are fussy, you’re not getting enough sleep, and you’re still adjusting to your new body. According to the Mayo Clinic, this stress can significantly contribute to hair loss.
But if that’s the case, why do moms who manage postpartum stress still lose hair? Well, even one major stressful situation like delivering a baby can cause hair loss. This type of hair loss is known as Telogen Effluvium, and it’s associated with shock, stress and traumatic events.
3. You’re Off your Prenatal Vitamins
Besides the hormone shifts during pregnancy, another reason your hair grows thick and shiny is the prenatal vitamins. The latter contains folic acid, which boosts the generation of cells, nourishing your nails & hair too.
Since your hair was benefiting from all the vitamins goodness, suddenly ditching the prenatal pills can increase hair loss. This is why many doctors advice new moms to continue taking prenatal pills after birth, especially if they’re nursing.
However, if you choose to continue with your prenatal vitamins, ensure you talk to your doctor. They will help advise you on the best options to ensure you don’t hurt yourself or the baby.
4. You’re Neglecting Your Diet
Being pregnant and having a newborn are huge milestones that come with different demands.
When you’re pregnant, you need to eat the right foods and avoid junk food to ensure your baby is healthy. Therefore, it’s normal to want to enjoy your freedom a little and even have a glass of wine after birth. Additionally, with the baby taking all your time and energy, you may have little or no time to fix a healthy meal.
This diet change can contribute to hair loss since your hair isn't getting the required vitamins and nutrients to support its growth.
Ensure you continue to have a nutritious diet after giving birth and choose foods rich in Fatty acids, proteins, biotin, iron, Vitamin A, C, D and B vitamins to support hair growth.
5. You’re Still Using Your Old Hair Products
Just like your body, your hair undergoes some changes during pregnancy. This means that the hair products you were using before becoming pregnant may not be enough anymore. In fact, some of them may be making your postpartum hair loss worse.
If you’ve been using the same shampoo, mask, and conditioners for over three months and your hair is still thin, it’s time to switch things up. It’s time to focus on hair products that boost hair volume. You’ll also need to shop for products that improve scalp health because it’s all connected to hair growth.
6. You’re Using Hot Hair Styling Tools
As I mentioned earlier, your hair structure has changed, and it needs extra care. This means that if you’re already experiencing hair loss, it’s time to drop all hot styling tools because they cause even further hair breakage. These tools include your blow dryer, straightener and curling wand.
Too much heat makes your hair brittle and dry, leading to breakage. It also affects the hair shaft and, in worst scenarios, burns your hair off.
If you really have to use styling objects, invest in tools with damage control technology to prevent breakage.
7. Fast Weight Loss Techniques
The first thing you want to do once your doctor clears you is shedding off that baby fat. Healthy weight loss alone cannot increase hair loss after giving birth. However, some techniques that cause sudden weight loss can cause hair loss.
This is mainly because most methods used for extreme weight loss have unhealthy diets like very low calorie intake. As a result, you lack vitamins and nutrients that support hair growth, increasing postpartum hair loss.
While losing those extra pounds is okay, be patient and use healthy weight loss methods.
What To Do About Hair Loss
If you’d like to add some extra volume to your hair, hair toppers are a great option, and they are easy to use! These hairpieces clip into your existing hair and add that extra boost to get you through your postpartum hair loss phase. Choosing the right hair topper for you can be daunting at first since there are many hair toppers options, and they come in a variety of base shapes, lengths, and colors. To help find the ideal hair topper for your lifestyle, take our Hair Topper quiz. In three questions, you’ll be given options of hair toppers right for you!
If you want to explore some hair toppers now, here are three recommendations for hair toppers from new moms like you: Top Billing by Raquel Welch, easiPart HD (variety of lengths available!) by Jon Renau, and Effect by Ellen Wille.
Final Thoughts
A lot of changes happen to our bodies after we get pregnant, and more changes unfold after giving birth.
One of these changes is postpartum hair loss and it can be very frustrating. However, it’s a totally normal experience, but you shouldn’t feel guilty for hating it. Most mommies do.
The most important thing is to remember that it’s temporary and it shall pass. Meanwhile, avoid engaging in diets or using products that further hair loss.
Lastly, as you wait for your hair to restore its glow, you can buy a hair topper or wig for special occasions. Alternative hair pieces like hair toppers and wigs are so magical, and they definitely help in boosting confidence.
Now back to you, are you currently experiencing postpartum hair loss? What’s the most challenging part of managing it? Please let us know in the comment section.