As if there weren’t enough changes to deal with during pregnancy and postpartum, postpartum hair is here to throw you a curveball. But what is the deal with postpartum hair? Why does your hair shed, how long does it last, and how can you manage these changes? Let’s get to the root of postpartum hair!
Hair, there, and everywhere
During pregnancy, your estrogen levels increase which stops your hair from shedding, making it thick and luscious — sometimes so thick you can’t even get a brush through it! However, after birth, these levels return to normal and all the hair you’ve grown over the past 9 months sheds in what feels like one fell swoop. Emotional stress from a new routine, physical stress from giving birth, and nutritional gaps can also cause hair thinning.
How long does it last?
You’ll start to notice hair thinning between one and six months postpartum, with most people experiencing the peak at 3 months. It can be common for hair to shed in larger clumps or to experience more thinning around the hairline. No need to panic; with proper hair care and supplements, you can minimize the amount of shedding.
How can I care for thinning hair?
Unfortunately, some postpartum hair thinning affects many people, however, there are some ways to care for postpartum hair and prevent more shedding.
- Go easy on your hair — don’t apply too much heat or stress to your hair. Avoid tight hairstyles like slicked back buns and ponytails and if you must use heat, try styling with a heat protectant first.
- Get the proper nutrients — Getting the proper nutrients while postpartum is key for maintaining healthy hair. A postpartum hair growth supplement can help you reduce hair thinning. Nutrafol’s postpartum hair growth supplement is OBGYN-developed, natural, and breastfeeding-friendly. Their formula supports whole-body recovery through vital replenishment with ingredients like theanine and shatavari, DHA Omega-3s, and marine collagen with nettle and apple. Their supplement also helps balance your hormones and reduce stress levels.
- Switch up your hair routine — Try switching up your hair routine by incorporating a volumizing shampoo, getting a good haircut, using soft bristled brushes, and using scrunchies or barrettes to keep it out of your face.
Does breastfeeding impact hair growth?
Breastfeeding doesn’t have any additional impact on hair shedding or growth, and hair shedding amongst breastfeeding people versus not breastfeeding people is basically the same. Thankfully, you can still take Nutrafol’s postpartum hair growth supplement while breastfeeding. Their formula developed with an OBGYN using whole-food-sourced ingredients known to support lactation and to target root causes of postpartum thinning hair. All the ingredients help support recovery from nutrient depletion and the physical and emotional stress that can lead to thinning hair in postpartum women during a time when they are likely breastfeeding. And, they’re used within FDA-set doses for postpartum women and don’t contain any ingredients found to be contraindicated in breastfeeding
The short and the long of it
Long story short — postpartum hair shedding is inevitable — but totally manageable! With time, gentle management, and proper nutrients, your hair should be back to its pre-pregnancy state within 18 months. If you want to take extra care of your hair, consider a postnatal hair supplement from Nutrafol. Their supplement targets key root causes of postpartum thinning such as physical and emotional stress, hormonal changes, and nutrient depletion so that, with consistent daily use, you’ll start to see thicker, fuller hair and less overall shedding.
“How To Deal With Hair Loss After Pregnancy” Cleveland Clinic. Cleveland Clinic. June 24, 2022 https://health.clevelandclinic.org/postpartum-hair-loss/
“What to Do if You Have Postpartum Hair Loss”. WebMD. WebMD. March 9, 2021 https://www.webmd.com/baby/what-to-do-if-you-have-postpartum-hair-loss
