Experiencing any form of hair loss can take a real shot at your confidence and leads to stress, further affecting your health. When it comes to postpartum hair loss, although incredibly shocking, it is a natural process for post-pregnancy – it will pass! Let’s analyze its cause, impact, and what you can do about it to speed your recovery.
WHAT IS POSTPARTUM HAIR LOSS?
Postpartum hair loss is the excessive hair shedding you experience starting from the first few weeks after giving birth. During pregnancy, around 30% of your hair goes into resting mode, known as the telogen phase. Your follicles stop growing out new hair and simply rest, holding on to your existing strands! Because of this, your hair may look great and voluminous during pregnancy as none of your hair is shedding. However, all of these hairs may shed all at once around 2-4 months after giving birth, and this may last anywhere between 1 month to 1 year since it began. Your hair is expected to make a full recovery afterwards! This natural process is your body’s response to traumatic events due to stress and hormonal changes.
Some causes of postpartum hair loss can include but are not limited to:
→ Poor sleep quality
→ Stress
→ Hormonal changes
→ Lack of nourishment
If the effects of postpartum hair loss lasts longer than expected, we recommend you speak to your healthcare professional to identify more serious underlying causes, such as alopecia and thyroiditis.
Real customers
Danielle and
Nele, both experiencing postpartum hair loss.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
1. BE GENTLE WITH YOURSELF
Although this is a natural process that everyone experiences after pregnancy, it helps to know you’re not alone in this! Allow your body and hair to go through recovery, and alleviate stress from yourself by letting it run its course. It’s not something to fault yourself with, it’s simply nature! All your old hairs are shedding away, making way for newer, stronger hair. As long as your follicles are active, your hair growth will return and you can help them come out stronger than ever.
2. NOURISH YOUR SCALP
When you experience postpartum hair loss, your scalp is sensitive during this time, which is why providing gentle nourishment is vital as it recovers. Massage your scalp and incorporate scalp treatments to stimulate your follicles, giving your scalp the boost it needs to start growing hair again. Because it’s been awhile since your hair follicles have done this, it relies on you to provide much needed hydration and nourishment to reawaken them from their rest! And with increased scalp sensitivity, soothing your scalp from irritations and inflammations is also key for improving its health. With soothing, protein-rich & consistent scalp care, you can help accelerate and strengthen your new hair growth, returning your hair to its natural glory.
3. NOURISH YOUR HAIR
It’s easy to focus on the hair you lost, and neglect the hair you still have! Your hair is very delicate during postpartum, and requires gentle hair care to retain it and prevent further breakage. Moisturize your strands with hair oils and hair masks to strengthen its outer layers and seal in hydration! For your day to day, it helps as well to incorporate gentle accessories, such as soft-textured scrunchies, towels, and pillow cases. As you care for your hair and scalp, remember that hair loss is temporary, and other new parents experience the exact same thing! As long as you take great care, postpartum hair loss will be a thing of the past.
4. KNOW WHAT WORKS FOR YOU
During pregnancy or breastfeeding, understanding which natural ingredients work for you (and what doesn’t) can make all the difference with your postpartum recovery. When it comes to essential oils, the recommended percentage is 0.05% to 1.0% for topical applications. However, it is often recommended to avoid all essential oils during the first trimester of pregnancy. Always consult your healthcare professional before using essential oils while pregnant or breastfeeding.
For a good place to start, see this list of what to avoid for your health during pregnancy and breastfeeding by decreasing milk supply:
Blue Cypress
Camphor
Carrot Seed
Mugwort
Myrrh
Nutmeg
Oregano
Parsley
Peppermint
Pennyroyal
Rue
Sage
Tansy
Tarragon
Thuja
Wormwood
For pregnancy, these essential oils may trigger uterine contractions prematurely or have other negative effects:
Aniseed
Anise star
Basil
Cinnamon
Clove
Cumin
Fennel
Hyssop
Juniper
Oregano
Pennyroyal
Rosemary
Savory
Sweet birch
Thyme
Wintergreen
With our ever changing lifestyles, knowing what affects your health is key in knowing how to enhance your recovery. When you understand the cause, you can find the solution! Going natural is the best way to support your health, as you nourish your body and hair with natural healing ingredients. All you need is time and patience to let them do their magic.
For more, see our natural ingredients in action with these real hair stories.
Read more of our haircare tips here!