Becoming a mother is a life-altering experience for most women. While pregnancy is an emotional rollercoaster in itself, the happiness that comes with it is often dampened by hair loss from it. Yes, postpartum hair loss is real and millions of women experience it after giving birth. 

 

A lot of new mothers do not know why they are losing their precious strands. As a result, they fail to take the right recovery measures. If you are facing hair loss after pregnancy, continue reading further because we have documented everything you need to know about post-pregnancy hair thinning. 

 

From symptoms to causes and possible treatments to recommendations, we bring you all the critical details about hair loss after pregnancy. Before looking at the causes of postpartum hair loss, let’s understand what this condition is all about! 

 

What is postpartum hair loss? 

 

Postpartum hair loss, sometimes called postpartum shedding, is a condition where a woman loses hair strands after giving birth to a newborn. It is a temporary phenomenon commonly found in pregnant women. This hair shedding condition is a source of anxiety and stress for new mothers across the globe. 

 

While most women recover their lost hair within a few months after pregnancy, some face excessive hair loss and have to wait a long time to regain them. In short, there is no standard pattern for hair loss after pregnancy. 

 

 

What causes hair loss after pregnancy? 

 

The reasons behind hair loss after pregnancy are not a mystery. One of the most common reasons for postpartum hair shedding is the fall in estrogen level. It causes hair strands to go into the resting phase which usually lasts around 6 to 8 months in new mothers. 

 

Another reason that causes post-pregnancy hair loss is anemia or postpartum thyroiditis. In this condition, pregnancy can change the levels of ferritin in the body and manipulate thyroid levels. 

 

Thankfully, both hair loss conditions can be countered with medication. Consult a dermatologist regarding the hair loss to get the right treatment! 

 

Is it normal to lose hair after pregnancy? 

Most women lose around 80-100 strands a day and this is the normal rate of hair loss. However, after pregnancy, a woman may shed 300 to 400 hair strands throughout the day. These lost strands are often noticed on the pillow, in the shower drain, or stuck in the comb. 

 

The good news is that it is totally normal to lose more hair after pregnancy. The hair strands usually grow back in a few months. However, if you feel the shedding is not slowing down, chances are that there are other health issues at play. 

 

As we mentioned earlier, pregnancy can put a woman’s thyroid out of track and manipulate ferritin levels (a blood cell protein that helps women store iron). Therefore, it is advised to consult a doctor and get the routine tests done.  

 

 

Treatments for hair loss after pregnancy

 

If you have read all the above carefully, you must have known: 

 

• What’s postpartum hair loss? 
• What are the causes behind hair loss after pregnancy? 
• Is it normal to lose hair strands after pregnancy? 

 

In fact, there is no need to worry about postpartum hair loss. However, if the hair loss condition after delivery is getting worse, there are some treatments and lifestyle changes that should be tried to aid recovery. 

 

The followings are the treatments recommended to overcome pregnancy hair shedding if medical attention is not something that interests you: 

 

#1 Use home remedies

 

One of the easiest ways to overcome pregnancy hair loss is to try out some natural hair recovery and wellness remedies. Our mothers and grandmothers have been using home ingredients to recover from hair fall for ages now. 

 

Fenugreek is quite popular for treating hair loss after pregnancy. Soak a few fenugreek seeds in a bowl of water overnight and apply it to your scalp in the morning. Leave your scalp untouched for a couple of hours. Done? Shampoo your hair now! Follow this natural remedy at least twice every week. 

 

New mothers also apply curd on their scalp to improve hair health. Studies have shown that regular curd massage strengthens the hair follicles and helps them regain their lost sheen. Apply at least once a week and leave for 15 minutes. Rinse & shampoo thoroughly!

 

13 home remedies for hair growth and natural thickness 

 

#2 Get a hair wig

 

Dealing with hair thinning after pregnancy could be embarrassing for a lot of women since recovery sometimes takes months. We suggest using a hair wig in the meantime. It is a popular way to recover from aggressive postpartum hair loss for women. Modern hair wigs are durable, breathable, and carry a skin-friendly base. 

 

Thousands of ladies across the globe wear hair wigs and toppers to get back a full head of hair while undergoing treatment to deal with hair loss after pregnancy. Whilst there are a lot of benefits of using a hair topper for women, below are the major ones:

 

• Instant result: Unlike most solutions to fix hair loss after pregnancy, hair wigs guarantee a quick change in look. There is no waiting time with this hair recovery option. All you need to do is purchase a hair wig, put it on your head, and you are good to go! 

 

• Low price: Hair wigs are an affordable hair recovery solution for women who don’t want to spend a huge amount of money on treatments. By spending less than US$500, you can enjoy a full head of hair for a few months!

 

Check out the instant transformation of Kelly and witness how a hair topper helped her deal with hair loss: 

 

 

#3 Skip the styling 

 

One of the best lifestyle changes to stop hair loss after pregnancy is to stop using styling products. Taming your hair with dryers and curling irons damages the hair follicles and further weakens them. Try to hold off fancy hairstyling and let strands air-dry. 

 

Also, keep in mind that brushing too hard can also cause your hair to fall out more often after pregnancy. We recommend being gentle when brushing. In fact, don’t brush more than once a day.

 

 

#4 Get some head massage 

 

Head massages are great for boosting your hair growth, especially when you are losing too many strands after pregnancy. By applying gentle pressure to the scalp with fingers, women can help stimulate the blood flow across their heads and optimize healthy hair regrowth. 

 

Use coconut oil to keep your hair moisturized, especially in winters. Experts say that the right products can also help give the illusion of fullness. Use a soft natural bristle brush to massage your scalp and reduce hair strand breakage. Avoid metal teeth and combs as they can hurt the scalp and tug at the hair. 

 

#5 Switch to a healthy diet 

 

A healthy diet is always a positive step towards retaining healthy hair. Fatty and spicy foods are the worst enemies of your hair after pregnancy. Include a variety of fruits, vegetables, and healthy proteins in your diet. It's the best way to ensure that your body is getting all the important nutrients for quick hair recovery. 

 

Dark leafy greens, berries, and protein-rich food are all known for their hair-strengthening properties. While eggs boost collagen production, blueberries and raspberries are loaded with vitamin C which is great against free radicals, apart from being abundant in iron.

 

 

Above are the treatments and lifestyle changes to deal with hair loss after pregnancy. Remember, post-partum hair loss is totally normal and is nothing to worry about. However, if you’re worried about losing a lot of hair and see no sign of recovery, we highly recommend consulting a dermatologist and wearing a real hair wig! 

 

Got any queries to ask? Send them at support@lordhair.com and have them answered by our hair experts!