It’s one of those strange side effects of pregnancy that few people talk about…thanks to surging hormones, many women enjoy lustrous, thick hair. And then, after baby arrives, suddenly you notice it starts to fall out! Here’s what to do about hair loss after baby and how to manage your strands.
Yikes! My hair is falling out!
There you are, snuggling your bub, when you notice long strands of hair draped over their little onesie! “That can’t possibly be my hair, can it?!” you think. But it is! In fact, between 30-60% of women experience hair loss after having a baby.
So, why does hair loss occur and what can you do about it?
Pregnancy comes with lots of discomfort (sore joints, snoring and those weird food cravings!) but there are a few little wins that help keep you going. One of those is powerful estrogen and progesterone levels (many times higher than usual) can give women’s hair and skin that famous pregnancy “glow”. So you might have swollen ankles, but at least you have shiny, gorgeous hair!
The hair cycle has a four stages, but during pregnancy, hair enters one stage and stays there….can you guess which one?
- Growth
- Rest
- Fall
- Regrowth
If you guessed growth…gold star! During pregnancy, excess estrogen encourages hair to grow faster and shed less.
Almost immediately following labor and birth, estrogen and other hormone levels crash (which will surprise nobody who has experienced that emotional rollercoasters after giving birth!). The sudden drop in estrogen can cause large numbers follicles to stop growing and rest. However, hairs don’t fall out immediately, but after a rest period of 2-4 months. Couple this with the lack of sleep, potential nutritional stress and the demands of caring for a newborn, and a perfect storm for hair changes is in place.
What can you do about hair loss after baby?
If you are worried about an impending drain-clogging hair storm, there are a few simple tips to minimize the impact of post-partum hair fall. Most cases of post-partum hair loss are completely reversible and these tips may help reduce the severity.
1. Be kind to your hair
Your follicles are in their most fragile state when resting. Be gentle with your hair when brushing, washing and drying. Also try to avoid tight hair styles and invest in a silk pillow to also ensure your hair isn’t pulled out in your sleep.
2. Add volume and fortify
Boost the appearance of your hair by using volumising and texturising products, preferably clean and natural, with added ingredients such as keratin for fortification and baobab to provide hydration. A good quality dry shampoo can also boost volume and texturise.
3. Eat well
Looking after a new baby and potentially breastfeeding can be demanding on the body’s energy! To avoid disrupting hair growth, make sure you eat a good balanced diet (as much as possible), with plenty of protein, leafy greens, fruits and vegetables.
4. Try to relax
While it may not be easy to relax with a newborn, especially as a first-time parent, you should be mindful to take some relaxing time out just for you. Gentle exercise such as modified post-natal yoga can also help reduce stress levels.
5. Get nutritional support
It’s not always easy for a new family or growing family to prepare good balanced meals, or even eat at regular times after the arrival of a baby; particularly in the early months. To help your body get the nutrients it needs, consider taking one of the many post-natal supplements. Always ask the advice of your physician before starting any oral supplementation.
6. Change your style
Opt for a shorter, easy to manage hairstyle when baby arrives. Not only can shorter hair be styled to hide thinner hair, but will also help when the new hair starts to grow in. New hairs will appear as fly-aways, so a short hair style will help the newer hairs blend with the remaining hair and they can grow out together.
7. Look after your hair cycle
While some hair changes are inevitable for many women, there is a natural technology that can help keep the hair cycle healthy.
What can I use to support my hair cycle? THIS! Easy to apply, Évolis® Professional Activators are topically applied serums that use botanicals including:
- Glycyrrhizin from licorice root
- Salicylic acid
- Sanguisorba and Japanese rose hips
These botanicals act on the hair growth cycle, helping slow or prevent excess hair fall and boosting growth. Hello, beautiful hair!
Why is this the best choice for post-partum hair loss?
The topical évolis® Activators can be safely used during breastfeeding and can naturally support a healthy hair cycle. The companion volume boosting, and fortifying shampoos, conditioners and hair masks have been specifically designed to support during excess hair fall and hair thinning.
évolis®, scientifically validated natural Australian anti-aging hair care with clinically proven results. Developed by hair biologists after 12 years of research and recommended by hair stylists, évolis® promises tailored solutions for those with hair loss or thinning, hair growth issues and those with challenges associated with texture, control and manageability.
Each évolis® formula contains a patented blend of botanicals, specially selected essential oils, organic anti-oxidants plus natural humectants and conditioners to give you naturally beautiful hair.