Your Postpartum Hair Loss Guide

After giving birth to your child, it is completely normal for you to experience unusually heavy bleeding for a short time. Here’s your postpartum hair loss guide – essential information for first-time parents to understand.

A common side effect of having a baby is hair loss in the postpartum period. While you were carrying your child, you may have been given the gift of a thick, beautiful head of hair. It’s possible that after giving birth, your hair will start falling out in excessive amounts. This common side effect is due to the shift in hormone levels in the body after giving birth. How long does postpartum hair loss typically continue, and is there any way to stop it from happening in the first place? Continue reading if you want to find out more.

When a woman gives birth, why does she experience hair loss?

Loss of hair that occurs after delivery is not considered to be true hair loss because, in reality, it is just the shedding of additional hair that was gained (and maintained) during pregnancy. According to dermatologist Sejal Shah, M.D., shedding is normal for everyone, but pregnancy causes significant changes. According to Dr. Shah, “Hormonal fluctuations stimulate hair growth.” That is to say, the hormones produced during pregnancy stop the normal, daily shedding that normally occurs.

When your hormones return to normal after pregnancy, there is a drop in estrogen, which causes hair shedding to resume. This happens because your hair follicles are no longer producing enough estrogen. Keep in mind that the hair that has been clinging to your head for the past few months needs to fall out to make room for new growth. The term for this kind of occurrence is telogen effluvium.

When Does Postpartum Hair Loss Start?

“In most cases, telogen effluvium is caused by a life event; in this particular case, it is the act of giving birth, but there are other potential triggers as well. In a nutshell, a greater proportion of your hair than is typically affected will be prompted to enter this dormant or shedding phase, “says Dr. Shah. She says that it takes approximately three months for that hair to fall out, which is why most people begin to notice postpartum hair loss approximately three months after delivery.

When you brush your hair or shower, you may notice that clumps of hair come loose or fall out all over your head. According to Stephanie Scuoppo, a hairstylist, some people simply lose some strands around their hairline, which causes their mane to look very thin in the front as if they were going bald. This is a common misconception about balding.

How Long Does the Hair Loss After Giving Birth Last?

Even though there are some outliers, Dr. Shah assures patients that the vast majority of the time, their hair loss will spontaneously return to normal. “The time it takes to recover varies. Some people experience it after three months, while others experience it after six months. Sometimes it can even go on for a whole year, “Dr. Shah says.

Because postpartum hair loss is usually only a temporary phase, it’s unlikely that your hair will go from being extremely thick to being almost nonexistent after you give birth. If your hair starts to feel noticeably thinner, you shouldn’t worry about it. Having said that, the hormonal shift will show up in a different way for each individual. Dr. Shah describes it as a very natural process, and I agree with him.

How to Avoid Suffering From Hair Loss After Giving Birth

Is it possible to stop hair loss after giving birth? It’s highly unlikely, but you could keep it under control. After giving birth, proper nutrition is essential to maintain your hair’s strength, health, and integrity, as stated by Dr. Shah (at least to some degree). Get plenty of protein and iron in your diet.

Despite this, you should talk to your physician if you notice that the amount of hair falling out is significantly higher than usual. They might check for thyroid disorders or look for other health problems when they examine you.

How to Cope with Hair Loss After Giving Birth

During this strange transition, here is how to keep your mane looking as good as it possibly can.

Change both your cut and your color.

Scuoppo recommends making an appointment to consult with a professional stylist first and foremost. They might suggest a different haircut for you, one that makes use of those fine hairs in the front and incorporates them. You may need to get your hair cut shorter and style it into long bangs that frame your face if you previously had long hair or a layered haircut with pieces that reached your chin in the front.

The celebrity stylist Oribe, whose clientele includes Jennifer Lopez and Gwyneth Paltrow, believes that it is a good idea to cut the hair in the front of the head shorter. According to Oribe, a fantastic look would be achieved by wearing bangs that are shorter in the middle and longer on the sides. Adding layers throughout your hair will also help to give it a fuller appearance.

According to Scuoppo, coloring your hair is another way to give it body. If you have dark hair and are concerned about the appearance of a receding hairline, highlighting the front of your hair can help you hide the problem. You could also try glossing, a treatment that gives the hair a shine that is uniform throughout.

Maintain a hair cream and moist condition in the hair.

In addition, according to Oribe, employing the appropriate products can create the impression of fullness. Try searching for a volumizing mousse at your local salon or pharmacy. After shampooing your hair, you should always apply a conditioner or a leave-in hair moisturizer.

Change your part.

If you normally part your hair down the middle, you can try parting it to the side to hide the fact that your hair is getting thinner at the temples.

Add texture.

Sleek and straight hairstyles accentuate the appearance of thinning hair. If you usually straighten your curly or wavy hair with a blow dryer, you might want to try wearing it naturally. According to Scuoppo, if you want to give your locks some oomph but you have straight hair, you should try using Velcro rollers or curling iron.

Put those hair accessories to good use.

Scarves, headbands, and bandannas are some fun and fashionable ways to cover up hair loss after giving birth. They are particularly well-liked among new parents, who typically have little spare time to devote to hair care.

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