Hair Loss After Pregnancy: Is it Normal?
Your body went through a lot of changes while you were pregnant, and now that you have given birth, you may notice that other things have changed too. One of the changes that women experience during and after pregnancy has to do with their hair. But is hair loss after pregnancy normal? Keep reading to learn more so you can get the answers you need.
Yes, It Is Normal
Hair loss after pregnancy is normal. But don’t worry, as it is temporary and your body will regulate, though you can also try a scalp treatment for hair growth in the meantime to spur the growth of hair sooner. To understand why hair loss after pregnancy occurs, though, you have to understand what is happening with your hormones both during and after your pregnancy.
Understanding Hormones
When you are not pregnant and dealing with the hormonal fluctuations that come with it, roughly 85-95% of your hair will be growing, while the remaining 5-15% will be in its resting phase. After the resting phase is complete, the hair will fall out naturally, typically while you are in the shower and when you brush your hair. The hair that is lost, however, will be replaced with new hair growth, so there is nothing to worry about. Plus, it is totally normal to shed roughly 100 hairs every day.
When you are pregnant, however, there are higher levels of estrogen in your blood, and this causes a longer growing stage. Fewer hairs on your head are in their resting phase, which means fewer hairs are falling out every day. You might notice during pregnancy that your hair is quite luxurious and thicker than usual.
But after you give birth and the level of estrogen drops again, many of your hair follicles will enter that resting phase at last. This translates to a lot more hair falling out suddenly, and that can look alarming even though it is actually normal.
How to Cope with Hair Loss After Pregnancy
The unusual amount of hair loss after you give birth will eventually taper off and normalize once again. This will take roughly 6-12 months after your baby is born, so in the meantime, you can cope by getting a new haircut that will be more flattering even though your hair is thinner, or you can simply alter the way that you part your hair.
Other options include using volumizing products, such as volumizing shampoos, conditioners, and styling aids. You can also try styles that embrace your naturally wavy or curly hair, especially since thinning is more obvious with straight styles. And go ahead and let your hair dry naturally rather than using damaging heat styling products like irons and blow dryers.
Ultimately, hair loss after pregnancy is normal, but it is not something that you need to worry about. It will not affect you for the rest of your life; instead, you just need to wait for your hormone levels to regulate naturally. Before you know it, your hair will be thick again.
