Looking after your Post Pregnancy Hair
One of the things that no one warns you about after having a baby is just how much your post partum hair can be affected. During pregnancy your hair can look and feel AMAZING. When I was pregnant, my hair was full and thick, it styled nicely, I found it easy to manage, and I represented some kind of mythical mermaid when I blew dry my hair after a shower – at least that’s how it feels looking back. After Neve was born however, I suffered quite significantly with post partum hair loss, and what had been a pretty epic head of hair became a limp, lifeless and brittle mess, and it came out in big clumps every single time I washed it.
Whilst it can be quite scary to see such a large amount of hair coming out in the shower, it is perfectly normal to experience some hair loss after having a baby. There are however a number of options available to you that can help reduce hair loss or manage the symptoms.
Over the last few years I have asked myself many questions regarding how to look after my post pregnancy hair – everything from ‘Should I cut my hair?’, ‘Should I take supplements?’ and even ‘will I lose all of it?’ (Thankfully the latter was a bit of an overreaction on my part!!)
Here are my hints and tips of how to look after your post pregnancy hair.
1. Have a hair cut.
How does a hair cut help?? Surely you want to hold on to what hair you’ve still got? Whilst it may feel like the last thing you want to do, and goes against the grain to remove more hair, having your hair trimmed and split ends removed can actually help reduce the amount of hair loss, and improve the overall quality of your hair.
In 2017 I had 7 inches of my hair chopped off to donate to the Little Princess Trust, and my hair loss significantly reduced as a result. Whilst you don’t have to go for anything quite that extreme, a visit to the hairdressers for a trim can really help.
A quality hair cut can also help reintroduce shape and style by adding in layers, and this can be a huge pick me up whilst your hormones readjust.
2. Consider Hair Growth Shampoos, Conditioners and Hair Growth Supplements –
There are a wide range of supplements, hair growth shampoos and hair conditioners on the market, all of which are claimed to encourage additional hair growth. Whilst the products are not an overnight fix, using them regularly can reduce the timescales in which your hair growth returns to it’s normal levels, or at a minimum reduce the impact of any shedding during this time.
After Neve, I tried out a number of hair growth shampoos including Hairburst for New Mums, and whilst the shedding didn’t stop, I did see a definite improvement in my hairs thickness and strength.
3. Avoid over-styling
Does that messy hair don’t care? Not necessarily, but your hair is more likely to shed faster if you are damaging the hair – and over styling, fiddling with your hair, using excessive hair or tying it back with tight bobbles or bands can all contribute to the amount of hair breakage and ultimately the amount of loss. If you can tie your hair back in a style that helps you resist the temptation to play with it, this will help. Try and use anti snag hair bobbles to avoid putting additional pressure. If you use hair straighteners, consider using a heat protective spray or ones with a coconut oil coating to protect the hair – we love the Lee Stafford Coco Loco Irons.
4. Try not to panic
Unfortunately as this is a hormonal change, there is very little you can do to stop it – and essentially you have to just let it run its course. That said, if your hair loss becomes excessive or continues for longer than 12 months post partum, you may want to talk to your GP to be on the safe side.
Remember, pregnancy and it’s accompanying hormones can be hard on your body – don’t forget to look after yourself, drink lots of water and eat well.
What other tips would you give to someone suffering with post partum hair loss?
*This is a collaborative post*
