You wake up one morning, head on over to the bathroom to do your usual morning routine and find out your hair is coming out in clumps. You freak out. Postpartum alopecia has entered the chat.
Reality is, 90% of women after giving birth experience postpartum hair loss. However, while some see a mild form of increased postpartum hair loss, others experience a more severe form, also called postpartum alopecia.
*Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you for supporting this blog! The Monat products down below where sent to me free of charge. However, the opinions are all unbiased and 100% honest and real.
What is Postpartum Alopecia?
Postpartum alopecia is the more formal and correct term for postpartum hair loss. While usually postpartum alopecia is gradual and happens all over the scalp, in more severe cases it can cause bald spots to form.
What Causes Postpartum Alopecia?
After pregnancy, your hormones are trying to regulate themselves. Meaning, postpartum hair loss is actually a natural event due to the normal biology of hair. However, if the hair falls out in large clumps or your hair thins dramatically, there may be some other underlying issues that could be the culprit.
The hormones responsible for postpartum hair loss are estrogen and progesterone, which are at an all-time high during pregnancy, and drop suddenly once baby is born.
And that drop is dramatic.
The amount of estrogen a woman produces during one pregnancy is more than she will ever produce throughout her entire lifetime.
These hormones, along with stress, lack of sleep, and other factors all contribute to causing postpartum alopecia.
When Does Postpartum Hair Loss Start and End?
Postpartum hair loss usually starts between 8 to 16 weeks postpartum, usually peaking at 4 months and stopping by 6.
However, some women find postpartum hair loss to be more persistent.
If your hair has not recovered and gone back to its usual thickness by 1 year postpartum, please check with your doctor or physician, as there may be a more serious underlying cause.
How to Stop Postpartum Hair Loss Naturally
While postpartum alopecia or postpartum hair loss cannot be fully stopped, it can be prevented and minimized using a few tips and tricks.
Remember, these tricks may not work immediately, but if done consistently they will help you slow down the hair loss process.
Let Your Hair Rest
As a mom, you are most likely sporting the same hair style every day. A high ponytail or the typical mom bun. I know I always throw my hair up into a bun, it’s just so easy, quick, and out of the way!
However, throwing you hair up into a tight and constricting hairstyle will pull on the now fragile hair roots, causing you to lose even more hair, especially around the top of your head and your hair line.
Make sure to let your hair rest as often as you can. Wearing it open, or even better in very loose braids (and I mean loose) can help your hair recover and not be pulled out.
Sleeping in a very loose braid will also protect your hair and is what most hair stylists and experts recommend.
Invest in Hair Care
So much money, time, and effort is put into our skin. We invest so much to get glowy, flawless looking skin, but why is our hair much different?
Investing into proper hair care is the best thing you can do.
Monat is the top company out there specializing in hair care. Their products are cruelty free, naturally based and vegan. They have a wide range of products to meet all their consumer’s personal goals. Hair loss, frizziness, brassiness, and even split ends.
Monat uses plant extracts to imitate the hormone estrogen. The hormone that gives women their beautiful and thick hair. Estrogen also helps the scalp hold onto more hair, slowing down hair loss after continued use.
But Does Monat Really Work?
I have heard about Monat for a while and was thrilled when a market partner approached me with the offer to work with her.
The process was easy. She sent me a quiz and it took 2 minutes to complete. I listed my concerns and future goals for my hair. The algorithm did its job and voila, a personalized hair care routine was set for me! The products arrived very quickly, and I started using them right away.
After the first wash I noticed how soft and sleek my normally dry and brittle hair felt, however, my postpartum hair loss was not miraculously cured. I mean that would be too good to be true, right?
I kept with it for a few months to really see if it would make a difference. At first, I went through the “transition phase” where your hair is adjusting to the different products. But after a while my hair adjusted and I can honestly say, it helped!
My hair started falling out less and less and started looking healthier and healthier. I am loving my hair care routine and will continue using Monat for a while to come!
How do I get Started?
If you are interested in trying the Monat hair care products, or simply have more questions, please feel free to contact Emerald for more information.
She was so sweet and helpful throughout the process, and I genuinely really like her as a person! Just head on over to her Facebook page or click on the link below to get in contact with her.
Stop Using Heat and Towels
Here’s the thing, heat damages your hair. As well as rubbing towels all over your head and hair.
Heat strips the hair of its cuticles, causing it to become dryer, damaged, and fall out. Towels essentially do the same thing except it’s the rubbing and harsh fibers that damage the hair.
If you are looking for ways to dry your hair, try turning your blow-dryer to “cold” mode. This will help seal the hair cuticles and the moisture instead of drying them. Letting it air dry is also another option.
For towel drying, I use this microfiber hair towel that works wonderfully to dry the hair without causing any damage.
Related Posts:
–10 Shocking Things I Wish I Knew About Postpartum
Be Gentle!
So often I see women ripping a hairbrush through their hair in hopes to get the tangles out easier and faster. This, however, leads to split ends, damaged hair follicles, and broken hair. When working with tangles, try a detangler spray, a detangle brush (I cannot live without mine!) and a wet brush.
Hairdressers also recommend only detangling your hair in the shower with a wet comb. Start at the bottom and gently work your way up, focusing on trying to untangle the hair rather than ripping the tangles out.
Why in the shower? Well, the water makes the hair more elastic, so less likely to break or have any lasting damage.
Take Your Vitamins
Disclaimer: Before taking any new vitamins, make sure to consult with your doctor.
Your hair needs some essential nutrients and vitamins to grow strong and healthy. Biotin is one of these things. While biotin is found in some natural foods, studies have shown that taking extra biotin capsules daily may help in preventing hair loss and improving hair health.
Oral biotin capsules are easy to get as they are even found on Amazon. It is recommended that adults get between 30 to 100 mcg per day.
If you are weary about taking biotin supplements and prefer the natural method. Here are some foods that are very high in biotin.
- Liver or kidney meat
- Egg yolk
- Nuts
- Soybeans
- Whole grains
- Bananas
- Cauliflower
- Mushrooms
Taking your prenatals or daily vitamins like the ones from DoTerra will also go a long way in giving you those necessary nutrients.
Eat a Balanced Diet
Eating a balanced diet will help you get all the necessary nutrients you need to grow thick and luscious hair. Here is an amazing article that will guide you in all the best foods to eat.
Get a Haircut
While cutting your hair may not help directly with hair loss, it will leave your hair feeling thicker, look healthier, and minimize the amount of hair you can shed.
Plus, it’s always fun to change things up a bit after going through such a life-changing experience!
Postpartum Alopecia is something every woman deals with postpartum. Some more, some less. But following these simple few steps will help keep postpartum hair loss at bay and help you regain your thick and beautiful hair even faster.
And don’t stop at postpartum! These tips are lifelong habits that will change the way your hair looks and feels.
What have you tried? And are there any products or tips that were game-changers for you? Well, let me know in the comments below and help a postpartum momma out!
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Until next time,
