Life after giving birth to your newborn baby will be both rewarding and frustrating. It’s not easy getting back into your old routines with a little one that depends on you for everything. After a few weeks at home, you may also start to realize the luscious, shiny hair you grew while you were expecting is beginning to fall.
Before you hit the panic button, what’s occurring is normal and the cause of this excessive hair loss has to do with your hormones. Most women experience a hormonal imbalance after giving birth and postpartum hair loss is the most prominent symptom.
This problem does not last forever and takes a few months to normalize. The good news is you can expedite this hair growth by following the tips in this guide and making all the natural hair loss home remedies I used myself after giving birth.
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Hormonal Adjustments Amid Pregnancy and Postpartum
Throughout your pregnancy, your hormones go haywire and become unpredictable.
Human chorionic gonadotropin starts to soar before you know you’re pregnant in most cases. hCG is the hormone being tested when you start to feel pregnancy symptoms and decide it’s time to buy a test for it to be sure. The higher your hCG levels are, the more likely it is you will become a mother.
After 2 to 3 months, there are other hormones that start to skyrocket. These hormones include prolactin, oxytocin, estrogen, and progesterone. Another change in your body you should expect is an increase in your blood count by 40% to 60% by the 9th month.
Once you give birth, your estrogen and progesterone hormonal levels will decrease within days back to their original position. One of the only hormones that will not change if you decide to breastfeed your baby is prolactin. Prolactin levels will not drop until your baby no longer depends on you for human milk.
Lastly, your blood volume will not go down quickly. It will take at least 6 to 8 weeks for your blood volume to slowly decline back to standard levels after delivering your child.
How Hormones Impact Your Hair Follicles
Hormones are the cause of postpartum hair loss and the reason your hair growth during pregnancy was not typical.
While carrying your unborn baby, you stopped losing hair follicles like you normally would because of increasing estrogen levels. Before you were with child, you experienced gradual hair loss on a daily basis but this changed after being pregnant. The exact opposite started to happen and your hair roots felt much stronger. The impact is quadrupled after blood volume and circulation levels expand resulting in even less hair loss.
After 9 long months, your baby is out of the womb and hormone levels start to plummet. It is then that your hair starts to play catch up and falls out in considerable chunks scaring any mommy that did not expect it to happen. The hair you accumulated over the pregnancy period will fall off in a matter of weeks but this is normal and there is nothing to fear.
Postpartum hair loss will begin only a few days after leaving the hospital and won’t stop for 6 to 12 months depending on the person. You can expect the worst of this hair loss experience by the 4th month so don’t be scared if it’s still occurring by this point.
Tips to Combating Postpartum Hair Loss
I want to make it clear that there is nothing you can do to stop postpartum hair loss completely. But you can build the proper habits you need to promote hair growth and live a healthier life for you and your newborn. Below are three habits you can start working on now.
1. Follow a Healthy Diet
Getting rid of bad eating habits is key if you want to have healthy hair and a strong immune system. Postpartum mothers need to consume foods with essential fatty acids and vitamins to assist them in recovering physically and treating postpartum hair loss. My favorite meal included green leafy vegetables with grilled chicken and spread olive oil all over it. Lastly, drink at least 64 ounces of water daily and drink more than this amount if you don’t feel hydrated enough.
2. Decrease Stress
Mental toughness is the skill you need to build to be able to handle stress without getting emotional. If you let stress break you, healthy hair growth takes longer and your hormone levels will be out of control.
3. Take Care of Your Hair Follicles
Post Pregnancy hair loss is stressful enough so its important to do what you can to not make the situation worse. Here are a few tips you can follow to make that happen.
- Use coconut oil shampoo because its fatty acids are good for hair growth.
- When conditioning your hair, purchase only premium natural hair conditioners.
- Comb your hair every evening with a wide-toothed comb to reduce tangling.
- Head to the hair salon every two weeks for a hair trim to ensure split ends are under control.
- Don’t use curling or flat irons to evade heat styling hair appliances. They block hair growth.
- Replace hair health products with all natural alternatives not filled with harmful chemicals.
Natural Remedies for Postpartum Hair Loss
Below are some remedies you can prepare on your own to treat postpartum hair loss and stimulate new hair growth
1. Egg Whites
You’ll need 4 eggs to make this DIY hair blend. Start by removing the yellow yolks from each egg and leaving behind only the white liquid. Next, add olive oil and stir the solution together. Now, you can apply this directly on your scalp and hair strands.
I think this is an effective and easy to make treatment to encourage hair growth and reduce hair breakage. It’s also useful as a natural conditioner that increases hair volume and leaves your strands feeling smooth.
2. Fenugreek Seeds
Fenugreek seeds are another solid option when dealing with excess hair loss. Start by leaving a few Fenugreek seeds in a glass bowl filled with 24 ounces of warm water. The next day you can discard them and massage the strained water into your scalp for 3 to 5 minutes. Don’t wash your hair for at least 1 to 2 hours after you are done. This solution will stimulate hair regrowth and improve hair follicle circulation.
3. Coconut Milk
Most of us are already aware of the advantages of coconut oil to reverse hair loss. But the benefits of coconut milk are not well known when it comes to hair follicle growth. If you use a can of coconut milk 2 to 3 times a week and apply the milk to your hair, you will not need to buy a conditioner because you will have thick hair that looks well nourished.
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4. Bhringraj
Fresh Bhringraj is not always easy to find but you can buy the powdered version on an e-commerce store like Amazon. Bhringraj is also known as the false daisy because it’s easier to pronounce. This magical herb is powerful and ideal for scalp health.
There are two ways to use Bhringraj powder to support your scalp health and promote hair growth:
Hair Tonic: Combine the powder with water to create a paste. Apply the paste directly to your scalp and let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes. Once the allotted time is up, wash your scalp with slightly hot water.
Tea Form: Combine the powder with warm milk or water while following the instructions on the label. Drink 1 to 2 times per day but do not go over this limit.
You may also like to try a Bhringraj hair oil, which is easier to use than the powder. With this product you simply massage a few drops into your hair and scalp before washing with a mild shampoo.
5. Avocado Hair Mask
The avocado hair mask is one of the best natural treatments on this list for your hair but does take a bit of effort to make. Combining avocado with coconut oil and egg yolks will give you the best chances at healthy hair growth. Follow the steps below and get ready to be amazed at the results.
- Mix 2 egg yolks, 2 ounces of warm coconut oil, and 4 tablespoons of crushed avocado into a glass bowl.
- Stir the ingredients until they form a thick paste.
- Use your hands and apply the paste to your scalp while massaging gently
- Wait 60 minutes until it settles into your scalp.
- Wash hair completely with your favorite shampoo.
Frequently Asked Questions About Postpartum Hair Loss
How can I stop my hair from falling out after breastfeeding?
There is no method or treatment that will completely reverse this problem. However, by following a healthy meal plan and using vitamin supplements, you can reduce the amount of hair you lose.
What essential vitamins can I take for hair loss while breastfeeding?
While breastfeeding my own child, I take vitamin E and biotin. You can find these two ingredients in many over the counter hair growth medications. They will keep you healthy and give you luscious hair.
Can you go bald from postpartum hair loss?
It is very doubtful that this is happening to you and is a phase that every woman’s body goes through after having a child. The best advice I can give you is to be patient and follow the remedies in this guide.
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