Since having your baby, you’ve noticed something alarming about your appearance: your hair is falling out at rapid speed.
During pregnancy, you loved your hair. You had that pregnancy glow going and your hair was more thick and lustrous.
Now, all the hair that’s falling out now is your body playing catch up. Some women even develop small bald patches and receding hairlines.
So don’t worry, this sudden hair loss is only temporarily.
But, that doesn’t mean you can’t take matters into your own hands and do some things to stimulate hair re-growth faster.
Below are 10 ways to combat postpartum hair loss.
Ways to Combat Postpartum Hair Loss
After pregnancy, increasing levels of hormones cause your hair to stay in a resting phase known as telogen. This phase keeps hair fall at a minimum, causing it to look thick and dense. It usually occurs about 5 to 6 weeks in and ends after 6 to 8 months.
Then, when your baby is born, estrogen levels start to decline and the hair that was in the resting phase for so long begins to fall out. Generally, your hair will return to its normal self after 6-8 months. But in the meantime, it can be very disheartening to deal with hair that is falling out rapidly, as well as hair that is extra dry, oil, limp, or broken.
The following home remedies are effective in keeping your hair healthy and promoting regrowth.
1. Vitamins
When combatting postpartum hair loss, it’s best to start at the root of the problem. That is, you want to look internally first and figure out if you’re deficient in any vitamins or minerals.
Low zinc, iron, Vitamin B, and Vitamin C can all be contributing to your rapid hair loss. So take supplements or look for foods rich in these vitamins and minerals to combat the problem. Foods such as leafy greens, legumes, sprouts, peas, oranges, yeast, buttermilk, curd, soya, nuts, and whole grains all contain nutrients that can help regenerate hair growth.
You can consult with your doctor to figure out what nutrients are missing from your diet.
2. Laser Cap
If you don’t want to make major changes in your diet and you want your hair back fast, consider getting a laser cap, like the Capillus.
Laser hair caps are FDA-approved, battery-operated laser therapy devices that work to prevent the progression of hair loss. These caps are comfortable to wear and you only have to wear them for 6 minutes per day under a sports cap. And, there are no known adverse side effects.
3. Fenugreek Seeds
Fenugreek seeds are a small, widely available herb that can work magic on your hair.
To use:
- Soak the seeds in water overnight
- Strain the water the following day and apply it to the scalp
- Leave it in for 1-2 hours
- Repeat process 1-2 times per week
This can take care of your postpartum hair loss by making your hair healthy and also get rid of dandruff.
4. Avoid Harsh Styling Tools
Tools that are harsh on your hair, such as fine-tooth brushes, straighteners, curling irons, blow dryers, and coloring products, should be avoided.
These products aren’t doing you any favors, as they tend to be too harsh on fragile hair. Instead, let your hair air dry and wear at naturally as much as possible. Avoid dying your hair during this time if possible as well. Use a wide-toothed comb to brush your hair, and only when it’s dry. Also, avoid heavy sprays and gels as much as possible.
5. Coconut
Coconut can be used in many forms to help combat postpartum hair loss.
You can massage coconut milk or coconut oil into your scalp to reduce the amount of hair loss. Or, you can burn the shell of the coconut and put the ashes in a jar. The next time you massage oil into your hair, add these ashes to the mixture.
Regular use of coconut cannot only reduce the amount of hair loss, but also make hair darker, shinier, and more voluminous.
6. Biotin
Check your shampoo and conditioner bottles for an ingredient called biotin.
This ingredient is known for stimulating hair growth. Biotin works by helping increase the body’s keratin. Keratin is a protein that makes up your hair, skin, and nails.
In a study conducted by the Ablon Skin Institute Research Center, scientists found that women who were given capsules containing biotin over a 90 day period experienced better hair growth than those who were given a placebo.
7. Oil Massage
Regularly massaging your hair with oil helps to increase blood circulation to the scalp. It also conditions the scalp and strengthens the roots of your hair.
Here’s what you should do:
- Apply lukewarm oil to your scalp (coconut or other)
- Gently massage your scalp for 5-10 minutes
- Leave it in overnight and wash out with a mild shampoo the following morning
- Repeat 2-3 times per week
8. Eat Healthy
We all know that your diet plays a huge role in your overall health, and your hair is no exception.
Make sure you are eating a diet that is chock full of vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and lean proteins. Avoid sugary, processed foods. For beverages, avoid juices and sodas. Instead, try to stick to natural juices and water.
9. Change Your Hairstyle
If you’ve been thinking about changing up your look, now is as good a time as any.
This is because changing your hairstyle, or even just shortening it, can prevent hair loss and can stimulate your hair to grow more.
Plus, a new hairstyle can be a great pick me up during those first exhausting months of recovery.
10. Avoid Stress
Yes, we realize this is easier said than done.
But, stress can make postpartum hair loss even worse. This is because it can disrupt your hair’s normal cycle and cause it to enter the telogen phase, meaning you lose more hair.
So, even though you’re a busy new parent, make sure you take time each day to engage in stress-reducing activities such as exercising, meditating, journaling, or drinking a mug of warm tea.
Postpartum Hair Loss: Wrap Up
Follow these tips, and your hair will be well on its way to its normal, healthy self.
Just remember, none of these tips are overnight fixes. You need to give it a few weeks’ time before seeing results, so stay patient. If you have questions about any of the tips listed in this article, please don’t hesitate to comment below.