As a woman who started a blog dedicated to hair, I was more than a little worried about postpartum hair loss.
Hair fall and thinning after pregnancy is totally normal and caused by your estrogen levels dropping. I got knotless braids a few weeks before giving birth; I knew worrying about detangling my hair with a fresh newborn was something I didn’t want to do. This turned out to be a great decision — my hair grew a lot in the braids and surprisingly, I didn’t lose a ton of hair when I took them out.
While it may be inevitable that I’m going to lose some hair eventually, I am doing some things to ensure my hair and scalp are as healthy as possible.
If you’re feeling anxious about your natural hair after pregnancy, here are some things you can do to potentially lessen the shedding:
Continue taking your prenatal vitamins
Because I’m breastfeeding, I’ve continued to take my prenatal vitamins. Your prenatals will help bridge nutrient gaps and support healthy hair growth during postpartum. I swear by Ritual vitamins. I’ve been taking them for years now. Use my link to get $15 off your first purchase!
Use products that strengthen hair and scalp
For a long time, I avoided strengthening shampoos and conditioners because I was afraid of my fine hair becoming brittle. After research, I finally realized that bonding, protein, and biotin products were actually what I needed to start retaining length. I’ve been using the Redken Extreme Lengths line and this is the longest and thickest my hair has been since I went natural in 2019! The shampoo and conditioner are infused with biotin and strengthen the hair from root to tip. I alternate between that and the Acidic Bonding Curls line.
Oil your scalp regularly
I’ve been using hair growth oil infused with henna and other herbs for a long time. You can find my recipe here. I credit it for helping keep my scalp healthy, moisturized and flake free. Throughout my pregnancy and now, I’ve also been using Curly Proverbz Clove and MSM Fenugreek Elixir. Studies have shown that MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) can lengthen the hair growth phase and the sulfur forms bonds that strengthen the keratin in hair.
The postpartum period is a wild and beautiful time. Remember to find time to take care of yourself inside and out!
