When Does Postpartum Hair Loss Stop? Can it be Treated?

Can postpartum hair loss be treated?

mum and new baby

Of all the things they don’t tell you when you’re expecting a baby, postpartum hair loss in women would have to be right up there on the list. Many new mums are alarmed to find themselves losing more hair than normal in those first few months after giving birth. But rest assured, it’s all a normal part of the pregnancy and postpartum cycle, and your hair should be back to its pre-pregnancy status before baby’s first birthday.

What causes postpartum hair loss?

You may have noticed your hair growing more and more luscious as your pregnancy progressed, leaving you with thicker than normal locks. While the average person loses about 100 hairs a day, the increase in oestrogen and progesterone levels during pregnancy actually keeps those hairs from falling out, so your hair grows thicker and longer. Shortly after giving birth, however, those hormone levels begin to drop, so all those hairs that didn’t fall out during pregnancy begin to come out. This can happen all at once, and can happen in clumps, which can be alarming – but again, it’s normal.

women's hair loss in a brush

There are other factors that can play a role in hair loss for a new mum, including iron deficiency, stress and lack of sleep, and rapid weight loss – all of these can cause hormonal or metabolic changes in your body that can contribute to hair loss.

How long does postpartum hair loss last?

In most cases, hair loss continues for up to 12 months after giving birth. By the time you’re shooting that 1st birthday cake smash and congratulating yourself for keeping a new human alive for a full year, things should be back to normal. Some studies have suggested that shedding may continue for up to 24 months in some cases.

How to stop postpartum hair loss in women

post partum hair loss

Since this type of hair loss is a natural part of the pregnancy/post-pregnancy period, you can rest assured that your hair will return to normal in time, and that you’re not actually losing more hair than you had to start with. But if you want to see faster improvement, we suggest getting regular exercise as soon as your doctor approves, being proactive about relaxing and taking time-outs whenever you can, and choosing a good nutritional diet. You can also continue taking your prenatal vitamin supplement to keep your hair healthy, and be extra gentle to your hair during this season of shedding: shampoo only when necessary (easier said than done with a new baby, of course!), use a good conditioner, use a wide-tooth comb to minimise tangling, and avoid pulling your hair into tight pony tails.

If you feel you need a bit of a boost in the thickening department during this stage, Biothik Hair Fibres are a fantastic solution to this. Biothik is a cosmetic hair thickener that instantly creates fuller, thicker looking hair.

Occasionally after treatment and regrowth, a woman’s hair may never quite recover from pregnancy. If this is the case, Transitions Hair offers a wide range of long term hair replacement and hair restoration solutions just for women. You can read more about those here, or visit us in the studio for a free and confidential consultation.

Free shipping on orders overs $90

Your Cart