How To Treat Postpartum Hair Loss Naturally? The most common cause of hair loss in women is pregnancy, but it can also occur during the first few months after childbirth. This condition is called “postpartum” or “peripartum” hair loss. It affects up to 50% of all new mothers and usually starts within a month of delivery. The exact cause of this type of hair loss isn’t known, but there are some things you can do to help prevent it from occurring.
What causes postpartum hair loss?
Postpartum hair loss occurs when your body stops producing enough estrogen to keep your hair healthy. Estrogen helps maintain the health of your scalp by keeping your follicles strong and preventing them from shrinking too much. When you have a baby, your hormone levels drop dramatically and that means less estrogen for your hair.
This is why many women experience hair thinning while pregnant. But if your hormones don’t recover quickly after having a baby, you may notice more permanent hair loss.
Don’t panic postpartum hair loss is normal
It’s important not to worry about losing your hair because it will grow back eventually. In fact, peri-menopause hair loss is very similar to postpartum hair loss. During this time, your body begins to lose its ability to produce estrogen naturally. That means your hair won’t stop falling out. Instead, it’ll just start coming out thinner and thinner until it finally falls out completely.
How to treat postpartum hair loss?
There’s no one-size-fits-all treatment plan for treating postpartum hair loss. However, there are ways to minimize the effects of this condition on your appearance. Here are some tips:
1. Maintain a healthy diet
A healthy diet full of protein will help your body produce more estrogen. Protein foods include fish, chicken, eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, beans, nuts, seeds, and tofu. These foods contain amino acids that help build strong hair follicles.
2. Get plenty of rest
When you’re tired, your body produces less estrogen. So make sure you get at least 8 hours of sleep every night. If you need extra sleep, try taking melatonin supplements before bedtime. Melatonin promotes good quality sleep and helps your body produce more estrogen naturally.
3. Exercise regularly
Exercise boosts circulation, which increases blood flow to your scalp. As your blood flows through your scalp, it carries oxygen and nutrients to your hair follicles. Your hair grows faster when you exercise because your body has more energy to devote to growing hair.
4. Use gentle shampoos
Gentle shampoos won’t strip away your natural oils. Instead, they gently cleanse your hair without stripping out essential oils. Look for products with ingredients like aloe vera, avocado oil, chamomile extract, coconut oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, rosemary extract, shea butter, tea tree oil, vitamin E, wheat germ oil, and ylang-ylang extract.
5. Avoid harsh chemicals
Don’t use any chemical treatments on your hair. They could dry out your hair and lead to breakage. You should only wash your hair with milder shampoos and conditioners made with organic plant extracts.
6. Try herbal remedies
Herbs such as nettles, red clover, horsetail, and dandelion root are rich in minerals and vitamins that promote hair growth. They can be used either internally or externally to stimulate hair growth.
7. Reduce stress
Stress weakens your immune system and reduces the amount of estrogen your body makes. It can also cause hormonal imbalances that affect your hair. Relaxing techniques like meditation, yoga, massage, and deep breathing exercises can reduce stress and boost your overall well-being.
8. Skip the styling
Avoid using heat tools such as blow dryers, curling irons, flat irons, hot rollers, straighteners, and other heated appliances. Heat damages your hair and leads to breakage.
9. Take your vitamins
Vitamins A, B, C, D, and E work together to keep your skin, nails, bones, muscles, and hair healthy. Vitamin A encourages cell turnover so new cells grow faster. Vitamin B stimulates the production of collagen, which gives strength to your hair. Vitamin C improves blood circulation, which delivers oxygen and nutrients to your scalp. And vitamin E protects your hair from damage caused by free radicals.
10. Drink enough water
Your body needs a steady supply of water to function properly. When you don’t drink enough water, your body doesn’t have enough fluids to move through your bloodstream. This affects how much estrogen your body makes, which can lead to hair loss. Drink eight glasses of water each day to stay hydrated.
11. Avoid smoking
Smoking weakens your hair’s protective outer layer, called the cuticle. The cuticle is what keeps your hair strong and prevents split ends. Smoking also causes inflammation, which can lead to thinning hair.
12. Don’t overuse shampoo
The shampoo is meant to remove dirt and excess oil from your hair. Overusing it will dry out your hair and leave it feeling rough. Wash your hair twice a week instead of three times.
13. Get regular haircuts
Haircuts help prevent split ends and encourage hair growth. Make sure to get them every six weeks to ensure that your hair stays healthy.
14. Keep up with your conditioning routine
Conditioning helps seal in moisture and adds shine to your hair. Apply a leave-in conditioner after washing your hair and apply a moisturizing conditioner once a month.
15. Modify your hair care routine
You may need to change your usual hair care routine if you’re experiencing hair loss. For example, if you normally apply a protein treatment after washing, skip it when you experience hair loss. Instead, follow these steps:
Rinse your hair with warm water; then apply a moisturizing mask for 30 minutes before rinsing off. Alternatively, you can apply an apple cider vinegar rinse to restore shine.
16. Protect yourself from the sun
Sunlight breaks down elastin, a protein found in your hair follicles. Elastin repairs damaged strands, but too much sunlight can weaken your hair. Try covering your head with hats, scarves, or bandanas when you go outside.
17. Use a wide-tooth comb
A wide-tooth comb works best at removing knots and tangles from your hair. If you use a normal toothbrush, it could actually pull on your hair and make it fall out.
How long does postpartum hair loss last?
Postpartum hair loss usually lasts between three months and two years. It tends to be more noticeable during this time because your hormones are fluctuating. Once your hormone levels return to normal, your hair should start growing back.
Is it possible to avoid postpartum hair loss?
Yes! You can take measures to reduce your risk of losing hair while pregnant. Eat foods rich in iron, such as red meat, eggs, beans, fortified cereals, and dark leafy greens. Cut back on caffeine and alcohol. Limit your exposure to harsh chemicals, including household cleaners and personal products. And try not to stress about the changes happening inside your body.
Conclusion:
As you can see, there are many ways to treat postpartum hair loss naturally. While some methods require a lot of effort, others are simple and effective. No matter what method you choose, remember that prevention is better than cure. Follow these tips to keep your hair looking great throughout pregnancy and beyond.