Post-Pregnancy Hair Loss: 4 Things You Can Do Now

Many new moms experience this: you’re thrilled to welcome your new baby to the world, but now you notice that your beautiful, thick hair from pregnancy is thinning and shedding more than ever. No need to panic! Hair loss after pregnancy is totally normal. So what can you do? Keep reading to learn what causes postpartum hair loss, and what you can do about it.

What Causes Hair Loss After Pregnancy?

Hair grows in a cycle with four phases, including the “growing” (anagen) phase and the “shedding” (exogen) phase. Normally, 85-95% of your hair is in the growing phase of the hair cycle at any given time, while 5-15% is in the resting phase. Losing a certain amount of hair is all part of a natural, healthy growth cycle. In fact, the average non-pregnant woman sheds about 100 hairs per day.

During pregnancy, however, increased levels of estrogen prolong the hair’s growing phase. Fewer hairs are in the shedding phase, so you lose less hair than usual. As a result, you have thicker, more voluminous locks. It’s one of the pluses of being pregnant!

After pregnancy, your hormones may fluctuate while your body returns back to normal. These hormonal changes can cause more hair to enter the “resting” (telogen) phase, which leads to hair loss after pregnancy. Giving birth may also trigger a type of hair loss called telogen effluvium.

Luckily, both of these conditions are usually temporary. For most women, hair naturally returns to its pre-pregnancy thickness about six to 12 months after giving birth. But for others, hair may not return to its full, original thickness and volume without a little help.¹

4 Ways to Address Postpartum Hair Loss

Hair loss can be devastating for women, even if the condition is only temporary. Thankfully, there are many techniques you can use to give your hair and your confidence a boost while you wait for your hair to regrow.

1. Try Postpartum Hair Loss Vitamins

If you’re not breastfeeding, consider taking a hair growth supplement. Viviscal provides a clinically proven solution that can help women with fine or thinning hair grow thicker, fuller and healthier-looking hair in 3-6 months. In clinical studies, women saw a 32% increase in the number of terminal hairs and a nearly 40% decrease in hair shedding in just 3 months.⁺ Viviscal is 100% drug-free and works by providing the exclusive AminoMar™ marine collagen complex plus key vitamins and minerals in a formula that’s scientifically proven to promote existing hair growth.*^†

2. Get a New Haircut

Now is the time to try out that cute, short hairstyle you’ve been eyeing. As a general rule, shorter haircuts work better for fine or thinning hair because the cropped length prevents your hair from being weighed down. Plus, a shorter wash-and-go style is much easier to manage with the minimal time and sleep that comes with a new baby in the house! If very-short hair isn’t your thing, even cutting off a few inches can make a big difference in the appearance of your hair.

3. Change Your Hair Care Routine

Following a cleansing routine designed for fine or thinning hair can also make a big difference in the way your hair looks. Viviscal Gorgeous Growth Shampoo and Conditioner gently cleanses and lightly conditions with Ana:Tel™ complex plus the key nutrients Biotin, Keratin and Zinc to leave hair looking naturally thicker and fuller.

4. Boost Volume with a Leave-In Treatment

If you’re a new mom, chances are you’re not styling your hair everyday. Totally okay! But if you do choose to style your hair, start with Viviscal Gorgeous Growth Densifying Elixir. This lightweight, body-boosting treatment creates the appearance of thicker hair. Just apply a small amount throughout damp hair, then style your hair as usual.

Remember, while hair loss after pregnancy can be upsetting, it’s also totally normal and is something that most new moms go through. Help other new moms by sharing how you got through post-pregnancy hair loss in the comments below.

¹American Pregnancy Association, “Pregnancy and Hair Loss.” www.americanpregnancy.org
^†Existing hair growth
⁺Ablon, G.; Dermatol Res Pract., 2015