How to take care of your hair during pregnancy and postpartum?

The way pregnancy affects a woman's body goes beyond weight gain or abdominal bulk. During pregnancy, in addition to the emotional changes, there are physiological and physical changes that can lead to stretch marks, skin blemishes, oral problems and even changes in the woman's hair.

The changes in a pregnant woman's hair are mainly due to hormones, as these acquire levels typical of pregnancy. In addition, women may also notice changes in their hair postpartum, until hormone levels become regular again in their bodies after giving birth.

The different sections of this article have been assembled into the following table of contents.

Hair changes during pregnancy

Pregnant women may notice differences in their hair (and nails) due to the hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy. A woman may notice her hair is fuller, shinier and healthier from the second trimester of pregnancy onwards.

This improvement in pregnant women's hair is mainly due to the increase in estrogen levels, which favor the anagen (growth) phase of the hair and, therefore, delay hair loss. Thus, there is less daily hair loss than when a woman is not pregnant, so the hair will be thicker during pregnancy.

Why does hair change during pregnancy?

On the other hand, pregnant women may notice an increased production of oil on the scalp. If your hair was dry before pregnancy, this will be beneficial and your hair will be shinier and healthier looking. However, if the pregnant woman had normal or oily hair, she may need to wash her hair more frequently than usual and with appropriate products.

Likewise, there are women who notice how their hair changes texture during pregnancy, going from curlier to straighter hair, or vice versa.

Why does hair fall out postpartum?

After childbirth, the woman regains her pre-pregnancy hormonal status. As a result, the normal pattern of hair loss returns and the woman may notice her hair falling out more than usual. This is known as postpartum telogen effluvium.

Postpartum telogen effluvium

This is normal and temporary in the postpartum period. The hair that during pregnancy remained in a prolonged growth phase due to the increase of estrogens typical of pregnancy, will fall out at the same time.

However, about six months after delivery, this heavy hair loss should slow down and resemble the normal hair loss before pregnancy. If the abundant hair loss continues after this time, it would be advisable to consult a dermatologist, so that he/she can make an assessment and check if there is another possible cause.

How to take care of your hair during pregnancy and after childbirth

There are several things a woman can do to take care of her hair during pregnancy and especially postpartum. Among them we can mention:

• Taking care of your diet. This advice is useful at any stage of life, but even more so during pregnancy and lactation, so that there are no nutrient deficiencies. A healthy, varied and balanced diet, with plenty of fruits and vegetables, is beneficial in many aspects, but also for hair health. Likewise, it is important to include proteins and an adequate supply of iron.
• Do not take any food supplement that has not been prescribed by a specialist.
• Use shampoos that are suitable and adapted to the particular hair type, to give the hair what it needs. If the hair has become greasier and the frequency of washing has increased, use mild shampoos for frequent use. It is important that they do not contain excessive chemicals and that no hair treatments are performed during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as their chemical components may not be safe.
• Opt for a lukewarm water temperature when washing the hair, instead of very hot water.
• Wash the hair with a gentle scalp massage to activate blood circulation.
• Gently untangle.
• Allow hair to air dry. If you are going to use the hair dryer to remove moisture, it is better to do it with air that is not too hot and 15-20 cm away from the hair.
• Avoid using irons and curling irons.
• Do not tie hair in tight, tight ponytails or buns.
• Comb your hair carefully just before going to bed.

Pregnancy and postpartum hair care

Finally, one should not hesitate to consult a dermatologist if any of the changes in the hair during pregnancy or postpartum are of concern to the woman.

FAQs from users

How to care for oily hair during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, the scalp may have increased sebum production and the hair may become greasier.

If the pregnant woman already had greasy hair before pregnancy, she will usually have to increase the frequency with which she washes her hair and, therefore, she should use a gentle and frequent use shampoo adapted to her hair type, but which does not contain many chemicals, as they may not be safe during pregnancy and, if in doubt, consult a specialist.

Is it safe to dye my hair at 3 months?

Most studies indicate that colorants and hair dyes do not harm the fetus or affect fetal development. However, as a preventive measure, many women prefer to use natural hair dyes or temporary hair colors, which do not penetrate into the cuticle layer, allowing only a coating action. Others prefer to avoid hair dyes until the end of the first trimester, which configures the most vulnerable period for the fetus.

Suggested for you

If you are pregnant, you may also have noticed changes in your skin, such as the appearance of dark spots. If you want to know more about them, you can read the following article: Why do skin spots appear during pregnancy? How to avoid them?

On the other hand, if you want to read more information about the appearance of stretch marks during pregnancy, you can access this link: Stretch marks in pregnancy: when do they appear and how can they be removed?

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