Postpartum Hair Loss: What's Happening and How to Care for Your Hair

First, congratulations! You just did something incredible.

Now, a few months in, you may be noticing more hair in your brush, in the shower drain or on your pillow than ever before. I know how scary that can feel, especially when you're already running on very little sleep. So let's chat.

In the salon, postpartum shedding is one of the most common things new moms ask me about, and here is what I tell every one of them: it's normal, it's temporary, and for most women their hair is back to its usual fullness by their baby's first birthday. Your hair isn't leaving you. It's catching up.

Why postpartum hair loss happens

Every strand on your head goes through a cycle: a long growing phase, a short resting phase, and then a shed, when the old hair falls out to make room for a new one. Normally these phases are staggered, so you only lose a little each day.

During pregnancy, higher hormone levels (especially estrogen) keep more of your hairs in the growing phase for longer. Fewer hairs shed, which is why so many women love their pregnancy hair. After delivery, estrogen drops, and all of those hairs that were waiting move into the resting phase together. A few months later, they shed at the same time. Dermatologists call this telogen effluvium.

Shedding or breakage? Pick up a fallen hair and look at the end. A small white bulb means it came from the root and finished its cycle. That's shedding, and a new hair will grow in its place. No bulb and short broken pieces means the strand snapped somewhere along its length, usually from dryness, tension or heat. Breakage is something we can fix with your routine.

Your postpartum hair timeline

Every body is different, but this is the pattern most new moms follow:

• Birth to 2 months: Most moms notice little change at first. Your pregnancy hair may still feel full.
• Months 2 to 4: More hair in your brush, the shower and on your pillow. Shedding often peaks around 4 months after delivery.
• Months 4 to 6: Shedding gradually eases. Your hair may look thinner, especially around the hairline and temples.
• Months 6 to 12: Short new hairs start showing up, often along your edges and part. They may stand up or look frizzy. That's regrowth, not breakage.
• By the first birthday: Most women regain their normal fullness, and some sooner.

Gentle postpartum hair care

You can't stop postpartum shedding, but you can keep the hair you have strong and protect your edges while the new growth comes in.

On wash day
Cleanse your scalp with a gentle shampoo like our Restore shampoo, and keep conditioner and treatments on your lengths and ends, not your roots. Detangle in sections with conditioner, ends first, never on dry hair. Pat dry with a T-shirt or microfiber towel instead of rubbing.

Every day
Sleep in a satin bonnet or on a satin pillowcase, massage your scalp gently with your fingertips, and keep heat low with a heat protectant. And check your baby's fingers and toes for loose hairs wrapped around them. A hair wrapped tightly around a tiny finger or toe (a "hair tourniquet") needs medical help right away if you can't remove it.

Protect your edges
Skip tight ponytails, high buns and tight braids at the hairline, and hold off on heavy extensions until shedding settles. If you're getting an install, ask your stylist for light tension.

Care for you
Eat protein and iron-rich foods at most meals, keep taking your prenatal vitamin if your provider recommends it, drink water (especially if you're breastfeeding) and rest when you can. Stress affects hair too.

Styles that protect

The best postpartum styles are quick, low tension and easy to keep up with one hand. Lean into loose twists or chunky braids, low loose buns and puffs (move the placement every few days), a fresh trim or new cut, or simply switching your part for lift. Skip tight edges and slicked-back styles, heavy extensions at the hairline, daily high heat and big chemical changes for now.

Want a low-maintenance style that fits mom life? Our free style quiz matches you in about two minutes.

When to call your doctor

Most postpartum shedding needs nothing but time. But your body has been through a lot, and some signs deserve a closer look:

• Your hair isn't back to its usual fullness by your baby's first birthday.
• Bald patches, or losing hair on your brows, lashes or body.
• A widening part or thinning edges that don't improve. Postpartum shedding can reveal other conditions, like pattern thinning or traction hair loss, that respond best when caught early.
• You feel "off" beyond normal new-mom tired. About 5 to 10% of women develop postpartum thyroiditis, with signs like a racing heart, anxiety, trouble sleeping, weight changes, constant fatigue or low mood.
• Heavy shedding plus exhaustion or dizziness. Ask your provider whether blood work, such as iron and thyroid levels, makes sense for you.

Remember, this is a season, and your hair will come back. Be gentle with it, and with yourself.

As always,

Peace, Love and Beautiful vibes

Leonie

Sources: American Academy of Dermatology, "Hair loss in new moms"; University of Utah Health; American Thyroid Association, "Postpartum Thyroiditis"; Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. This article is for education and isn't medical advice. If you're worried about your hair or your health, talk to your doctor.