Four Tips to Help Combat Post-Partum Hair Loss

Written by Mia Cooley

            During my pregnancy my hair had grown faster than I’d ever seen. It was retaining length, it was thick, and it was shiny. Why was it growing? I told everyone that the cheat code to healthy hair was to have a baby because, I can promise you, there was no shortage of stress while I was pregnant. No surge in healthy eating, and I wasn’t as consistent as I probably should’ve been with taking my vitamins and drinking water.  Fast forward through all the fourth trimester bliss and not only was my infant going through a sleep regression, but my hair was going through its own regression phase. The post-partum shedding was real and didn’t start until my current toddler was five or six months old. I was literally edgeless. While my hair has grown back beautifully, this time a year ago was a struggle. 

For many women, the state of our hair (it’s length, volume, style) are equated to our level of attractiveness, and our femininity. I don’t think I realized all that I had internalized over the years regarding my hair, and the vanity I carried with me because of it. Black women, especially, have an intricate relationship with our hair. The level of time and effort put into our hair from young ages to prove it can grow, the political statements we make with our hair, the community and sacred spaces that have manifested because of the relationship we have with our hair. All these things have built an industry valued at $2.5 billion. So, I think most Black women could understand that it wasn’t just hair for me. I’m still unpacking that, but I needed to address the hair loss. 

Science says, post-partum hair loss is normal and that generally you get back to your regularly scheduled programming by month 12. I could throw some facts at you about growth phases like anagen and telogen, but no one really cares about the why. You’re here for the how to prevent it. Prior to the baby, I had it all figured out, but my hair regimen was anything but low maintenance. There were full days, sometimes two, dedicated to hot oil treatments, protein treatments, washing, deep conditioning, trimming, styling, shopping for and sampling products. My time and my money were dedicated to the health of my hair. Realistically, with a new baby I just didn’t have the time, the money, the patience to return to the regimen I once had.

Here’s what you can do: 

1.     Continue to Take Prenatal Vitamins. This doesn’t just go for my breastfeeding mommas. The prenatal multi-vitamin is full of all the good stuff, such as vitamins and minerals that keep your hair and nails growing (your skin glowing too). 

2.     Pay attention to your scalp. Healthy hair starts here. Make sure you’re keeping it moisturized and avoiding chemicals that can lead to burning and other damage. 

3.     Avoid Heat. It can cause further damage. 

4.     Adjust your styling. I had to change my low tension and low manipulation regimen to an EVEN LOWER tension and manipulation regimen. Which kind of worked out because I have no time to do hair with an infant attached to my boo or a toddler attached to my knee caps.

I had to treat my hair as fragile as it was. I basically just kept it clean and moisturized and kept it pushing. Don’t lose hope mommas, stress is not going to get you the results you want. Try and be patient.  Reach out if you need encouragement because how you look impacts how you feel, and I remember not feeling the best during this transition.