Coping with Hair Changes During Pregnancy

Remember when you had no hair at all and then all of a sudden one day you have a thick mane? Or you could have been the next big star on a shampoo commercial and now you’re the next hair implant model. Pregnancy can be an amazing time of transition and possibility - but it can also be a time when pregnant women experience all sorts of temporary body changes that may require special care and adjustment during the months leading up to the birth of the child (and, for some women, for many months following the birth. Understanding what is going on with your hair during pregnancy may help, but adjustments to hair care will likely be necessary for the short term.

Some women experience hair loss during pregnancy - the hair actually falls out or breaks off at a much higher rate than is normal, while other women may find their hair grows faster and is fuller. The texture of hair may change during pregnancy, as well - becoming straighter or seemingly having more body.

Why is my hair getting thicker?

It's not your imagination – your hair is thicker than normal now. But you're not actually growing more hair; you're just losing it more slowly than you usually do. Normally, most of the hair on your head is growing and the remainder (about 5 to 15 percent) is in a resting stage. After the resting period, this hair falls out and is replaced by new growth. During pregnancy, higher levels of estrogen make the growing stage longer, so fewer hairs are in the resting stage and fewer are falling out each day, and you have thicker, more luxuriant tresses. After you give birth, though, your estrogen levels drop and more hair will enter the resting stage and fall out. This postpartum hair loss can be alarming, but it's totally normal.

Here are some hair coping suggestions that may help you in whatever stage you may be in:

Handle your hair with care. The extra hair that pregnancy gives, it takes away in the postpartum period. Camouflage the wispy new growth with bangs or trim your hair to make it look thicker. Similar to when you give your baby his/her first haircut, trimming the wispy new growth will reveal it is actually thicker than it looks. Don’t pull hair back too tight, as it may be more delicate and you want to avoid breakage. Take advantage of products that help promote healthy hair growth, such as thickening shampoos, conditioning treatments, and essential oils. If you have grown used to using a certain type of shampoo, you may need to change to one that fits your hair type during pregnancy. It may take some experimenting, but use the one that is best-suited to the current condition of your hair.

Try different products. Are you used to straight, thick hair? Well prepare yourself for a new challenge in life. You could come out of this whole experience with a new texture or thickness. You may need to experiment with products for the new texture. Rest assured though, even frizzy hair can be controlled with the use of smoothing products and a good Denman brush. Finer or thicker hair can also be treated with a myriad of products specific to your hair’s needs.

Think nutrition. Your diet during pregnancy was probably very healthy (aside from the major sweet tooth you developed). Don’t give that up just because you delivered your baby. A healthy diet goes a long way with the condition of your skin and the promotion of healthy hair growth. Also, nutritional supplements such as Biotin, Vitamin B, C, and E (probably similar to those in your prenatal vitamin) are great sources of nutrients for your hair.

Choose a new hairstyle. Stylists usually have great advice for new Mom’s on how to choose a style that will complement your hair and face postpartum. You will probably have a few relatives or friends asking to spend some time with your baby; take advantage of their offers and schedule an hour or two at your salon.