Don’t let Postpartum Alopecia scare you!

Many women all over the world want to know exactly what postpartum Alopecia is. Yeah, your doctor tells you all of the technical things you need to know about having Alopecia after childbirth, but in most cases, they’re not as familiar with maintenance tips.  Here’s where your professional hairdresser comes in!

I have been in and around the beauty industry for over 10years now. During my ten-year, I have witnessed multiple cases of Postpartum Alopecia right in the salon.  This has sparked a desire to help woman just like you care for and maintain your postpartum alopecia.

So I wanted to take the time to answer some commonly asked questions regarding this issue.

What is Postpartum Alopecia?

Postpartum Alopecia is the sudden loss of hair women experience, that typically starts anywhere from 3-6 months after childbirth and can last up to 12 months due to hormonal changes and imbalance.  This sudden hair loss is very typical for women and is only temporary.

Will it grow back?

Absolutely! Every woman is different. However, you should notice progress at some point between your 6th and 12th month. If you continue seeing that your loosing more and more hair and bald spots continue to appear after the 12th month, there is a possibility that may be a sign of a more significant problem in your body, and you should seek help immediately from your doctor or health professional. PLEASE UNDERSTAND HAIRDRESSERS AND BEAUTY PROFESSIONALS ARE NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE HEALTH ISSUES.  All hope is not lost, however, if you’re still weaning through the average 12 months your in the safety zone! So don’t freak out!

What’s really happening though?

Many think that breastfeeding is associated with hair loss after pregnancy, but there’s no proven relationship between the two. However, in many cases, if your hair grew in length and fullness during your pregnancy, then chances are you are the perfect candidate to experience Postpartum Alopecia for a few different reasons.  One reason being that your natural hair growth phases are extremely offset during pregnancy.  There are three stages of hair growth, anagen , catagen, and telogen.  Mostly affected during pregnancy are the anagen phase(the growing phase) and the telogen phase(the fallout/ shedding phase) of growth. During your time of pregnancy, your anagen(grow out) phase gains a supercharge and is prolonged which maximizes your potential growth.  Meanwhile, the natural function of your telogen(fall out/shedding) stage takes a hit. Your hair is no longer shedding and falling as predictable as it should;  hence the reason many women experience the appearance of significant growth throughout pregnancy.  Not to mention during your pregnancy you gain a new organ which is the most famous placenta. The placenta is responsible for creating a lot of the fuss due to the fact that it produces an increased amount of estrogen along with other unusual amounts of hormones. So during pregnancy, you’ll experience increased estrogen levels, and after childbirth, you’ll experience a dramatic decrease. In many cases, it drops below the normal rate quite as it does during menopause.

So, What should I do?

Postpartum Alopecia has nothing to do with your overall health, so, the best advice would be not to panic! This is essential because added stress could potentially lead to further postpartum issues like postpartum depression.  Furthermore, stress is never good for hair growth anyway. It is advised that if your an avid water drinker, to keep going and if you’re not, then help your body by increasing your water intake now and maintain a healthy diet. You can use all of the topical ointments and essential oils (Pro Tip: see below) money can buy but, nothing topical will stop the process or speed it up.  It will run its course regardless.  However, it’s always advised as well to continue taking whatever prenatal vitamin your doctor as prescribed. If they are no longer required the Biotin always works and is a great way to keep your living follicles healthy and ready to pump out your new hair( because remember this is only temporary hair loss)! Oh and again, lots of water.

*Pro-Tip: refrain from putting topical hairdressing grease or cream products on your scalp, they will clog and smoother your follicles and eventually promote permanent Alopecia issues not associated with postpartum 

Well, can I at least relax or color it?

This is completely optional, but most professional hairdressers know that when hormones are imbalanced, it’s the worst time possible to add chemicals to the hair.  Relaxing and permanently coloring your hair especially during or after pregnancy does not come recommended.  You especially want to be careful with coloring or relaxing your hair if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Professional should always use skin protective lubricant during services, but it always leaves a risk of having the chemicals penetrate your pores and into your bloodstream. With that being said, always tell a new hairdresser if you’re pregnant or have given birth in the last 12 months.

Postpartum Alopecia Hair Styling Routine.

It’s best to incorporate regular trims anytime that you are experiencing any type of hormonal or system imbalance. (Pro-Tip I would definitely make it apart of your bi-monthly Salon visit.) Maybe consider opting for a totally transforming haircut to take some of the grief away. Yes, it’s counterintuitive, but you’ll notice less shedding, and the new hair doesn’t have much catching up to do. Also, if you’re extremely thin to start with, give some volumizing shampoo and conditioner a try!

So take a deep breath, enjoy the newest addition to your family, and allow the inevitable to run its course. Trust me- I’ve seen it full circle over a 10-year time span; I know that you will be just fine!