Hormonal hair loss is more prevalent than people think. The right balance of hormones is essential for the maintenance of both your mental and physical health, with your hormones affecting key bodily functions, along with behavioural, developmental and reproductive changes.
During pregnancy in particular, hormones and stress can cause a number of challenges, including hair changes, with both pregnant women and new mothers affected. Here What to Expect reveals more about the most common pregnancy hair changes:
“Some pregnant women notice that their hair grows faster than ever (put the salon on speed dial!), while others might experience changes in texture, such as locks that are suddenly drier, oilier or frizzier than they were pre-pregnancy. Hair may also start to grow in new places (think face, chest, belly and arms), due to those same hormones, plus increased blood circulation, revved-up metabolism that brings more nutrients to your hair — and nails.”
Whilst most women experience thicker hair during pregnancy due to rising oestrogen levels, this is not always the case. Hair loss and thinning are just as widespread during and after pregnancy, with limp, lifeless and brittle follicles prone to shedding as hormones surge, deficiencies become apparent, or thyroid problems take hold.
To mark World Maternal Mental Health Day 2023, we’re here to share our top tips for taking care of your natural hair during pregnancy and postpartum.
Your pregnancy hair needs all the help it can get to counter the effects of hormonal imbalances and stress. While pregnancy hair loss is temporary, there are many steps you can take to remedy and reduce its impact on your hair and confidence levels.
For fuller, healthier looking hair, switch your usual shampoo and conditioner for volumising alternatives. You should also avoid intensive shampoos that over cleanse the hair as this will strip away the oils that protect your hair and aid natural growth.
When applying your conditioner, change your technique. Instead of applying conditioner to the scalp – a process that can clog pores and negatively affect hair health – apply to the ends of the hair to treat frizz and lower the risk of split ends.
Eating more healthy foods will have been a priority as soon as you discovered you were pregnant. The right foods can also aid hair health as you negotiate those pregnancy hair care challenges.
Make sure you include plenty of fruits, vegetables and healthy proteins in your diet to give your body (and hair) the nutrients it needs to thrive. Hair health boosting foods include oily fish, leafy greens, legumes, nuts, and carrots.
Meet those recommended daily allowances for all the important vitamins and minerals by taking a nutritional supplement. The right vitamins and minerals have been proven to boost hair health, especially when pregnant or nursing. Find out more about the top vitamins and minerals for hair and scalp health.
Stress can have an equally negative impact as those naturally occurring hormone imbalances. Increased stress levels can worsen hormonal fluctuations, which is why it’s beneficial to hair and overall health to get those stress levels in check.
Find a stress management technique that works for you, whether that’s partaking in pregnancy-friendly exercise on a regular basis, practising meditation or yoga, using breathing techniques to find your inner calm, or simply sharing your worries with family and friends to destress.
Feeling your best and most confident during pregnancy isn’t easy, especially if you are currently experiencing pregnancy-related hair loss and thinning.
Give yourself a boost by choosing one of our protective wig styles to preserve your natural hair, and look and feel your very best. Explore our range of women’s wigs today right here.
