Postpartum Hair Loss: 11 Helpful Tips To Get Your Hair Back Fast

You’re probably wondering what helps with postpartum hair loss? Or is your postpartum hair loss normal? Sadly mommy, excessive hair shedding after you’ve had your baby is normal and in theory, you should not worry about it. But when you see your hairline thinning, your ponytail being only half as thick as it used to be, or you’re leaving a trail of hair everywhere you go, it knocks your confidence. However, you might be losing less hair than you think.

Luckily there are a few incredibly easy things you can do to get your luscious hair back or to help you make your hair look fuller in the meantime while you’re waiting for your hair to go back to normal. 

Definitely also check out my post on 50 incredibly affordable postpartum hair loss vitamins.

Related Posts

• 50 Best Vitamins for Postpartum Hair Loss (Under $50)

You might also like to check out this tasty breakfast juice that dissolves 62 lbs of wobbly fat.

What causes postpartum hair loss and why you might be losing less than you think

You’re not alone if you feel conscious about postpartum hair shedding or the effects of postpartum telogen effluvium (the proper term).

During pregnancy, your hair feels thicker and fuller because your body is holding on to more hair during its resting phase rather than shedding it.

Therefore, you will not lose the hair that was always going to fall out right away.

That means while it is normal to shed up to 100 hairs a day, when you’re pregnant, you may only lose as little as 15 hairs per day. But a few months into postpartum this number can go up to 400 strands of hair per day.

This is due to your hormones changing. In particular, your estrogen levels are very high during pregnancy and estrogen blocks hair fall. But after birth, that hormone drops dramatically immediately within 24 hours. And because of this, you start losing your hair at a normal pace again plus the added hair loss is simply triggered by the “stressful” event of birth.

These 50 vitamins could help you.

But no matter how much hair you think you’re losing, just know that you won’t go bald or lose more than 50% of your hair.

It’s not fair, I know.

But hang in there because there are things you can do.

How long does postpartum hair loss last?

Postpartum hair shedding is temporary but can last up to a year. By the time your bubs turns one, your hair should be back to normal. In theory.

Personally, I am 9 months postpartum, and my hair has only just started to thin noticeably around 8 months postpartum. Hopefully, this will be a different story for you and by the one-year mark, your hair will be back to being luscious.

How can I regrow my hair after pregnancy?

Your hair should start to regrow by itself after 6-12 months. But there are a few things you can do to speed up that process with the right care and treatment.

Some postpartum hair treatments can help regrow your hair from the inside. But there are also a few tips you can do from the outside to make your hair look fuller.

And when your hair starts to grow back you might even experience fine hair regrowth around your hairline, called “baby bangs” which can look a bit awkward. But again, this will go away as your hair grows longer.

Of course, there are some common-sense tips you should follow, like drinking plenty of water, eating a balanced diet, and getting enough sleep, but there are also a few hacks you can use to improve the appearance of your thinning hair.

Postpartum hair treatments you can try

I will preface my comments by disclaiming that I am not a doctor, medical professional, or dietician. I’m just sharing some simple tips that are working for me. So if you have any concerns, please consult a healthcare professional before trying any of these tips. 

1. Use Castor Oil

Castor oil is one of the best oils for hair growth.

Unfortunately, there is no scientific evidence if Castor Oil really does work for hair growth. However, Castor Oil speeds up hair growth due to its antibacterial and antifungal properties, which help your scalp grow new hair follicles faster.

That’s why it’s an excellent source of nutrition for your scalp.

Castor oil is heavy and thick, so beware. The best way is to massage it into your scalp to stimulate blood flow to the scalp. But because it’s so heavy I only apply it to my temples and leave it on overnight. Before you apply it all over your scalp, apply it to the affected areas first and see if you like it.

If you apply Castor oil to your hair, then you need to wash it out properly the next day, because it doesn’t wash out easily the first time. So it may take 1 to 2 washes to get it all out.

2. Eat Protein

Are you eating enough protein?

Protein is essential for postpartum hair health. Fish, meat, lentils, chickpeas, spinach, and eggs are among the protein-rich foods.

As an alternative, you may want to consider starting your day with a healthy protein shake.

I have been boosting my daily protein intake with protein shakes for years but felt that my body was soaking up the nutrients like a sponge during and after pregnancy especially. 

But read the labels to make sure they contain natural ingredients rather than artificial ones.

Protein bars without or low sugar are a good snack option. These low-sugar ones are great.

3.  Take your vitamins

Vitamins are nutrition for your hair. That’s why taking some vitamins as part of a balanced diet is important to help your hair recover quickly. The only ones that worked for me were biotin gummies and collagen gummies.

The collagen gummies had a great side effect because it plumps up my lips as well (my upper lip in particular noticeably).

If you’re vegan you might like these blueberry vegan gummies instead.

Also, check out my post on 50 Best Vitamins for Postpartum Hair Loss (Under $50).

4. Get a trim

Your hair length matters for two reasons.

Firstly, the longer your hair is, the heavier it is, and the more it pulls on your hair follicles.

Secondly, a stylist can help you style your hair so that it looks fuller.

I had my stylist take out the thin, weak ends of my hair, leaving me with 100% thicker-looking hair. Just ask for a trim or a “dusting” to add volume to your hair.

5. Wear your bun high

If you have long hair, you’ll probably tuck it into a mom bun most days so that it’s out of your face when you’re breastfeeding or making baby food.

But make sure that your bun doesn’t pull on your hair follicles, ripping them out.

So if you still want to wear your bun, wear it up high on your head instead of at the back of your head where the weight causes extra pulling.

Normally, I wear my bun at the back of my head. But because my hair got so thin, I found that the bun was dragging it down, pulling more hair out. Wearing it higher helped.

6. The right shampoo

The right shampoo is key. Some shampoos weigh your hair down. But when your hair is thinning this is the last thing you want. Instead, use a shampoo that adds volume to your hair. Your hair will look thicker, fuller, and overall like you have more hair than you actually do.

Avoid products that say “intensive conditioners” or “conditioning shampoo” as they are too heavy for thinning hair.

So definitely experiment around with products to find the ones that work for you.

I stopped using supermarket shampoo a long time ago because it leaves my hair greasy and leaves residue behind. 

One of my favorite shampoos that do not leave a greasy film but is a bit pricey is Olaplex 4, 5, and the bonding oil.

However, once I started noticing the thinning, frizzy, and weak-looking postpartum hair, I switched to the Grow me shampoo and conditioner here and absolutely love it (smells amazing!).

You can also try a Biotin shampoo and conditioner like this one.

7. Dry shampoo

If you haven’t tried dry shampoo yet, you are seriously missing out. Because this magical dry shampoo in a bottle can give your weak hair instant volume and it also adds texture. 

So wash your hair less often and use dry shampoo in between instead. You’ll hardly notice the difference.

8. Silky scrunchies

Silk scrunchies are ideal for weak hair, as silk doesn’t soak up moisture as cotton does. Because of this, silk scrunchies leave your hair feeling much softer and will significantly reduce breakage.

9. Scalp massage

If you’re wondering what helps with postpartum hair loss, try a scalp massage. Using a scalp massager can increase blood flow to your hair follicles, allowing nutrients to reach your roots faster.

Another benefit of massaging your scalp is that it helps relieve tension and stress, which are all associated with hair loss.

I massage my scalp and face multiple times a day when I am feeling tense because of this reason.

Because all momma bears need time to relax, so why not make time for yourself today?

Use a good oil and massage your scalp. Rosemary oil is known to help hair grow back fast.

10. Wear statement earrings

If you already wear bold earrings, this is not for you so much. However, if you’re like me and you never wear bold statement earrings, now may be the time to consider it.

Because while you’re waiting for your hair to grow back to its lush mane, wear bolder, bigger earrings to draw attention away from your hair.

I’ve been wearing my hair up in a mom bun since my hair started thinning to avoid gravity pulling it down. And I also bought a pair of black tassel earrings too. My earrings have received so many compliments because they take the focus off of my hair.

11. Change your parting

Do you normally wear your parting to one side? Then why not switch it up? Add volume to your hair and ompf by simply flipping your hair the other way than you normally wear it.

Changing up your parting can add instant volume to your hair making it look fuller and thicker.

Closing thoughts on 11 helpful tips for postpartum hair

I hope these hair and styling tips helped you deal with your postpartum hair and gain your confidence back. Consider combining a few tips that help your hair from the inside with some styling tips to improve your appearance so that you feel more like yourself again.

Don’t worry mommy, your hair will be back to normal in no time. And in the meantime find the tips and products that work for you.

Related Posts

• 50 Best Vitamins for Postpartum Hair Loss (Under $50)

What’s your experience with postpartum hair loss? And have I forgotten anything? Let me know your favorite tip in the comments below.