One of the many joys of pregnancy is it bestows you with thick and shiny tresses. That baby bump comes bundled with hair that can really make you look and feel gorgeous. However, once your little one is born, it comes to an end — it’s what’s called postpartum hair loss wherein you suddenly lose your crowning glory.
According to experts, hair becomes thicker while you are pregnant because of a surge in estrogen. As soon as you give birth, however, the increased levels of estrogen in your body suddenly drop.
Such is what triggers your hair to fall out, causing you to lose way more than 50 to 100 strands a day, which is considered the normal range. In fact, you will start losing a lot of hair on the very day that your baby is out into the world, and it’s going to be a trend for the next 6 to 12 months of your life!
What’s even more alarming about postpartum hair loss is more strands along the hairline are saying bye-bye, which can make it seem like your hairline is receding. However, experts assure that it’s not something that won’t make you bald eventually — it’s just your body returning to what it was before you got in the family way.
So what can you do in order to deal with postpartum hair loss more effectively? Here are some of the things that can help reduce the impact of this alarming yet perfectly normal after-birth phenomenon:
Stay Relaxed
Whether or not you just gave birth, it’s common knowledge that stress can definitely make your hair fall out. It’s true that being a new mom can be a nerve-racking milestone, but do your best to keep your stress levels to a minimum — it’s good for your health as well as your mane.
Coconut Milk
Stay away from various hair products that promise to give you thicker mane. Many of them contain harsh chemicals that can only make your postpartum hair loss worse. What you should do instead is massage coconut milk into your hair and scalp 2 to 3 times a week. Put on a shower cap each time and allow the yummy-smelling product to stay on your mane anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse off with cold water afterwards.
Eggs
Beat a medium-sized egg or two and apply on your hair and scalp. Wear a shower cap for about half an hour to give protein and other nutrients in the all-natural hair mask enough time to nourish the scalp and hair follicles. Rinse off and clean your hair with a mild shampoo afterwards.
Aloe Vera
The gel within aloe vera leaves may also be used in place of beaten eggs. It’s also a wonderful idea to regularly consume pure aloe vera juice on a regular basis to nourish those hair follicles from within.
Get a New ‘Do
Pay your trusted hairstylist a visit to get a new hairdo that can help disguise your thinning mane, especially one that can help keep the front part and temples away from view. Going curly or having a new color or some highlights is a great way to give the impression that you have voluminous tresses.
Accessorize
New moms have very little time and energy for keeping their locks looking phenomenal. To save your hair from seemingly unmaintained, and thus appearing thinner than it actually is, count on some hair accessories. Bandannas, headbands, scarves, hats — these are all functional ornaments for your hair that can do the trick.
Eat Well
See to it that you opt for well-balanced meals, the kind that will supply your scalp all the nutrients it needs. Including fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish in your everyday diet ensures that you’re getting all those hair-friendly nutrients such as copper, magnesium, iron, zinc, selenium and vitamins A, B (especially biotin!), C and E.