Most women who have just given birth and are breastfeeding feel that their hair is falling out more than it was before giving birth. While postpartum hair loss is a very normal condition and cannot be completely prevented, the loss of precious strands of hair can be very upsetting. Your hair will return to its normal state a year after delivery, but in the meantime, you can take a proactive step and try some methods to strengthen your hair and prevent hair loss.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Stopping Hair Loss After Childbirth
Step 1. Treat your hair properly
While you can't prevent hair loss while breastfeeding because of hormonal changes, inadequate hair care will cause more hair loss. Good and healthy care can help minimize the amount of hair loss.
Step 2. Wash hair regularly and gently
Clean your hair and scalp regularly and gently using shampoo and conditioner. This method helps prevent damage that exacerbates hair loss.
- Wash your hair every two days or as often as possible. Frequent shampooing can damage hair strands.
- Massage the shampoo into the scalp and along the hair strands.
- Rinse with water that runs from the scalp to the ends of the hair. Don't rub your hair while rinsing, as rubbing can exacerbate hair loss.
Step 3. Apply conditioner
After shampooing and rinsing your hair, run the conditioner along your hair, from ends to scalp. Applying conditioner in this way can prevent hair loss due to damage. Conditioner also makes hair look more voluminous.
- Make sure you use conditioner every time you wash your hair.
- You can use a rinse-in conditioner or one that doesn't need to be rinsed.
Step 4. Dry hair carefully
Drying your hair with towels and a blow dryer can cause damage and break the strands. Dry your hair carefully to prevent breakage and further hair loss.
- Use a soft towel to rub or pat your hair dry. Avoid the urge to wrap your hair in a towel as this can damage your hair and cause it to break.
- Let your hair dry on its own if possible.
- If using a hairdryer, choose the lowest heat. Reducing the frequency of using a hairdryer in a week can also support hair growth.
Step 5. Try not to brush and comb your hair often. If you brush or comb your hair, try to do it as rarely and as gently as possible
Reducing the frequency of brushing or combing your hair and changing the way you do it can help prevent hair loss and breakage.
- Brush your hair only when styled. The old advice to brush your hair 100 times a day is nothing more than a myth.
- After shampooing, let your hair air dry before brushing or combing it.
- Use the wide-toothed side to untangle frizzy hair. This method will minimize the loss due to using a brush.
- If your hair is tangled, gently untangle it and use conditioner to help if necessary.
Step 6. Style your hair wisely
Most women like to style their hair or use products such as hair irons which are usually hotter than the dryer. If you want to style your hair, choose a loose hairstyle, avoid harsh products, and use a tool with a lower heat.
- Tying your hair in a tight ponytail or braid can not only damage or break your hair, it can also cause hair loss. Tie your hair loosely and try different styles every day to relax your hair and scalp.
- A loose ponytail or braid can prevent strands from falling onto your baby, as well as preventing your baby from pulling on your hair while feeding.
- Use a rubber band wrapped in a cloth to tie the hair. Rubber alone can pull and break hair.
- If you are using a styling tool such as a curling iron or hot comb, choose the lowest setting.
- If you use extra hair, make sure to choose something light so it doesn't pull on the natural hair and scalp and cause more hair to fall out.
Step 7. Support hair growth by massaging the coconut skin
There is some evidence that massaging the scalp can stimulate and increase blood flow. Try massaging your own scalp to help prevent more severe hair loss and promote hair growth.
- Increased blood flow will also increase the absorption of nutrients that can help prevent hair loss and breakage, as well as stimulate hair to grow faster.
- Massage can help condition the scalp and strengthen the hair roots, which in turn minimizes the amount of hair loss during breastfeeding.
Step 8. Minimize hair loss with lavender oil
There is some evidence that lavender oil can help with hair loss. Massage a small amount of lavender oil into your hair and scalp to minimize hair loss and promote growth.
- Lavender oil can be purchased at pharmacies and supermarkets.
- Rub a small amount into the scalp once a day.
Step 9. Increase nutrient consumption
If you are breastfeeding, you must get enough nutrients to support milk production and maintain a healthy body. Additional nutritional intake can keep you healthy, increase milk production, and also help hair to stay strong so that hair loss is reduced.
- Not getting enough vitamins and nutrients can make hair loss worse. Make sure you are eating well and getting enough fluids.
- In addition to your regular calorie intake, you must factor in the extra calories for breastfeeding. Your needs increase to an extra 650 calories per day to be able to produce enough breast milk.
- Protein is one of the nutrients that support hair growth. Hair will grow and be strong when you eat lean protein from meat, dairy products, fish, eggs, and nuts.
- Iron helps prevent hair loss. You can get extra iron from red meat, fish, and chicken, as well as plant-based options like lentils, kale, and broccoli.
- Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron and produces collagen which strengthens the hair shaft. Get enough vitamin C by eating blueberries, broccoli, oranges, and strawberries.
- Omega-3 fatty acids help retain the natural oils in the scalp that are useful for hydrating hair. Get Omega-3s from fish like salmon and trout, and other sources like avocado and pumpkin seeds.
- Zinc and/or selenium deficiency can cause hair loss. Eat whole grains fortified with zinc and selenium, oysters, beef, and eggs.
- Biotin helps maintain hair strength and flexibility. Biotin deficiency can lead to brittle hair or hair loss. You can get biotin from whole grains, liver, eggs, and yeast.
Step 10. Consider continuing to take prenatal vitamins
Your body not only needs additional nutrients to support milk production, but also maintains healthy body and hair. You should consider taking a prenatal vitamin for additional nutrients that help your hair stay strong.
- During breastfeeding, your body is designed to put your baby's nutritional needs ahead of yours. If you don't get enough nutrients for your own health, hair loss will only increase.
- Prenatal vitamins are safe to take even if you're breastfeeding, and your doctor may recommend them to make sure you're getting the nutrients you need.
- Try to get as many nutrients as possible from healthy, fresh foods.
Method 2 of 2: Coping with Hair Loss After Childbirth
Step 1. Visit a doctor
If you think your hair loss is excessive or you are becoming depressed and anxious about it, make an appointment with your doctor. Your doctor can calm you down, prescribe medications to help you deal with hair loss, or suggest medical treatments to stimulate hair growth but not harm a breastfed baby.
Your doctor may need blood tests to assess your levels of hormones after delivery that can cause hair loss
Step 2. Understand that hair loss after childbirth is normal
During pregnancy, increased levels of estrogen stop hair growth, while hair that should fall out normally remains on the scalp. As a result, most women have thicker hair during pregnancy. After giving birth, estrogen levels will drop, and strands of hair that didn't fall out during pregnancy will begin to fall out.
You don't have to worry about going bald. Remember that the number of strands of your hair increases during pregnancy, then your body returns to normal after giving birth and breastfeeding
Step 3. Realize that your hormones (and hair) will return to normal
You can't completely prevent hair loss if you've just given birth or while breastfeeding. Hormones and hair take 6 to 12 months to return to their pre-pregnancy state, and by then the loss will decrease and return to normal.
- While waiting for the hair loss to subside, you can experiment with this new hair condition. You can try a new haircut or color, or try a new way of styling.
- Talking to other mothers can be helpful as they have also experienced breast-feeding hair loss. Talking can help you deal with anxiety about hair loss and accept that your condition will return to normal within a year of giving birth.
Step 4. Use products that add volume to your hair
If the hair loss is bothersome or excessive, try hair care products designed to thicken hair. This product can make hair look thicker and give you confidence until your hair returns to normal.
Products such as mousse and hair texturizer are formulated to give volume to the hair and "thicken" the appearance of the hair
Step 5. Consider a new hairstyle
Hair loss is not very visible on short hair or layer models. With the rush of babysitting and the feeding schedule to follow, you may want to consider a simpler hairstyle.
- You may also want to consider a new style to lift your spirits if you're feeling sad or depressed about your hair loss.
- This doesn't mean you should consider cutting your hair short. If you don't want to lose your long hair while breastfeeding, consider layers that give your hair a voluminous look
