Health ~ Fitness ~ Motherhood and More
4 Amazing Tips to Grow Your Hair Back after Postpartum Loss!
Congrats mama! You made it thru pregnancy, and now here comes the 4th trimester. Complete with sleepless night, lots of coffee and oh yeah, HAIR LOSS. While I was told about postpartum hair loss, I wasn’t prepared for what happened. I will never forget, I took a selfie kissing my sweet boy, and then I saw it. My hairline was gone, so sparse, and all I could see was scalp. I had noticed more hair coming out in the shower but was not paying too much attention until it was staring me right in the face.
I will say, not all women experience this. So, if you are one of the lucky ones, I am so happy for you. But if you are watching hair come out in clumps, and want to know if you can do anything to help, then you’ve come to the right place. In this article I will help you understand why you are losing hair and how you can help regrow it!
Why it happens
So why do we lose hair during postpartum, when does it start and how long does it last? The why is a simple answer, hormones. When you become pregnant, your estrogen rises. This rise is estrogen causes the hair to retain longer than it would otherwise, resulting in longer, thicker hair throughout your pregnancy. One of the nice perks I’d say!
But once baby is born, that estrogen level drops, and all those hairs that have been “over-retained” begin to shed. In fact, the normal amount of hair shedding is 100 strands a day. During postpartum, women can shed up to 300 strands a day. Everyone is different but shedding begins within the first few months after having baby and can last up to 3 months.
I was about 4 months postpartum when I noticed how thin my hairline was, and by 6 months that excessive shedding stopped. I then began my regrowth journey! I tried A LOT of different things. Even going as far as hanging my head upside down off my bed to increase blood to my scalp, which by the way did not work. I did thankfully find some things that have helped, and I am excited to share them with you! Let’s get to it!
How Can You Regrow Your Hair After Pregnancy?
#1 diet
First and foremost, what will help with postpartum hair loss and regrowth is DIET. This is probably not too much of a surprise to most, but as the saying goes, we are what we eat. When your goal is growing healthy hair there are some staple foods you will want to be incorporating. And bonus, most of them are great for baby too if you are a breast-feeding mama!
Protein
Firstly, you will want to focus on protein as this is what hair follicles are mainly composed of. The best sources include organic red meat, fish, eggs, lentils and beans.
Vitamin C
Essential for collagen formation which is an important part of your hair structure. Good food sources include broccoli, kale, peppers, strawberries, acerola and amla fruit. I also love taking a daily Vitamin C supplement.
B Vitamins
B vitamins and in particular Biotin are associated with hair growth. Good food sources include Eggs, Dark Leafy greens, Almonds, Good quality red meat.
Vitamin D
Low levels are associated with alopecia and hair loss. Research also shows that vitamin D may help create new hair follicles. Good food sources include Oily fish, egg yolks, mushrooms.
Iron
Iron is important as it help carries oxygen to your cells. This makes it important for hair growth. Good food sources include good quality red meat, eggs, spinach, lentils.
There are so many foods that encourage healthy hair growth, and that could be a whole article in itself. If you want to learn more about the best diet for hair loss and hair growth, check out this article from Abbey’s Kitchen.
#2 Scalp massage
Who doesn’t love having a good scalp massage! Always my favorite part of having my hair done! But did you know it could help your hair grow thicker and faster? According to 2 cited studies in this article from Healthline, regular scalp massages showed improvement to volume and length of the participants hair. How exciting is that?
This is most likely from the increased circulation to the follicle of the hair, which is where hair growth occurs. More blood circulation, more growth! It was also explained scalp massage expands the cells of the follicle resulting in thicker strands of hair. I made sure to do weekly massages, but you can also do them daily. I love using a scalp brush in the shower when shampooing, or during an oil treatment.
The oil I use and love is the Rejuveniqe oil, a blend of 13+ unique ingredients, including antioxidants, beta-carotene, and omega-3 fatty acids. It works by replenishing your hair and scalp with much needed nourishment that tends to be removed through washing and has a molecular size small enough to penetrate the hair and skin.
This is still something I make sure to do weekly, as scalp health is the key to healthy strong hair!
#3 collagen
Taking a collagen supplement is another great way to support hair growth. Hair is made of keratin, and your body uses certain amino acids, found in collagen to make keratin. Collagen production as we know can slow as we get older, so supplementing with it is a wise thing to do, especially if you are having hair loss isssues.
The other benefit collagen provides is it helps the elasticity and strength of the scalp. This will help with hair retention once you are getting that new growth in! Collagen is also an anti-oxidant, which means it can prevent free radical damage to skin and hair cells. This is argued to help slow or stop grey hair from starting.
What type of collagen should you take? Not all collagen supplements are created equal, and some are better for skin, so it’s important to chose wisely if your goal is hair growth.
Martino Cartier, celebrity hairstylist, CEO and Owner of Martino Cartier Salon NJ, says to opt for hydrolyzed collagen peptides powder: “It helps our cells inside of our body work better.” Nikki Goddard, certified hair stylist and makeup artist with an associate degree in cosmetology, agrees. “It seals moisture in cells, improves hair structure and health and makes it elastic and shiny,” she says.
Vital Proteins has been my go-to collagen for years! It comes in chocolate, vanilla or flavor-less, is easy to mix, and is composed of the exact type of collagen needed for hair regrowth!
#4 Capixyl
Saved the best for last! This was what changed the game for me! What it is you ask? Capixyl is is a natural peptide complex powered by red clover extract. This gentle emollient reduces scalp inflammation, which is the leading cause of hair loss. It also helps to hydrate the scalp and stimulate natural, noticeable hair growth. It does this by extending the growth phase and limiting the shedding phase of the hair. The result is better anchored hair that grows longer and thicker. Yes Please!
Where can you find capixyl?
There are several brands now utilizing Capyxil as a growth stimulant in their products. If you do a search for that ingredient, you are likely to find many options. My experience has been with the product line Monat. They use Capixyl in several shampoos, conditioners, and hair treatments. When I was in the throws of my post-partum loss, I started using the Intense Repair Line which contains 3X the amount of Capixyl as compared to other products. And the results were nothing less than a miracle. Have a look!
My routine consisted of using the Intense Repair Shampoo and Intense Repair Conditioner and the Intense Repair Spray, which I sprayed along thinner areas like my hairline and the crown of my head. Within 3-4 weeks I noticed baby hairs sprouting up everywhere and they just keep getting longer. While I know Capixyl was the star ingredient helping my hair loss, I also think it had to do with the other ingredients Monat uses, especially Rejuveniqe oil, which I mentioned previously. This oil is the ONLY oil clinically proven to absorb into the scalp and the hair follicle. Other oils will just sit on top, possibly suffocate the hair, and lead to more damage.
After seeing what these products did for me, I decided to partner with Monat. If I could help just on other momma with her confidence and post-partum hair woes, it would be worth it. To read more about how I started my home-based business, you can check out this article.
BONUS TIP: Stress Free Hair Styles
Messy mom buns are the go-to for most of us, but sometimes those can cause stress to the hair and create more fall out. You can develop what is known as tension alopecia. Because the hair is in a fragile state, the tension can cause more hair loss.
If you do tie your hair back, opt for a low styles. Something like a low braid, bun or pony. And use hair ties that are gentle. Silk scrunchies and cord scrunchies tend to work best and will eliminates pulling on your hair, causing kinks or causing breakage.
there you have it!
And there you have it MAMA! A game plan to get back that mane! Just remember, your hair will need some time and patience just like your postpartum body. Don’ be hard on yourself! In the short term you can always rock some cute hats! Keep using the tips listed above, and soon your locks will be rockin’ again!
If you want to know if the products mentioned are right for you or want to see more of my results, come say Hi on my IG, or feel free to take a hair quiz! Can’t wait to connect!!
XOXO,
Shauna
