Female Hair Loss & Motherhood

Mother’s Day is almost here! Have you ever felt like tearing your hair out from the stresses and chaos of parenting? If so, you’re certainly not alone in that sentiment — or in the way’s motherhood can affect your head of hair. Let’s examine the link between motherhood and hair loss, along with some helpful tips that can help you hang onto your hair.

The Association Begins Before Birth

Moms can struggle with hair loss even before their babies are born. During pregnancy, boosted levels of estrogen and progesterone can keep you from shedding and replacing hairs at a normal rate. Once these hormonal levels return to normal after the baby is born, that retained hair starts to fall out, leaving you with thin patches until the hair can grow back.

The Stresses and Imbalances of Motherhood

Raising a child is hard work, especially when you’re also trying to earn a living and accomplish countless other tasks simultaneously. This balancing act cam cause a great deal of physical, mental, and emotional stress — and stress affects the “life cycle” of hair. If stressful events push your hair follicles from the growing or resting stage into the shedding stage, you can find yourself suddenly losing significant amounts of hair. This phenomenon is called telogen effluvium.

Coping Techniques and Hair Health Strategies

Moms make sacrifices as a matter of course, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up your hair to this important aspect of your life. There are plenty of things you can do nourish and protect your hair during various stages of motherhood. If you’re experiencing postpartum hair loss, for instance, you can bide your time until the hair grows back by adding volume with a volumizing shampoo, avoiding unnecessary brushing or teasing of hair, and getting plenty of vitamins and minerals.

Proper nutrition is equally important to help moms cope with stress. Make sure that you’re getting your Vitamin C, complex carbs, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids. Other stress-reduction strategies can also prove extremely helpful. Getting regular exercise, maintaining supportive relationships, and giving yourself some personal time every-once-in-a-while can do wonders for your stress levels — and possibly your hairline as well.

Hair Loss Help

Whether you live in Salt Lake City or Fort Lauderdale, Florida, or anywhere in between, if you are experiencing the devastating effects of hair loss and would like to learn more about hair replacement options for men and women available to you, we invite you to consider scheduling a free private, confidential consultation with an experienced hair loss professional near you.