Trigger warning: Pregnancy loss
There are some articles I write as a hairdresser.
This one I also write as a woman who has lived it.
Postpartum hair loss — I know her.
Before having my eldest daughter, I had three back-to-back pregnancies with no cycle in between.
The first two ended in pregnancy loss.
Then I became pregnant with my beautiful first daughter.
So by the time I finally made it through pregnancy, a traumatic birth and into that strange new world we call “postpartum”, my body had spent a very long time moving through enormous hormonal and physical changes, while I was also carrying the grief of the pregnancies we'd lost. All the while navigating business during lockdown. It was a challenging time.
After my second loss, my GP - who I adore - explained something to me in a way I've never forgotten:
“Your body was preparing for one event, and then a different one happened.”
For me, that happened twice before I became pregnant again.
Then came pregnancy.
Birth.
Recovery.
A newborn.
Breastfeeding.
And a level of sleep deprivation I don't think anything can adequately prepare a first-time mum for.
And then my hair started falling out.
I felt like I got the mother of all postpartum sheds.
I don't share my experience to compare it with anyone else's. Pregnancy, pregnancy loss, birth and postpartum are deeply personal experiences and every woman's story is different.
I share it simply to say:
If you're standing in the shower looking at what feels like half your hair in your hands, I understand.
And there is actually a biological explanation for much of what you're seeing.
Why does your hair often look so good during pregnancy?
For many women, pregnancy hair is glorious.
It can feel thicker and fuller than usual.
It isn't necessarily because you've suddenly grown an enormous amount of new hair.
What's happening is that you’re likely not losing as much.
Normally, your individual hairs are all at different stages of growth, rest and shedding. As we explained in I’m shedding more hair. What's going on?, this means you're continually losing some hairs while others keep growing.
During pregnancy, hormonal changes - particularly rising estrogen - alter that balance.
More of your follicles remain in the active anagen, or growing, phase for longer, meaning fewer hairs than usual progress into the resting and shedding stages.
So rather than growing a completely different head of hair, in many cases you're simply holding onto more of the hair you would ordinarily have shed.
The result?
That beautiful, thick pregnancy hair so many women notice.
And then you have your baby
After delivery, estrogen levels fall dramatically.
The hair cycle begins readjusting and many of those hairs that remained in their growing phase during pregnancy move towards the resting and shedding phases.
They don't all fall out immediately.
Remember what we learned about telogen effluvium: there is a delay between the trigger and the resulting shed.
That's why postpartum shedding commonly becomes noticeable a few months after birth and often peaks at around four months postpartum.
Suddenly you're finding hair everywhere.
In the shower.
In your brush.
On your clothes.
On your pillow.
Around the house.
And because you're shedding hairs that ordinarily would have been lost gradually over a longer period, the amount can feel absolutely enormous.
Is postpartum hair loss actually telogen effluvium?
Yes. What we commonly call postpartum hair loss is generally postpartum telogen effluvium — excessive hair shedding associated with the hormonal shift following pregnancy and birth.
And technically, for most women, it is more accurately described as excessive shedding rather than permanent hair loss.
The follicles haven't simply disappeared, the hair cycle has changed.
That's an important distinction because in most cases, postpartum shedding is temporary.
The American Academy of Dermatology says most women regain their normal hair fullness by their baby's first birthday, while DermNet describes spontaneous recovery towards pre-pregnancy levels generally occurring within around six to twelve months.
But that doesn't make experiencing it any less confronting.
What about hair shedding after pregnancy loss?
I want to include this because postpartum conversations so often begin and end with bringing a baby home.
Not every pregnancy ends that way.
Hair shedding can occur following major hormonal and physiological changes, and telogen effluvium can also be triggered by significant physical or emotional stress.
Pregnancy loss involves changes to a body that had already begun adapting to pregnancy, followed by another transition when that pregnancy ends.
There isn't the same body of research quantifying hair shedding specifically after miscarriage or pregnancy loss as there is after childbirth, so I don't want to pretend that every woman will experience the same thing or give you a percentage that isn't well established.
But if you've experienced a pregnancy loss and then noticed significant shedding in the months afterwards, please don't dismiss what you're noticing simply because you didn't reach the traditional definition of “postpartum.”
Speak to your GP about it, particularly if the shedding is significant or persistent.
And if that is the reason you've found this article, I'm very sorry for your loss.
Your body has been through something enormous
I think sometimes we talk about postpartum hair loss as though it exists in isolation.
Your hormones dropped, your hair falls out, wait for it to grow back.
Biologically, hormones are a major part of the explanation.
But the woman experiencing it is also recovering from pregnancy and birth while learning how to care for another human being.
Even an uncomplicated pregnancy and birth place significant demands on the body.
If you have a Caesarean birth, you're also recovering from major abdominal surgery. Major surgery and significant physical stress are themselves recognised triggers for telogen effluvium, although that doesn't mean every C-section causes an additional episode of shedding.
Add interrupted sleep.
Feeding a newborn around the clock.
Physical recovery.
Hormonal changes.
Potential blood loss.
Trying to feed yourself properly when you can barely find time to shower.
And for some women, breastfeeding and the additional nutritional and energy demands that come with it.
Ladies, we are superhuman.
But being capable of doing extraordinary things doesn't mean our bodies don't need recovery.
Please don't blame breastfeeding
This is something I want to be careful about.
Postpartum shedding happens whether or not breastfeeding forms part of your journey.
The major recognised driver of typical postpartum telogen effluvium is the hormonal transition following pregnancy - particularly falling estrogen - rather than breastfeeding itself.
If you're breastfeeding, however, your body is simultaneously producing nutrition for another human being while you're recovering from pregnancy and birth.
That makes looking after your own nutrition important too.
You don't need to choose between nourishing your baby and caring for yourself.
You deserve to be cared for as well.
So what can you actually do about postpartum shedding?
This is probably the frustrating part.
For typical postpartum telogen effluvium, there isn't a magic product that switches the shedding off.
Your hair cycle needs time to readjust.
And I know that's not necessarily what you want to hear when you're pulling handfuls of hair from the shower drain.
But there are things you can do to support yourself, your scalp and the hair you still have while your body moves through that process.
Start with nutrition
After pregnancy and birth, I think this deserves much more attention than it often receives.
You're recovering.
You're probably exhausted.
You may be breastfeeding.
And eating a nutritionally perfect meal three times a day isn't exactly easy when you're trying to keep a newborn alive.
So this isn't about perfection.
It's about remembering that you need feeding too.
Aim for a varied, nutrient-rich diet with adequate protein and follow the nutritional advice of your GP, obstetrician, midwife or dietitian, particularly if you're breastfeeding.
And rather than automatically buying every supplement marketed for postpartum hair loss, speak to your healthcare professional about whether there is any reason to investigate an actual deficiency.
Iron deficiency and thyroid disorders, for example, can also contribute to diffuse hair shedding and can sometimes coexist with what looks like ordinary postpartum shedding.
Rest where you realistically can
I nearly laughed writing that heading.
Because telling the mother of a newborn to “get more sleep” can be one of the least helpful pieces of advice imaginable.
Sometimes you simply can't.
So I'm not going to tell you to achieve eight uninterrupted hours and meditate at sunrise.
I'm talking about recovery in whatever form is actually available to you.
Accept help.
Eat when you can.
Rest when the opportunity genuinely presents itself.
Let someone else do the washing.
Go outside.
Move your body gently when you're ready.
And lower the expectation that your body should immediately return to exactly what it was before pregnancy.
It has just done something extraordinary.
Look after your scalp
Your scalp is the environment your new hair is growing from, so this is a time when I like to keep scalp care consistent and uncomplicated.
At Stella, we recommend the Genyve Scalp Care range to cleanse, exfoliate, hydrate and support a healthy scalp environment.
But I want to be very clear about what I'm saying here:
Scalp care supports the environment your hair grows from. It does not prevent the normal hormonal shedding associated with postpartum telogen effluvium.
There isn't a shampoo, serum or scalp treatment that can simply override the postpartum hair cycle.
For me, scalp care is about taking care of the environment where the next generation of hair is growing while your cycle naturally begins to normalise.
Be gentle with the hair you still have
When your density suddenly feels reduced, protecting the hair that's still there becomes even more important.
Try to minimise unnecessary tension from very tight ponytails or buns.
Be gentle when detangling.
Use heat protection when styling.
Condition your lengths properly.
And if you colour your hair, work with your hairdresser on what your hair can safely tolerate at that point in time.
Remember that shedding and breakage are different things. And the last thing we want when you're already losing density through shedding is to unnecessarily lose more through preventable breakage.
Read: Hair shedding or hair breakage? What's the difference?
And yes, the regrowth can look ridiculous
Eventually, all of those new hairs begin making their way back.
Which is wonderful.
Until you realise you have what looks like a tiny second fringe standing vertically around your hairline.
Those short postpartum hairs around the temples and front can be incredibly frustrating to style, but they can also be a reassuring sign that new hair is growing.
Be gentle with them.
They're doing exactly what we want them to do.
When should I speak to my GP?
Typical postpartum shedding is common and usually improves with time.
But having recently had a baby doesn't mean every change in your hair should automatically be blamed on postpartum hormones.
I'd speak to your GP if:
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the shedding feels unusually severe or continues without improvement
-
your hair isn't beginning to recover over time
-
you're developing distinct bald patches rather than diffuse shedding
-
you have scalp pain, redness, scaling or other changes
-
you're experiencing other symptoms that concern you
-
or something simply doesn't feel right.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends seeing a dermatologist if your hair hasn't regained its normal fullness by around your baby's first birthday, because another cause of hair loss may be contributing.
And importantly, more than one thing can be happening at once.
A woman can experience postpartum telogen effluvium while also having another form of hair loss, such as early female pattern hair loss. A dermatologist can help distinguish between them.
What if I just want my hair back now?
This is where I want to speak woman to woman rather than hairdresser to client.
You have just spent months watching your body change.
You've gone through pregnancy and birth.
You're caring for a baby who needs you constantly.
You're exhausted.
Your clothes may not fit the way they used to.
You might barely recognise the person looking back at you in the mirror some days.
And then your hair starts disappearing too.
You are allowed to care about that.
Wanting to feel like yourself doesn't make you vain.
And you don't have to wait twelve months for your hair to grow back before you're allowed to do something that makes you feel good.
A tiny amount of hair can make an enormous difference
Postpartum shedding is one of the reasons I feel so strongly about Stella's less is more philosophy.
You may not need — or want — a huge amount of additional hair.
If the shedding has made your part more visible, a small Part/Hairline Piece or Mini Baby topper may be enough.
If you've lost more density through the top, a slightly larger topper can replace some of the fullness you're temporarily missing.
If your ponytail simply feels tiny, one of our temporary ponytail or bun pieces may give you back the fullness you want without asking more of your natural hair.
The aim isn't to hide you underneath somebody else's head of hair.
It's to give you back just enough of what feels missing while your own hair has time to recover.
This season won't last forever
I know that when you're in the middle of postpartum, people say that to you about everything.
The sleepless nights.
The feeding.
The tiny clothes.
The contact naps.
And yes, the hair.
But this particular part really does usually improve.
Your body needs time.
Your follicles need time.
Your new hair needs time to grow long enough for you to actually see the density returning.
So investigate anything that doesn't feel right.
Feed yourself.
Care for your scalp.
Be gentle with your hair.
Accept help when it's offered.
And if wearing a little extra hair helps you look in the mirror and recognise yourself while all of that is happening, that's exactly what it's there for.
Need a little help with your postpartum hair?
Head to What's right for me?
Or, if you'd prefer to talk through what's happening with someone, you can Book a Stella consultation.
This article provides general educational information only and isn't intended to diagnose or treat a medical condition. Significant, persistent, patchy or otherwise concerning hair loss during or after pregnancy should be discussed with your GP, dermatologist or another appropriately qualified health professional. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, speak to an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before beginning supplements or treatments.
Pregnancy, pregnancy loss, birth and the postpartum period can bring up difficult or unexpected emotions. If anything in this article has raised difficult feelings for you, please know that support is available. In Australia, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for free and confidential crisis support. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 000.
