Caring For Your Postpartum Hair

Congratulations Mumma! You’ve just brought your bundle of joy into this world! It’s been a long 9 months and you’re ready to settle into newborn life.

As the days, weeks and months go by post-birth, you’re starting to come back into yourself and are ready to take a few short moments for you.

For many women, the first ‘feel good, leave the house’ activity we treat ourselves to post-birth is the humble hair salon.

Likely because - You may have noticed that a rise and fall in certain hormones, and 9 months of bubs induced depletion can be leaving your hair feeling a little, Dry? Brittle? Perhaps you’re even experiencing some hair loss?

The average person loses approximately 100 hairs per day. During pregnancy, all those juicy baby growing hormones keep those hairs from shedding, leaving you with uber-lush hair -the kind that makes your fellow mum-club members jealous!

All good things must come to an end, and eventually those extra natural-extensions you’ve been hoarding for the last 9 months begin to fall. First and foremost, don’t freak out! Your body is just getting back to ‘normal.’ This hair shedding usually peaks around four months post-birth and by bubba’s first birthday, most women will see a return to their pre-pregnancy hair fullness and condition. If you’re hitting the 12-month mark post-birth and still not seeing any improvement – it might be time to check in with your healthcare team!

Not sure where to start? Let us give you the 411 on caring for your postpartum locks.

What the hell is happening to me?

Hormonal Changes – your body has been through so many changes in the last 9 months! Post birth: Oestrogen, Progesterone and NeuroActive Steroids start to reduce, while Prolactin and Oxytocin (more commonly known in the non-smarty pants world as the cuddle hormone) increase. This rise and fall in essential reproductive hormones can influence both our physical health and our mood (IYKYK).

Nutrient Changes – you’ve given most of the nutrients you’ve eaten over to bubs these past 9 months, it can take time for your body to correct to its own course. They weren’t joking when they said you were eating for two!

Sleep Changes – it goes without saying you’re probably catching a few less zzz’s- it’s estimated that mother’s will loose 700 hours of sleep in the first year.

So now we understand what is going on, let’s explore Enough’s guide to postpartum hair.

The Dos of postpartum hair:

Wash less frequently:

Keep your shampooing to 1-2x per week maximum! Shampoos (particularly conventional shampoos) can strip the hair of essential oils and nutrients required for growth.

Go Easy on your Hair:

Excessive brushing, cleaning and styling will only enhance your hair loss. Leave your locks ALONE!

In the same vein, it might be time to break up with the chemicals for a while, avoid bleaching, perming and straightening treatments until your hair begins to find its new normal.

Choose the right accessories:

Tight, slicked back styles and hair-suffocating styles will only worsen hair-loss (I don’t care if Hailey and Kendall are wearing slick… this is a trend for you to steer clear of!) You’re officially entering your el natural, scrunchie and barrette era!

Eat the rainbow:

Science wasn’t kidding when it said: ‘you are what you eat.’ Hair growth starts from the inside out, so it’s time to analyse your plate. We’re all about enhancing your wellness, so here’s a few nutrients you can add to your plate:

Vitamin A - This vitamin is key for hair growth as it is needed by all bodily cells for development! Vitamin A also plays a role in the production of sebum which moisturises the scalp to keep your hair healthy! Vitamin A can be found in orange foods i.e. sweet potatoes, carrots and pumpkins.

B Group Vitamins – B vitamins are involved in creating red blood cells that carry oxygen and nutrients around the body, including our scalp and hair follicles. B vitamins are also used up by our body during times of stress, thus many of us may be deficient. B Vitamins are found in a wide range of our foods such as leafy greens, seafood, nuts and whole grains.

Vitamin C -  aaaahhh, good ‘ol Vitamin C! Vitamin C is one of the most powerful known antioxidants, protecting our hair from free radical damage that may stunt growth. Vitamin C is also essential in the bodies’ production of the protein, Collagen, an essential structural component of hair (More on this later). Vitamin C is found in berries, citrus fruits, broccoli, cauliflower and capsicums!

Vitamin E – like our good friend, Vitamin C, Vitamin E is another star antioxidant! You can find Vitamin E in almonds, sunflower seeds, avocado and spinach!

Iron – Iron is your key do-gooder, helping red blood cells to carry oxygen to your cells.

Iron deficiency is often one of the major causes of hair loss, particularly in women, and is a particularly common deficiency in pregnancy. We can boost our iron levels by enjoying eggs, spinach, leafy greens, lentils and oysters!

Zinc – Zinc is our happy handy-man, playing an essential role in hair growth/ repair, along with keeping the oil and follicle glands in shape. Zinc deficiency is also often associated with hair loss. Get your Zinc fix from seafood, spinach, pumpkin seeds, lentils and wheat germ!

Protein – our hair is made of almost entirely protein, so it’s obvious that without adequate protein consumption we won’t achieve our dream mermaid mane! On average, females require approximately 46 grams of protein per day.

Collagen - If you’ve been wondering if Collagen is really all it’s cracked up to be…the answer is YES! Collagen helps to promote healthy hair by acting as a building agent for hair proteins, resulting in stronger, healthier hair! Collagen is formed in the body by combining amino acids from the proteins we eat, along with Vitamin C and Zinc for good measure.

Use Organic, Clean Haircare:

It’s no secret that conventional haircare is not good for our planet, but it also isn’t your bestie when trying to repair/ encourage hair growth. Clean, natural haircare allows the scalp to breathe, keeping all your essential nutrients intact to encourage hair growth.

George Haircare’s ALL NEW Stay All Day Clean Shampoo is enriched with rosemary oil to enhance hair growth. Rosemary oil has been traditionally used to improve hair health by enhancing growth at the hair root! Stay All Day Clean is our #1 secret weapon when it comes to caring for post-partum hair!

If you feel your hair loss is excessive, it might be time to book a date with your healthcare practitioner, excessive hair loss after pregnancy can be a sign of other hormonal imbalances.

Love,

Team Enough.