Yes, your hair texture, color, and type can change during and after pregnancy. For some, there are only subtle changes, while some women experience complete changes in their hair type- from straight to curly or vice versa. The main reason behind this is the drastic changes in your hormones during pregnancy and postpartum.
During pregnancy, your body goes through extreme hormonal changes. Your immunity goes down so that your body doesn’t reject the fetus thinking of it as an invader but rather helps nourish and develop the fetus (great news!).
But being pregnant also means nausea, fatigue, morning sickness, extreme mood swings (not so great news, right?)
How does hair change after pregnancy?
One of the main changes that every pregnant woman notices is their hair texture, type, or color after pregnancy.
These changes can become apparent when there are hormonal changes in the body, like when you hit puberty or are pregnant, or going through menopause.
I had light wavy hair all my life, you can say I was either 1c or 2a according to the hair type chart, but after pregnancy, suddenly the new hair that was sprouting out was not straight, but thick curls that defied both gravity and hair styling products.
The “mom bangs” were untamable. I’d pull my hair back in a pony while the new hair would just sprout up in action and would need multiple hair clips and a lot of hair gel to put it in place.
The second major change, in my case, is that I noticed the new hair coming was a shade lighter in color.
You’d say nobody can notice 1 shade lighter hair, right? That would be the usual case, but you see, I have thick black hair, and any shade that’s not black is pretty noticeable on my head. (rolling my eyes at my grey hair)
Your hair is always in one of these three stages:
- Anagen – known as growth phase
- Catagen – known as transition phase
- Telogen – known as resting or shedding phase.
When you’re pregnant, and you notice your hair being thicker, fuller, voluminous, and shinier, and you think your new shampoo is finally working for you.
Well, to tell you the truth, it’s not the magical shampoo or your hair styling products. It’s simply the hormones. The estrogen levels in your body are higher when you’re pregnant, so your hair doesn’t fall off at its usual pace.
So, during your pregnancy, your hair is in the Anagen (growth) phase which is why your hair seems ‘thicker’ or ‘fuller.’
After your pregnancy, about 3 to 6 months postpartum, your estrogen levels drop, making a change in your hormone levels, and the Telogen (shedding) phase is activated, and your hair loss can last up to 12 months.
You can lose your hair in strands or even clumps, sending you into panic mode, worrying that you’ll lose all your hair. But that is not the case. The hair you’re losing is normal, and some women may even experience a receding hairline.
I know I was so worried 4 months postpartum when I started losing my hair every time I run my fingers through my hair and would have a clump of hair in my hand. I had even noticed little “bald spots” near my temples and became frantic.
But, don’t lose hope just yet; you’re not losing your hair forever. Your hair tends to start growing within the next 6 months to a year.
The “bald spots” are the same place where my new “thick curls” have grown in.
So, can you have curly hair after pregnancy?
Absolutely, yes! You can have hair going from straight to curly or from curly to just flat or wavy.
The culprit? Your hormones, as usual. You can experience changes in the hair type, hair color, and even texture. Your shiny and silky hair can become extremely dry and frizzy or have an extremely oily scalp.
The reason for this might be your hair care routine hasn’t changed along with your hair, meaning the hair care routine you use for your straight hair can make your new curly hair quite frizzy.
Some women have even experienced their hair changing multiple times with multiple pregnancies, like one of my friends told me that she had curly hair before, which she lost after her pregnancy as her hair became flatter, and now her curls are coming back after her second pregnancy.
So, I think as long as your body goes through these dramatic hormonal changes, you’re bound to see some changes here or there in your body.
For instance, I was always the girl who had a good amount of hair growth on my hands and legs, which even the waxing lady would point out about my hair growth *eye roll*, but after my pregnancy, somehow because of the changes in my hormones, the hair growth on my body has become extremely slow, and now I don’t even have to wax anymore. It’s barely noticeable.
Also, sometimes the changes in your hair, postpartum, are just temporary and may go back to the way it was pre-pregnancy within a few months, but if even after a year, your hair type doesn’t change, then the only way left is to embrace and flaunt it by styling it the correct way.
Ways to deal with postpartum hair loss
1. Get a haircut or color your hair
We don’t need a reason to go to the salon. So, get a new hairdo by cutting your hair short or in any style that compliments your face, and while you’re at it, consult your stylist for a change in your hair color to give it a new life and personality.
2. Change your partition
If you usually part your hair in the middle, it’s nice to go for a partition on either side. This will not only give your face a new look but also helps in disguising the thinning of the hair near the temples.
3. Invest in good hair styling products
Use products that make your hair look voluminous. Also, if you have dry, frizzy hair, buy a good leave-in conditioner to moisturize your hair after washing. But, also make sure not to go too overboard with multiple hair styling products, which will only result in more breakage.
4. Eat a healthy diet
Postpartum hair loss isn’t preventable but what you can do is eat a balanced, healthy diet so that your new hair grows back faster and thicker. Whether for hair, skin, or nails, a healthy lifestyle is always the best option to adopt.
FAQs
What vitamins help with postpartum hair loss?
A properly balanced diet with biotin, vitamin A, C, D, E, and zinc is beneficial.
Can cutting your hair stop postpartum hair loss?
No, cutting your hair doesn’t stop the inevitable postpartum hair loss, but it helps reduce the appearance of postpartum hair loss.
How long should you take your prenatal vitamins after giving birth?
You should continue taking your prenatal vitamins for at least 6 months postpartum, especially for women who choose to breastfeed their baby to ensure that the mother gets the required nutrients.
Takeaway
So, keeping it short, your hair type, color, and texture can change during or after pregnancy but try not to worry about it too much and embrace your new, profound hair.
You have so much already on your plate with the new baby and taking care of her, don’t add on your concerns with different things to do with your hair. As you get comfortable in your routine, consider cutting or coloring your hair to give it a new, defined look so that the next time you walk out of your house, you do it confidently and not worrying about the appearance of your hair.
Meanwhile, comment down below what type of hair changes you experienced during pregnancy and postpartum.
