Pregnancy isn’t really one of the most enjoyable stages of life: limited movement, limited diet, limited work— everything is restricted. But if there’s one thing you can enjoy during pregnancy, it’s your hair. Thanks to pregnancy hormones, you get thicker and more lustrous hair while carrying your baby.

However, this celebration might be short-lived. Months after you give birth, your hair will tend to shed in massive quantities as your hormonal level changes.

How post-partum hair loss happens

The hair has a life cycle divided into three main stages: growth, rest, and shedding. During the resting stage, the hair stops growing and takes around 2 to 4 months before falling out of the follicle, giving space for new hair to grow. At a given time, about 85% of the hairs are growing while the others are in the resting stage. During pregnancy, however, this pattern is altered: The growth stage is lengthened and the hair strands become healthier, allowing pregnant women to enjoy more luscious locks.

Come childbirth, hormone levels return to normal and hair enters the resting stage. After three months, hair eventually sheds in great quantities. It can take up to two years for the volume to return, and this duration can be influenced by factors such as nutrition, stress, and hair care.

Some ways you can make your tresses appear fuller

Be healthy. The thickness and length of your hair are highly affected by your nutritional intake. If you don’t eat right and take the necessary vitamins and supplements, your growing hair may not reach its full length or become as thick as it used to be.

Change the hair parting. If you hair is normally parted in the middle, changing the part can hide the thinning at temples and create volume. If you consider wearing  lace closures, opt for a type that’s not pre-parted for a more flexible styling.

Try hair color. A good hair stylist is capable of creating the illusion of thickness for your hair. For instance, if your hair line is receding, highlighting the front can help camouflage the scalp.

Keep it short.Shorter hair looks thicker and bouncier, but it makes no difference if your hair is naturally straight and flat. A high-quality  lace closure from sellers like Virgin Hair Fixx can cover up that thinning scalp area and give your hair extra volume without the need to chop it off.

Stay happy. Hair loss after pregnancy is natural, but it doesn’t mean it’s alright not to feel good about yourself. Stress itself is a hair loss factor so always strive to enjoy life in every way you can.

Source:

Hair Loss During Pregnancy: Telogen Effluvium , American Pregnancy

Dealing with Postpartum Hair Loss, Parents.com