One of the most common concerns I get from postpartum mothers is hair loss. While completely normal, due to the drop in pregnancy hormones & rebalancing of postpartum hormones, this “side effect” of birth can be devastating for many.
So what are you to do? First, try not to stress, as this too will pass. There are some preventative remedies and postpartum hair less remedies that can successfully help with hair rejuvenation.
One of the main factors causing postpartum women to have such a drastic loss in hair is due to the shift in hormones post birth. The placenta, used traditionally for a myriad of postpartum ailments, contains all the hormones of pregnancy that your body is no longer producing. It is believed that taking placenta capsules daily post birth helps to gradually decrease these hormones from your body, rather than cutting them out cold turkey and can reduce hair loss.
Hair is comprised of 97% protein and 3% moisture. This addresses the two main agents (protein to strengthen and fortify, and water/moisture to hydrate). The first step to regrowing those precious locks is to eat a protein rich diet, make protein rich hair treatments, and drink a TON of water.
I love the Do It Yourself Treatments, for example:
Aloe Vera Hair Mask: Break open an aloe leaf and scrape out the inner fillet. Massage this juice into your scalp and leave for 15 minutes. Wash off. Your scalp will be cool & tingly, as aloe’s active ingredients are stimulating your hair follicles to grow and thicken.
Essential Oil Scalp Massage Treatment: To boost circulation & make your hair follicles strong, a weekly scalp massage could be the answer. Pour 2 drops of lavender oil and 2 drops of Rosemary oil onto your fingertips and begin massaging into your scalp. Massaging with these essential oils will increase the blood flow to your scalp and promote strong hair growth.
Hair Rinse: A hair rinse can be made by infusing selected herbs into an apple cider vinegar base. To do this, fill a mason jar 3/4 full with desired herbs (for suggested herbs go to this article online at www.mauimamazine.com). You can choose one herb that speaks to you, or do a combination. Fill the mason jar to the brim with Apple Cider Vinegar, cap jar, and shake until all herbs are submerged in vinegar. Place in a cool dry space and shake container once a day. Let jar sit for 2 weeks to 1 month and strain all herbs out. Use remaining infused vinegar to rinse hair 1-2 times per week. For best results, let hair soak in rinse for 20 minutes before washing out. My favorite combination is Bhringaraj + Nettle + Rosemary + Seaweed + Horsetail. I hope these help.
Image Credit: Lychee Therapeutics
I’ll have to try the hair rinse. I’ve tried the oil drops but my hair always feels greasy after and I can’t take it. Best thing I’ve found is a postpartum hair vitamin from Baby Blues meant to replenish the vitamins shed after pregnancy. I think it’s actually made in Hawaii? It’s passion fruit flavored and really yummy. Has collagen, biotin, folate, b12, vitamin a etc. It has been really effective for me personally. I say this after I cried at my obgyn’s office and kept a vacuum in my bathroom so I didn’t have to look at the hair shedding. Anyway not sure if its ok to share brands but thought it might help so linking where I get it. http://www.babyblues.care