Postpartum Hair Loss: My Experience and What Helped Support My Hair

Postpartum hair loss is something many women experience a few months after giving birth. It can be quite unsettling, especially when you’re seeing more hair than usual in the shower or on the floor, but it’s completely normal - it is the huge hormonal shift that happens post birth and other factors can play a part in how much hair you loss too. I had two very different experiences after both my boys, so I wanted to share my story and what I did differently the second time to try to support my hair.

What is postpartum hair loss?

Postpartum hair loss is caused by a drop in oestrogen after pregnancy, which pushes more hair into the shedding phase. It usually starts around 2-4 months after birth and can last several months.

With my first son, I had a lot of issues with breastfeeding, latch problems, a lot of discomfort, short feeds, tongue tie, reflux which went on for months, suspected dairy allergy, and sleepless nights. First time mum, who was naturally quite anxious about things.

I had heard of postpartum hair loss but hadn’t expected to lose so much hair; we have grey tiles at home, and I was constantly seeing them all over the floor. Whenever I showered, I had clumps of hair falling out. This went on for months.

When my hair started to grow back, it was so thick at the front, it looked like a thick little fringe was growing and lots of static baby hairs. My husband after the pub once asked if I had cut a fringe 🤣.

With my second son, he latched straight away, for his first feed, fed for ages, was never sick and slept well. Maybe partly due to being my second time around and learning more on sleep and ‘routine’ that works for us , I was a lot more structured with this, which I didn’t do at all with my first, the thought of any routine totally overwhelmed me but this time around, it felt good to have more of a structure and it helped with juggling the two boys. But in terms of feeding and sickness it is just luck, to how the baby is with feeding and even sleep, as if feeds are impacted, then sleep is too.

I felt this was important to include the above, because I wasn’t stressed or anxious like I was the first time around. Yes, I was still tired, up a lot at night with my youngest for feeds or resettling, or my eldest was waking a lot due to the change, so little sleep also affects our energy and is so important for recovery and everything.

I was expecting to lose a lot of hair again, I thought it was just what happens, but I was determined to try and lose as little as possible and I can’t believe how little I lost this time, yes I still lost some but not to the extent of what I did the first time.

Nothing can completely stop postpartum hair loss as it’s hormone-driven, but certain things can support healthy hair growth and reduce breakage.

Here are the things I did different:

Collagen:

I started adding collagen to my coffee each morning - such a simple habit but one that felt easy to stay consistent with as I love coffee and including collagen helps with skin, nail and hair growth. It was an important part of my postpartum journey; I wanted to source the highest quality and launch my own.

Why collagen?

Because your hair is made mostly of protein, it needs the right building blocks to stay strong. Collagen is rich in amino acids like glycine and proline, which help your body produce keratin - the protein your hair is made from.

Nutrition:

Iron - I am low in iron, and throughout both pregnancies it was flagged, I didn’t really focus on this before, but I was making sure I was eating iron-rich foods.

Low iron levels are very common after pregnancy and can contribute to increased hair shedding. Making sure you’re getting enough iron through food or supplements if needed can play an important role in supporting hair health.

Foods to focus on:

• Protein: eggs, fish, meat, beans, yogurt
• Iron: leafy greens, red meat, lentils
• Omega-3s: salmon, flaxseed

Supplements and Vitamins:

Taking supplements - multivitamins, vitamin D, iron and omega oils

Hair care:

I tried not to over-style my hair and avoid excessive heat. Personally, I find the less you wash your hair the better it grows. This is just a personal thought though. I also try to leave my hair dry naturally and plait it for example to avoid heat on it. I use a shampoo and conditioner with Biotin in it.

When your hair starts growing back, you might notice lots of short “baby hairs” around your hairline. This is actually a really positive sign that your hair is growing.

Hair Mask:

I made a hair mask, which sometimes just massaged into the roots, rather than the whole hair, I would rock the mum bun and go out with it on:

• 1 tbsp Lucy Bee Coconut Oil
• 1 tbsp Castor Oil
• 3-5 drops Rosemary Essential Oil

Mix together and massage into the scalp. Leave for 30–60 minutes (or longer if you prefer), then wash out with shampoo and conditioner.

Tip: Focus on the roots and massage gently to stimulate the scalp. Scalp health is key when it comes to hair growth. Gentle scalp massage can help improve circulation and support healthy follicles.

If your hair loss continues beyond a year, or you notice extreme shedding or other symptoms like fatigue, it’s worth speaking to a GP to check things like iron levels or thyroid health.

Every postpartum journey is different, but focusing on nutrition, scalp care and overall wellbeing made a big difference for me the second time around. If you’re going through this, I hope this helps and please know my inbox is always open for chats! x

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Lucy, Founder 

This article is for general information only and is not intended as medical advice. If you have concerns about postpartum hair loss, ongoing symptoms, or your nutritional needs after pregnancy, please speak with your GP, midwife or qualified healthcare professional.