One of my favorite parts of blogging is connecting with other bloggers, momma’s and wellness focused individuals. It is so magical to connect with others and learn from each other. Candice, from Detox on the Rocks, started blogging around the same time as me and we have grown to be great blogger friends over the past two years. She recently had her second child, WHO IS FREAKIN ADORABLE, and after chatting with her about postpartum experiences – I asked her to share HER postpartum experience with hair loss.
It is kind of funny because when you are pregnant, you take prenatals and you have BEAUTIFUL hair. So much hair, that it clogs the drain, and your husband can’t complain because your pregnant lol! But then postpartum, you lose even MORE HAIR than you thought was possible, and it can be kind of disheartening, on top of having extra baby weight, sleepless nights, it’s just one more thing that is bothersome.
So without further ado, I want to share Candice’s experience with postpartum and how she’s not only hacking this beauty issue but also becoming a total boss babe while she’s at it. Enjoy her post below! xx E
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Hey guys!
I’m hopping on here today to talk to you about postpartum hair loss. Ahh… the joys of motherhood. As if, while we’re adjusting to a new baby, trying to figure out which clothes fit us right now, and trying to breastfeed… we need to lose our hair too.
Can’t someone give us a break?
But, that’s just part of it I guess.
In fact, although not every mom will experience postpartum hair loss, most will. Some may not notice it, some may have minimal shedding, and some may have an alarming amount.
For me, with my first baby, I honestly didn’t really notice until I’d see myself in pictures and think “…damn! Is my forehead getting bigger?”. And over time, I noticed my hair was thinner than ever, and I’d get those gaps around my hairline when I’d pull my hair back…. You know what I’m talking about.
I didn’t really do anything about it other than try to wash my hair less (FYI, this doesn’t really do anything to help the situation.) A couple years after my daughter was born, I went through an insanely stressful time and lost a significant amount more. So when my son was born in October, knowing I couldn’t afford to lose any more hair, I decided to take action and to combat it before it really started! I’ll get into that more in a minute…
Why we lose hair after pregnancy
While we’re pregnant, high levels of estrogen plus an increase in blood volume and circulation, cause our hair to fall out less than normal. After the baby arrives and your hormone levels drop, you will find your hair falling out much more than before as it kind of makes up for lost time. The total volume of loss isn’t more than you would have lost over the last 9 months, but now that it’s catching up by all happening at once, it seems like a lot!
Just how long can it last?
Postpartum hair loss can start kicking in any day after you give birth, usually peaks around 4 months, and typically stops between 6-12 months. Also, you may get it from one pregnancy and not another.
How to be sure it’s from postpartum hormones and not something more serious
I’m no doctor, but based on what I’ve researched, new moms can shed about 400 hairs a day. (It’s okay… take a minute to freak out if you need to.) From my findings, it’s suggested that if you’re concerned you’re losing more than normal for new moms, make sure to get your blood sugar, ferritin, iron, zinc, and vitamin D levels checked.
How I beat this post-pregnancy symptom the second time around
I never thought I could find non-toxic products that actually work for my hair… but I did it! In fact, my flat, oily hair never had any luck with anything other than one particular drug store shampoo that’s probably filled with chemicals.
Shortly after my son was born I started using the Intense Repair line from Monat. This line in particular is for people noticing hair loss, thinning, or has hair that just won’t grow. I’m not going to lie… I was a little skeptical at first. But I figured I could either keep using what I was using and continue to lose hair, or I could try something new and chance it not working. I had nothing to lose. I had also just signed up as a Market Partner because I fell in absolute love with their new skincare line. I kind of kept hush about the hair care until I started to fall in love with that too.
Here’s a little timeline of how the products worked for me
+ The first few weeks – I thought the product was fine, but I wouldn’t say I looooved it. Your hair kind of goes through a detox phase, plus, as it is, hair isn’t like skin… it takes a bit to see noticeable results.
+ About a month in – My hair felt healthier than ever, so regardless of whether or not I would be getting regrowth, I knew I was doing the right thing.
+ 2-3 months in – Noticing baby hairs and my hair just felt stronger and the shedding slowed down drastically
+ 6 months in – I look at old photos and am blown away!
My before and afters are taken only 2 months apart! The first is 4 months into using the products and the other is 6 months in.
How the products work
There’s a beauty quiz to ensure you get the right line for your hair type. But regardless of the line you’re using, the whole purpose of Monat is to create a healthy scalp. Until I started working with this company, creating a healthy environment for my hair to grow was something I never considered. We talk about eating healthy, healthy mindset, healthy skin… but when do we ever consider our scalp?
The shampoos work to cleanse the scalp, unclog follicles, and shed dead hairs that have been stuck there, not growing.Then it provides nutrients to kind of wake up sluggish follicles and fertilize them so new, thicker, healthier hairs can grow in their place.
All the products are vegan, non-toxic, gluten-free, leaping bunny certified, AND even meet Europe’s standards for clean beauty banning over 1300+ chemicals.
Exactly what ingredients are helping create a healthy scalp?
Here are some of the key ingredients, exclusive to Monat, that you will find in the majority of the company’s products:
Rejuveniqe – A blend of 13 natural plant and essential oils rich in omega fatty acids, antioxidants, and nutrients
Capixyl – An emollient blend that helps to protect the scalp, strengthen and thicken hair, and increase hair density
Procataline – Supports healthy, younger-looking hair by protecting from UV damage and environmental factors
Crodasorb – Protects against UV rays
Patch20 – Uses hyaluronic acid technology to quench the thirst for dull, lifeless, parched hair for improved softness, bounce, body, and shine, and helps to protect against further water loss throughout the day
Fiber Rescue – Targets damage at a microscopic level, reconstructing its internal structure to rescue each strand from root to tip, replacing damage with new structure and strength.
Finding the right products for your hair and scalp health
I have a hair quiz that can help us find the right products to best suit not only your hair type, but also support your daily styling habits. Trying new hair products can be intimidating! (especially if postpartum hair loss is on your mind!) So DM me or keep an eye on your inbox because I will get your quiz results and get in touch with you via email. I can help you choose the best products to start with to achieve the results you’re looking for!
For the most part, for those getting started, I would recommend of course the shampoo, conditioner, and rejuvenique oil.
If you’re ready to try, you can purchase retail or sign up as a VIP to receive an automatic 15% off!
Other ways to help postpartum hair loss/ support hair health
- Go easy with the styling
- Continue to take your prenatal vitamins
- Try to minimize stress (ha!)
- Eat well and make sure to include lots of dark leafy greens, healthy fats, nuts, beans, and nutrient dense carbs,
- It may be worth talking to a dermatologist about supplements to support hair health or if you are concerned about the amount of hair loss you are having
Want to connect with Candice?
