Postpartum hair loss; 12 effective treatments to revive hair postpartum

Postpartum hair loss is no joke. Are you dealing with several hair problems postpartum, a major one being extreme hair fall, Brittle, dry and damaged hair, and frizzy hair? Find out how to save your hair postpartum

Postpartum hair loss is no joke. Are you too dealing with several hair problems postpartum, a major one being extreme hair fall, Brittle, dry and damaged hair, and frizzy hair? Well, when we are pregnant most of us develop a very healthy mane. I had voluminous hair myself that looked lustrous, silky, and fuller. Thanks to the pregnancy hormones. However, Postpartum Hair fall wreaked havoc. I was aware of this but experiencing it is a different thing. Along with my hair, I had also started losing my mind. I would see big chunks of hair falling.

Although I did not develop any bald spots still losing big chunks of hair was enough to freak the hell out of me. I tried a lot of shampoos, and also switched to vegan; However, nothing came to my rescue. Nothing was working as this was a natural process and this was supposed to happen. Yes, It’s Very NORMAL- It’s TEMPORARY and By the time your kid will turn ONE you will have your head full of hair back.

Nonetheless, the postpartum hair is fine and brittle. Hence, I tried certain measures to revive my Hair postpartum, providing them nourishment, and Here I mention what I tried and what worked for me to revive my postpartum hair. If you are sailing on the same boat as me, then read and follow along. I hope this works for you as well.

Table of Contents

What causes Postpartum Hair loss?
How long does Postpartum hair loss last?
How to deal with hair loss postpartum?
Hair products for Postpartum Hair 
Vitamins for Postpartum Hair loss 
The right Technique to wash Hair 

What causes Postpartum Hair loss ??

During pregnancy, we have high levels of hormones (estrogen) which results in a luscious mane. However, post-pregnancy the estrogen levels drop leading to hair loss. This process is, however, normal. Although a disturbing process there is nothing to worry about as hair will get back to normal within the first year postpartum.

In pregnancy, an increased number of hair follicles remain in the anagen phase for longer periods because of hormonal changes and return to the telogen phase (the last growth phase of a hair follicle) within 3-6 months postpartum. The telogen sheds, already dead matter because of the sudden drop in Hormonal levels. The problem is when the hair fall continues even after one year postpartum. That is when you should check with your doctor.

When and How long does Postpartum Hair Loss last?

Postpartum hair loss starts anywhere from the fourth to the fifth month postpartum and lasts for about six months. After six months hair gets back to normal. By the end of the first year postpartum, your hair will turn back to normal. However, if shedding has not stopped until one year postpartum then you must see a doctor to identify some underlying issue.

How to deal with postpartum Hair loss.

Indian home Remedies for Postpartum Hair Loss

Here are a few Indian home remedies that I have tried Postpartum. These will not only help you revive your hair postpartum but also help them grow healthier, stronger, and shinier than ever.

Curry leaves Hair oil 
Flax seed Gel Mask 
Hibiscus For Hair 
Avocado hair Mask 
Onion for hair growth 
Argan oil blend/ Hot oil massage 
Rice water for hair 
Egg protein keratin mask 
Aloe Vera gel 
Products i used 
Vitamins for postpartum hair loss
The right technique  
Supplements to try 

Curry leaves Hair oil for hair growth

This one is an age-old, authentic hair oil recipe originally from the southern parts of India. I also came across this hair oil recipe after spending time with natives from south India. Thanks to the amazing hair oil recipe, they have lustrous, pitch-black, and shiny hair. Besides the diet rich in omega fatty acids and the richness of curry leaves. They typically used this oil for Hair growth, battling dandruff, and preventing greys. Made with nutrient-rich Curry leaves, hibiscus flowers with leaves, black cumin, and onion peel, this recipe is the only oil you will need for your hair. It has a lot of potential. Find out how to make this curry leave oil HERE. This oil has helped me a lot in saving my postpartum hair.

Hibiscus Hair Oil for shine

If you are not aware, Hibiscus has some amazing beauty benefits for hair and overall health. This Beautiful flower, called the china rose holds good ground in both Ayurvedic and Chinese beauty secrets. Extensively rich in Anthocyanins, Hibiscus is a natural source of Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) that speeds up cell rejuvenation, and reverses damage from harmful UV rays. Simply, take a pan, pour coconut oil, keep it on low flame and allow the oil to heat then add hibiscus flowers in. Switch off the flame when the oil color changes to red or deep orange. Filter the oil and store it. This hair oil triggers hair growth, repair restores dull Restore the lost shine of your postpartum hair with this mask. Find out how you can use Hibiscus in your beauty routine.

Flax seed Gel Mask

Flax seeds are a Rich source of fatty acids; omega-3-fatty acids, alpha-linolenic acid, lignins, folic acids, vitamins like Vit E, Vit B, and Vit E, and Magnesium this potential food source is a powerhouse of nutrients. Whether you use flaxseed topically as oil/gel or consume ground flaxseed regularly, it makes the hair stronger and shinier.

It’s a natural moisturizer. It repairs damaged and brittle hair follicles and gets rid of dead cells. The flax seed gel aids faster Hair growth provides nutrition to the scalp and reduces free radical damage- thanks to the antioxidant properties of these magical seeds. As mentioned above flaxseeds are rich in lignins, which are found to have hair growth-promoting factors. Check the source Here.

Flaxseeds also prevent premature greying of hair and enhance skin elasticity. Find out how to make this mask here.

Rice Water for Hair Growth

Rice Water!! Yes, you heard that right!! Who knew Rice, a pantry staple would be the extremely affordable hair treatment to help you get remarkably beautiful hair without spending thousands of bucks? Rice water is the most inexpensive treatment you can pamper your locks with. The quality of hair improves drastically, You will have stronger, shinier, and healthier hair from all the protein which is worth pursuing. Women in China, Japan, and Southeast Asia have used rice water as a Hair Treatment for ages.

In the Heian period, (794 to 1185 CE) in Japan, women had floor-length hair. They kept them healthy by bathing their hair in rice water. This recipe has traveled places and generations and today a village in china called Huangluo is known for women with long, luscious pitch black hair. The Red Yao Woman in the village can be called a living Rapunzel. The village holds a certification from the Guinness world records as the “world’s longest hair village”. The YAO Rice water recipe is a traditional treatment and the secret to the breathtaking long and thick hair of the Yao women. Find out how these three effective recipes for intense hair growth are HERE.

I love this treatment as it’s the easiest and most affordable way to have silky, strong hair. You can literally keep the rice water while cooking. It doesn’t take any effort. It definitely changed my hair profile postpartum as I was struggling with frizz and fine hair after delivery and this seem to tame my frizz away. The starch lathers the hair cuticle making it strong hence less to no hair fall.

Onion for Hair Growth

Another pantry staple, the Onion; is a healer for the scalp, this will alone tackle your hair fall and other hair problems. The onion juice is a magical potion that has the potential to stimulate hair growth. If you have several hair problems, like frizzy hair, greying, damaged, and dry hair, as well as suffering from Hair loss, then this is worth trying. You will experience healthy hair growth with this Recipe. Onions are rich in dietary sulfur, a mineral commonly present in our Bodies.

Hair is made up of keratin, a protein that is made of sulfur. The presence of sulfur strengthens and boosts elasticity resulting in healthy hair. Apart from abundance in sulfur, onion also has antimicrobial properties and is rich in flavonoids, a type of antioxidant, which protects the body from free radicals. Many studies have proved that Onion juice exhibits great potential for treating Alopecia. Read more about this Recipe Here.

Avocado Hair Mask

Avocados are not only one of the most delicious fruit ever but also nourishing for the hair. Today, I will break down the Avocado Hair mask recipe and why it’s so famous that even the rap queen Cardi B uses this recipe not only for her hair but on her daughter Kulture’s hair. Avocados are delicious, a perfect source of Biotin, and laden with many other nutrients, the texture, and profile of this fruit are amazing. While one takes some time to develop the taste of this fruit, at least that was the case for me, you can try this on your hair as a mask. Avocados are rich in Vit E, an antioxidant that promotes healthy hair.

While consuming the fruit will bring you all kinds of health benefits, putting this on your hair will bring instant effect. If you are looking for natural ways to condition your hair, this will work for you. Avocado- the superfood of the decade, is rich in fatty acids, like oleic acid and palmitic acid, and linoleic acid. It contains diverse nutrients that help maintain the health of the hair and restore its former shine.

This mask will nourish your hair and add volume and definition to hair. I tried this recipe to revive my postpartum hair, and this has worked for me and I am sure it will turn out great for you too. Find the full recipe HERE.

Aloe Vera Gel for Hair

Aloe vera gel is a great moisturizer for both hair and skin. Simply take a piece of Aloe vera gel and slice it, removing the yellowish gel kind of substance. You can apply the gel in two ways here. Either scoop out the gel and blend in a blender then apply it all over your hair or simply rub the slice on your scalp if you have little time. Do this treatment 20 minutes before washing your hair. Find out how to make Aloe vera Gel HERE. This treatment will give tame frizz, and add shine to your postpartum hair.

Argan oil Blend

Good old champi is not new in India. You can try a hot oil coconut oil massage. Find out how coconut is beneficial for your hair HERE. However, I strongly recommend this Argan oil blend. Extracted from kernels of the Argan tree, Argan oil is native to south Morrocco, this non-fragrant plant oil is rich in triglycerides and Vit E, Carotenoids, Sterol, and polyphenols- which all together work great not only on your hair but also on your skin. This Oil blend will repair damaged hair shafts as well as cleanse the scalp, and hair follicles. Mix Argan oil with a carrier oil like coconut oil and add a few drops of lavender and rosemary essential oil together. Gently massage your hair and apply to the roots of the hair and leave it overnight.

Egg Protein Hair Mask

This is the easiest and most inexpensive protein treatment for your hair. For this simply break an egg in a bowl, add a tsp of honey, a tsp of coconut oil, and a Banana. You can skip the bananas if not available. Blend all together in a blender as pieces of banana are too hard to get out of the hair after washing. Apply this all over your head covering hair from root to tip. Cover your head with a shower cap and leave for 10-20minutes.

Adjust the time if your hair feels dry after this treatment then reduce the time to ten minutes, if not then continue to 20 minutes.

The egg is a great source of protein, Honey is a humectant that keeps moisture. Coconut oil is great for hair because of its low molecular size it’s easily absorbed on the scalp. Banana is rich in nutrients and also provides great nourishment. If you add curd it gently exfoliates the scalp, hence removing any kind of buildup.

Other than these treatments

Nettle leaf tea for hair loss

Nettle leaf is the most extensively used treatment for hair loss. One can either consume nettle leaf topically as a tea to treat hair loss or use nettle leaf oil to combat hair loss. As nettle leaf is rich in sulfur, and silica. This not only helps in hair regrowth, but making hair shinier and healthier. Rinsing hair with nettle extracts or water not only results in the regrowth of lost hair but also restores the original color of the hair. The anti-androgenic properties of the Nettle leaf make for a promising treatment for Androgenic alopecia. Massage your hair with coconut oil or mustard oil infused with nettle leaves and leave it overnight. Wash and Condition as usual.

Spearmint Tea for hair

Spearmint tea also is an effective treatment for androgenic alopecia. It is a powerful anti-androgen, suggested for women with PCOS. However, it is also proposed as effective in the case of male patterned baldness i.e. androgenic alopecia.

Androgenic alopecia patients have high levels of the androgen hormone DHT, produced from the interaction of testosterone and an enzyme, 5- alpha-reductase.

Now spearmint tea lowers Testosterone levels, hence less DHT is produced. Rosemary oil, nettle leaf, and spearmint are quite effective at treating hair loss. You can again consume this as tea or use it as oil. Dilute spearmint essential oil with carrier oil. Mix this combination and gently massage it all over the scalp. Leave for 20 minutes and wash off.

Ashwagandha Powder/ liquid

Ashwagandha is rich in antioxidants and has inflammatory properties. It can lower stress levels by decreasing the levels of cortisol (stress hormone) which can be a precursor of Hair loss. Ashwagandha boosts collagen formation and increases DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) an antioxidant that gets rid of free radicals from the hair follicles. It also boosts blood circulation supporting healthy hair growth. You can consume Ashwagandha as pills, as suggested by your practitioner or you can drink tea by boiling a few dried roots in water for about 10-15 minutes. Add honey and lemon as per taste. This will not only help you with postpartum hair loss but decrease your postpartum stress levels too.

Promising Hair products to try for Hair loss Postpartum

Simply click on the products and the link should take you to the product page.

Vitamins for Postpartum Hair loss

Taking care of your diet postpartum is extremely crucial not only for your body but equally to revive postpartum hair as well. Ensure you are getting the right nutrition, minerals and Calcium, Vit D, and your multivitamins and other supplements as suggested by your doctor. These vitamins and minerals such as Vit D, Vit B3, Vit B7, Vit E, Silica, calcium, omega-3, zinc, and selenium are very important for your Hair health postpartum.

Calcium and Vitamin D—– You must know this supplement by now. It’s an important one during pregnancy and postpartum as well. Do not skip these supplements suggested by the doctor as while breastfeeding you are sharing all your nutrition with the baby, If you do not take your vitamins, the body will use its limited resources rather than focusing on healing. Well, this was the main reason for my extreme hair fall, apart from the normal postpartum hair loss, I did not take the supplements religiously. Well, better late than never.

Vitamin B – B3 (Niacin), B7(Biotin) —– Biotin is also called the HAIR VITAMIN, and is a major component in many multivitamins as well. These gummies are a good way to take care of the biotin needs of skin, hair, and nails. Biotin is a protein synthesizer which means it turns fatty acids into protein, like keratin – which makes human hair.

Although, you can get these Supplements mentioned above (Simply click on the pictures and that should take you to the product page) for postpartum hair loss. Or you can add biotin organically through diet. To name a few, Salmon, sunflower seeds, almonds, whole eggs, and Organ meats are rich sources of Biotin.

We however also know niacin as HAIR VITAMIN, as it increases keratin synthesis. The human hair follicle is made up of keratin. It also increases blood flow to the scalp.

Silica – Green veggies like spinach, kale, and celery are rich in this mineral. Add more green leaves to your Diet. Munch them in a salad bowl or drink them in your smoothies. Trust me, you will do yourself a huge favor.

Zinc and selenium — Egg yolks, soy, pumpkin seeds, red meats, and almonds are rich in these antioxidants. Both help in the keratinization process and fight free radicles.

The Right Technique to wash Hair

Well, We often overlook the way we wash our hair, but it’s quite important. When I came across this technique, I realized I have been washing my hair wrong the whole time, until my derm told me the right way to shampoo.

• First, check the water you are washing your hair with, the polluted, chemically treated tap water can damage your hair. If you can, try washing your hair with distilled, reverse osmosis/ filtered, or fresh river water. The minerals in the fresh river are great for hair. This is one of the secrets to the longest hair of Yao Women. Find out HERE. Basically, the key is to use clean water.
• Shampooing only the scalp, squeezing, and washing with a lot of shampoos are not gonna make any difference. Take the required quantity and gently massage your wet scalp. Use a scalp brush to massage your head, this will increase blood circulation in the Hair follicle.
• Rinse the scalp with clean water, once done, squeeze out all the water and now condition the hair strands.
• Squeeze out conditioner, rub between your palms and then apply all over your hair, to only strand, not the scalp.
• Now detangle with the help of a detangler or a wide-tooth comb to spread the conditioner evenly.
• Squeeze into a bun or clutch the hair for five minutes. Post 5 minutes gently rinse the hair, Cover with a help of a head wrap or cotton t-shirt.
• Use a gentle Hair serum or leave-in conditioner and let your hair air dry.

Tip :

Massage

Select any hair oil blend from above, argan, nettle leaf, spearmint, or rosemary, or simply stick to a simple hot coconut oil massage. Massaging your scalp boosts blood circulation which is vital for hair growth. Not only does the massage stimulates Hair follicles, but it also gets you rid of stress and tension.

Choose the right shampoo

Stay clear from shampoos with harsh chemicals, and use shampoo according to your hair type. Always check the ingredients before putting anything on your head. Add high-quality rosemary, lavender, or jojoba essential oil to the shampoo. For centuries people have used lavender, and rosemary essential oil to promote hair growth.

Choose the Right Accessories

Use scalp brushes, detanglers, or wide Tooth combs to detangle your hair and a cotton head wrap or cotton t-shirt to cover your wet hair. Also, use Scrunchies instead of tight Hair clips, which results in more hair breakage.

Click on the products and that should take you to the product page.

Avoid Heat and styling products

As long as you can, air dry your hair. Always use heat protectant spray before using any kind of heat tool. Stay clear from using different volumizing sprays and stronghold gels every other day. Using them less often will cause less damage.

Get a trim or a new haircut

Getting a trim or a new haircut is a good idea to manage postpartum hair loss.

That’s it, ladies!! I hope I could be of any help in your postpartum hair journey. Don’t get overwhelmed with so many treatments here, these are options for you to choose from. Try to find what works for you better according to the products and time available.

Pick a few methods, stick to them and make them a habit. Although you can not see changes instantly, within a month or two you will start noticing the difference. And then come back here and let me know what worked for you.

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XOXO