Hair Changes During Pregnancy: What To Expect + How To Deal

Hair Changes During Pregnancy: What To Expect + How To Deal

Hair Changes During Pregnancy: What To Expect + How To Deal

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3. Your texture (and shade) might change.

Why it happens: Sometimes, hair can experience a complete 180 during pregnancy—curls fall flat, straight hair suddenly curls, frizz runs rampant and color is fresh—no salon visit required. Once again, this is hormone-based, with the outcome being that your hair follicle shape is actually changing. Remember when your classmate’s curls dramatically appeared in 7th grade? Turns out, it wasn’t a perm. It was hormones.

What to do: While you don’t have much say in the situation, you do have the ability to learn about your new texture and treat it right. Here’s a breakdown of hair types and how to care for them.

4. Your hair might get thicker.

Why it happens: Thick strands, full head of hair, can’t lose. While your hair isn’t actually getting thicker during pregnancy, it can certainly feel like it is. This is because an increased number of your follicles are stuck in the anagen, or growing, phase of the hair cycle. Due to this, and the corresponding less-than-normal shedding, you get to enjoy thicker-feeling, and sometimes longer, hair.

What to do: Enjoy! Here are some easy air-dry styles you can use to show off your luscious locks.

5. You might experience hair fall.

Why it happens: Nothing lasts forever. Sometimes, the sudden drop in estrogen that follows delivery will cause your strands to return to the exogen, or shedding, hair phase all at once. This can show up as excessive hair loss around three to six months after giving birth, known as postpartum telogen effluvium. You might even have some bald spots or little tufts of new hair growing back for months—the baby bangs you never asked for.

What to do: The best thing you can do when experiencing hair loss is to take care of yourself. Use products that work well for your hair type, keep your scalp clean and be kind to your strands—no excessive tugging or tight hairdos. Additionally, protect your shower drain with one of those hair catchers and clean your hair brush regularly.

6. Or something completely different.

Sometimes, nothing changes. Other times, everything! Just remember: this is all (usually) normal. If you feel like something isn’t normal, chat with your doctor.

This post was last modified on November 25, 2024 10:09 am