Real Talk on Postpartum Hair Shedding: What Actually Helps
- Katherine Haircare
- Jan 16
- 6 min read
Updated: Jan 17
If you are dealing with postpartum hair loss you are not alone. Hair shedding around pregnancy can feel surprising, frustrating, and sometimes scary, especially when it seems like it is happening all at once.
I have been through six pregnancies and, over the years, I have experienced everything from losing handfuls of hair and crying over it, to having virtually no shedding at all. In this post, I am sharing what helped me most, including practical diet and lifestyle shifts and topical supports you can use at home.
This is not medical advice, and hormones can be complex. If you have sudden bald spots, symptoms of thyroid issues, or ongoing hair loss beyond the first year postpartum, it is worth checking in with a qualified clinician.
What causes postpartum hair loss?
The simplest explanation is hormonal change. During pregnancy, progesterone and estrogen rise. Many women notice they shed less and their hair feels thicker. It is also normal to shed around 20 to 100 hairs per day for most people, but in pregnancy that daily shedding often decreases.
After the baby is born, estrogen and progesterone drop. This shift supports lactation, because prolactin needs to rise and it tends to be “opposed” by higher estrogen and progesterone. For many women, that change shows up as increased shedding around 3 to 4 months postpartum, and it can continue for months.
Key point: some shedding can be normal. The goal is preventing the excessive kind that leaves you with noticeably thinner hair than you had before pregnancy.
What is normal shedding vs excessive postpartum hair loss?
A helpful way to think about “normal” is this:
If you shed less during pregnancy, you likely held onto more hair than usual. When hormones shift postpartum, your body may release some of that extra hair, returning you closer to your pre-pregnancy thickness.
Usually considered normal
Shedding that gradually returns your hair to pre pregnancy fullness
No major bald patches
No rapid hairline recession
Shedding that slows over time
Often a sign something needs support
Losing large clumps whenever you wash or touch your hair
Bald or thinning spots
A noticeably receding hairline postpartum
Shedding that feels relentless with no improvement over time
If you are experiencing postpartum hair loss at that excessive level, you are not “doomed.” There are often controllable factors that influence how intense it gets.
Can you prevent excessive postpartum hair loss
In my experience, yes, the excessive kind can often be reduced, and sometimes prevented, especially when you plan ahead. I think of prevention as a three part approach.
Diet and nourishment
Lifestyle and recovery support
Topical scalp and hair care
Even if you are already postpartum, you can still apply many of these steps now to help calm shedding and support regrowth.
1) Diet factors that support hair growth
When your body is growing a baby, it needs enough fuel and the right building blocks. Under-eating can catch up with you, and hair is often one of the first places stress shows.
Here are the diet themes I focus on during pregnancy and postpartum, especially if I am concerned about postpartum hair loss.
Eat enough, consistently
Pregnancy and postpartum are not the time for restriction
Aim for steady meals and snacks, not long gaps
Prioritize protein
Many women do better when they intentionally increase protein. A rough benchmark often discussed in pregnancy circles is around 100g per day, adjusted for body size and needs.
Choose nutrient dense foods
Examples that many women find supportive:
Bone broth
Mineral rich herbal infusions
Cod liver oil (if appropriate for you)
High quality fats
Nutrient dense animal foods
Quality dairy if tolerated
If you are unsure what is safe for you during pregnancy or breastfeeding, ask your healthcare provider, especially with supplements.
2) Lifestyle factors that affect hormones, stress, and shedding
Hair is not separate from the rest of you. Your nervous system, sleep, stress levels, and recovery all shape how your body allocates resources.
A framework that helped me a lot comes from traditional postpartum care practices that treat the first 40 days after birth as a protected healing window. The idea is simple: more rest and nourishment early can pay dividends for months.
That can feel unrealistic in modern life, but even moving closer to that mindset often helps.
Practical lifestyle shifts
Build daily “brackets” of rest. A 30 minute nap, quiet time, or a lying down reset can make a difference.
Lower stress where you can. Ask for help, simplify plans, and drop non essential commitments.
Protect sleep. Not perfect sleep, just more opportunities for it.
Plan your postpartum support ahead of time. Meals, childcare, house help, friend check ins, etc.
A simple postpartum rest plan (adapt as needed)
Many women like a gradual ramp up:
One week in bed
One week on the bed
One week on the couch
Translation: start with maximum rest, then slowly add movement and responsibility as your body stabilizes.
A note on birth stress and recovery
Trauma and high stress experiences can ripple into postpartum health. If you are carrying anxiety from a difficult birth, support matters. Emotional care is not separate from physical recovery.
Hormone support
Some women explore herbal or naturopathic support aimed at hormone balance, especially when they suspect a mismatch between prolactin and progesterone postpartum. If you go this route, do it with a practitioner who understands your full context, especially if you are breastfeeding.
3) Topical treatments that support the scalp
Topicals are not the whole solution, but they can be a powerful support, especially when you want something you can do right now while you work on the deeper pieces.
If you are dealing with postpartum hair loss, these can help create a healthier scalp environment and support circulation.
Scalp oiling
Oil is deeply nourishing for the scalp and has been used traditionally for centuries.
Options include:
A single carrier oil
Blended carrier oils
Blended carrier oils mixed with essential oils
Herb infused oils
Scalp massage
Often paired with oiling, massage supports blood flow. Circulation matters because your follicles need consistent delivery of nutrients and oxygen.
Try:
3 to 5 minutes daily or a few times a week
Gentle pressure, not aggressive scratching
Consistent routine over intensity
Apple cider vinegar rinses
Many people use ACV rinses to help with buildup and scalp balance. If you try it, dilute well and patch test, especially if your scalp is sensitive. An ACV rinse should always be used if you’re washing your hair with clay.
Clay washing
Clay can be a gentle alternative cleanser for some people. It can also deliver minerals and help with oil balance, depending on your scalp type. Again, always combine clay with a diluted ACV rinse. The clay wash and ACV rinse recipes I use can be found here.
Tea rinses
Some people use tea rinses for caffeine content and scalp stimulation. If you are prone to dryness, follow with moisturizing care.
What I would focus on first (if you feel overwhelmed)
If you are reading this while sleep deprived and stressed, start small. You do not need to do everything at once.
Here is a simple priority order:
Eat enough and increase protein
Add daily rest, even 20 to 30 minutes
Start scalp oiling plus massage 2 to 4 times weekly
Then build from there.
What makes postpartum hair loss so unsettling is how sudden and out of your control it can feel. Even when you know it is common, watching your hair shed during an already vulnerable season can be emotionally difficult.
My favourite way to combat it has been scalp oiling, which has long been used to support hair and scalp health by:
Nourishing the scalp
Improving circulation
Creating a healthier environment for hair to grow
For many women, this alone can make shedding feel more manageable.
But the hair oil I personally slow-infuse goes a step further.
With a natural 14-ingredient blend designed to support all three phases of hair growth (calming the scalp, encouraging new growth, and strengthening strands from within) it goes above and beyond the other hair oils you might find on Amazon, especially if you’re postpartum.
Click below to learn about how each ingredient comes together to support hair growth naturally like never before and see why, after hundreds of reviews, it’s maintained its 4.9 star rating!
“This hair growth oil has helped me in my postpartum hair loss journey. I lost so much hair after my third baby and was also going through a very stressful time, resulting in clumps of hair coming out every time I'd run a brush through or shower. I started using it religiously 2-3 times a week. Within one month, I saw baby hairs coming in and I noticed my hair was softer and healthier! My hair grew in SO FAST!”
Jessica B.
I read the article where the mom of six really opens up about how postpartum hair loss surprised her and how normal it can feel to suddenly see more shedding after pregnancy. I remember once when I had a big exam week and even needed do my Mathematics exam for me help because I was so stressed trying to balance study with everything else, it made me think how pressure can show up in our bodies and minds. The way she talks about gentle care and patience reminded me that tough phases usually pass with time and support.
Postpartum hair loss can feel overwhelming, but it’s far more common than most people realize, especially when hormones shift after pregnancy. Having experienced multiple pregnancies myself, I’ve seen how differently each postpartum phase can affect the body, from heavy shedding to almost none at all. Gentle nutrition changes, stress reduction, and simple at-home care made the biggest difference for me over time. Juggling recovery alongside responsibilities like studies or work—sometimes even searching for Law assignment help uk—can add pressure, so being kind to yourself really matters. And if hair loss feels extreme or lasts beyond a year, getting professional advice is always a wise step.