Hair loss during pregnancy and post-partum is very normal. According to Healthline, “hair shedding after pregnancy peaks around four months post-partum,” and will likely return to its normal growth within six to nine months.
While this is reassuring to know, it can still be hard to maintain a hair routine post-partum when your mind is busy thinking about cleaning baby bottles and feeding schedules. So, for those of you who need some inspiration, this article will outline three low maintenance things you can add to your hair care routine.
- Weekly hair oiling.
Oiling your hair has been known to have many benefits from hair growth to helping with skin conditions such as dandruff. Different types of oil will have different benefits and ways of affecting your hair. For example, argan oil has been known to be anti-inflammatory and antioxidant which helps with dry scalps. Depending on what you want to change about your hair, choosing the right oil is important.
But as a task itself, oiling your hair is relatively easy. Massaging the oil into your hair in the morning and letting it soak for the rest of the day is a great way to give your hair the nutrients it needs whilst still having time for your everyday tasks. So, choose your favourite hair oil, massage it into your scalp in the morning, leave it in for as long as you want—busy yourself with feedings, changings and cleaning baby bottles—and then wash the oil out whenever you get a free moment or by the end of the day.
- Find the right shampoo.
The right shampoo is critical to your hair care routine. During your pregnancy, you likely experienced a fluctuation of hormones that had an impact on your scalp and hair. Some women find that their hair is more lustrous during pregnancy, and then thinner post-pregnancy, while others find their hair is thinner during pregnancy and prone to hair loss. So, it’s safe to say, that you need to find the right shampoo to support the state of your hair as your hormone levels begin to re-balance.
Once you’ve decided whether you need a shampoo for dry hair, thin hair, or even a clarifying shampoo for a flaky scalp, embedding a day for hair washing into your week is incredibly important for your hair care. As stated above, having a weekly deep-oiling session for your can be a useful extra step in your haircare routine. If you oil and massage your hair, once a week, that calls for a full-hair wash as well. Some of you may feel that you need to wash your hair every day, but research shows that washing your once a week, twice a week, or more is perfectly okay—as long as it suits your hair type.
- Avoid styling and heat.
While having your hair styled using straighteners or blow dryers sounds appealing, if you’ve experienced hair loss during or after your pregnancy, it is best to avoid using heat on your hair as it’s been associated with increased hair loss.
Instead it would be better to learn to do protective hairstyles. Protective hairstyles are those which don’t put strain on your hair, which makes them great for when you’re sleeping or during the day. Some examples of protective hairstyles are loose buns, braids, Bantu knots or even a loose ponytail. That way, your hair remains stress-free, but can also look fashionable in its own ways.
