Davis and I are incredibly blessed to have a large family. Bianca is nearly 18, Ander is nearly 6, Myra is 3, and Jordan is a mere 8 months old. They’re a lot, but we sure love them very much! But, let me tell you, when I first noticed my hair coming out in clumps after Ander was born I truly didn’t know what to do. Davis said that postpartum shedding is normal, he’s seen it before, but it didn’t feel right and I was scared. I assure you, postpartum shedding IS very normal. Chances are good, if you give birth to children, have a bad case of covid, or experience something extremely stressful you could see hair loss as well. However, we can help you combat it so it’s not as scary!
Let’s get scientific for a second. There are three important stages in the hair life cycle: anagen, catagen, and telogen. The anagen phase is the growth phase which usually lasts anywhere from 2-6 years. The second phase, or catagen phase lasts approximately a month and is the resting phase… Nothing significant happens here, it’s truly resting. The final stage is the telogen phase which is when hair from the catagen phase falls away. Each hair follicle is on it’s own cycle, so you will not go bald every 2-6 years. Rather, you can somewhat see a cycle of shedding every month to three months.
When a woman is pregnant, estrogen levels rise which cause hair growth and an extension of the anagen phase. That’s why women often see thicker, shiny hair during pregnancy! After women give birth, hormones change (that’s an understatement!) and all of those follicles which would’ve entered into the catagen phase during the 9 months of pregnancy now are swept into it all at once. About a month later, the telogen phase begins, again all at once. It feels like insane amounts of hair shedding, but really it’s just the accumulation of 9 months of lax shedding causing it. Stress can also trigger the telogen phase, which is why overwhelming stress can often cause hair loss in people. They’ve said, it can be a side effect of the stress of Covid on your body as well!
So what can we do? Let’s talk about it!
1 – Healthy hair – Listen to a hair expert here. Your shampoo matters! If you’re using something that is full of low grade sulfates and other harsh chemicals, your hair is not going to be its healthiest. You should be using a good shampoo that uses no or minimum amounts of high grade sulfates to wash your hair. In addition to that, use something that is gentle but fits your hair type. A quick google search on postpartum hair loss will have you thinking you should use something to amp up volume, but that’s not necessarily true. If your hair is dry, a volume shampoo will most likely just make the shedding worse by making it even dryer. We recommend using a gentle but hydrating oil shampoo, like the Cleansing Oil Shampoo and Conditioner by Shu Uemura. It’s gentle, but to the level your hair needs: if your hair is dry it will help moisturize, but if you’re like me and have oily hair it will cleanse completely without over-drying. In addition, please make sure you use conditioner. Even oily haired individuals should use conditioner to keep the ends of their hair healthy. To apply, start in the middle of the hair shaft and work down. If your hair tends to be dry, you can move it upward as well, but still avoid the root. Putting conditioner on your roots will weigh it down and make your hair look flat.
In addition to shampoos, make sure you avoid hot tools (including hair dryers) as much as possible, and when you do use them use heat protectant. There are varieties of great heat protectants based on hair type and style. I tend to use Tsuki Shape which has hold to it and adds volume to the roots, but you may choose Shiki Worker or Ultimate Reset Duo-Serum if your hair needs something without the hold or something heavier.
Finally, regular trims are super important for healthy hair! Split ends start small but can easily move and damage more than just the tip of the hair. The general recommendation for trims is to get it done every six weeks, however some people have stronger hair which can go a bit longer. Also try some bangs! This isn’t a tip to avoid hair loss necessarily, but bangs (even curtain bangs which are longer) can be used to cover up patchy areas along your hairline. I know it was helpful for me! But please, we beg you, don’t try to cut them on your own! You will regret it! We’re here to help when you’re ready.
2 – Healthy Scalp – Obviously your hair itself needs to be taken care of, but let’s not forget the importance of your scalp! This is where your hair is generated, and where the growth occurs. Washing your hair with good shampoo is an important step here, but there are other steps you can take to ensure your scalp is healthy and to continue the anagen phase of your hair cycle as long as possible.
One of the most important things we recommend for this is a scalp massage. A massage will increase the blood flow to the hair follicles, delivering essential nutrients and oxygen which keeps cells healthy. Shu Uemura has a rice water spray called Izumi Tonic that has valuable properties for scalp health and hair strength. We recommend using this along with the massage to ensure your scalp has all of the nutrients necessary for hair health and hair growth.
3 – No Mom Buns – Trust me, I get it. The mom bun is fast, easy, and doesn’t have to look good to look good! However, having your pulled back puts stress on the already resting follicles and can cause more hair loss than expected or necessary. It’s important to avoid tight hairstyles or friction. If you need your hair out of your face, try a shorter hairstyle! It doesn’t have to be super short to be easier to manage. If you do need to pull it up, make it as loose as possible and use an elastic that doesn’t tug on your hair. We recommend a silk scrunchie or a coiled hair tie. The key is as little tension and friction as you can.
Also, excessive brushing or using the wrong brush for your hair type is not going to help keep hair loss at bay. If your hair is coarse or curly, we recommend a large tooth comb on wet but heavily conditioned hair. For thick we recommend a wet brush or wet comb, again on wet hair. With fine hair we recommend a wet brush or paddle brush. If you try to use a paddle brush on coarse hair, it could end up pulling and bringing out more due to the tension rather than a wide tooth comb. On fine hair, a wide tooth comb isn’t going to separate enough hair strands.
4 – Diet and Vitamin Intake – Last January I wrote a blog about how your diet affects hair growth. Just like any organ in your body, vitamins and minerals are a key component to maintaining healthy hair and encouraging healthy growth. With vitamin intake, you want to choose sources that are digestible and easily absorbed into your system, and while supplements are great, what you eat is most important. You can take a look at the blog posting HERE, but I’ll summarize for you.
For vitamins, you want to ensure you’re receiving enough Vitamins A, B (complex), C, E, as well as Iron, Protein, Zinc, and Omega-3. The vitamins create a healthy environment within and around each hair follicle, which as we discussed above is incredibly important. The iron, protein, zinc, and omega-3’s help your cells reproduce quickly to encourage healthy growth. All of these are necessary in conjunction to keep your hair in the anagen phase as long as possible.
Please note, I am not a physician and these tips are not the end all be all. If you experience excessive loss or it continues for longer than 8-12 months please speak with your doctor.
So there it is! To avoid excessive hair loss, health is important from the inside out. While it’s not completely avoidable, we hope these tips will help you navigate and keep your hair looking and feeling as gorgeous as you deserve!
If you’d like to book a consultation or would like to speak to a stylist about how we can help you with this, please book online, give us a call at 203-861-6700, or shoot us an email at info@davisfelizsalon.com and we would be happy to assist you!
See you soon!
Photo Credit: Frances Isaac, FVI Photography