Pregnancy and Hair Health

How to maintain our crown while pregnant

Pregnancy is a wonderful time filled with endless emotional and physical changes. Your body does a stellar job creating a safe haven for your baby while leaving you with the remnants to survive on. Or should I say leaving your hair with the remnants to survive on. Let’s talk more about pregnancy and hair health.

PREGNANCY AND HAIR HEALTH: HOW THEY’RE RELATED

Telogen Effluvium is the excessive shedding of the hair that occurs one to five months following pregnancy. This is not uncommon and temporary, according to The Science of Black Hair by Audrey Davis-Sivasothy. Hair loss connected to pregnancy usually occurs after delivery. Unusual hair loss during pregnancy such as bald spots or permanent hair loss may be due to vitamin or mineral deficiency. This is why it is important to eat a well-balanced diet and take some type of prenatal vitamin or herb so that your body has enough vitamins and minerals for you after your baby is born.

The positive side of pregnancy and hair health is that during pregnancy there is an increase in the level of estrogen hormones. Estrogen causes hair to remain in the growing phase and stimulates the growth of your hair. While you are pregnant expect your hair to grow fuller and longer than normal.

WHAT TO DO

There are a number of things you can do to have healthier hair and reduce hair loss during pregnancy and after delivery:

• Consult with your heath care provider or holistic practitioner to ensure a proper balance of hormones.
• Avoid pigtails, cornrows, hair weaves, braids and tight hair rollers which can pull and stress your hair.
• Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables, which contain flavonoids and antioxidants that may provide protection for the hair follicles and encourage hair growth.
• Use shampoos and conditioners that contain biotin and silica.
• Hair is fragile when it is wet, so be gentle; avoid fine tooth combs.
• If you need to use blow dryers and other heated hair instruments, use the cool setting.
• Supplement your diet with Vitamin B complex, Biotin (Possibly safe; orally and appropriately), Vitamin C, Vitamin E (likely safe if amount does not exceed the RDA; possibly safe if it does), Zinc (likely safe when used orally and appropriately; likely unsafe when used orally in high doses)

Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables, which contain flavonoids and antioxidants that may provide protection for the hair follicles and encourage hair growth.

My hair grew a ton during my pregnancies. After delivery, I developed a bald spot right in the top middle of my head with both my children, and my locs started to thin. I am currently 3 years postpartum and one year and a half post breastfeeding, and my hair is fuller and my bald spot is completely gone.

What did I do? First, I made an appointment with my hair stylist-therapist, Tia at Mocha Reign Natural Hair Studio to discuss my pregnancy and hair health. While working for her, she taught me so much about natural remedies for natural hair. First, she reminded me to watch my diet. Secondly, she reminded me to watch my stress level. A lot of times we forget about our emotional well-being and how it can manifest in our hair. A combination of a balanced diet and reducing stress brought my hair back to life after pregnancy. Sometimes that is all you need—basic natural remedies to revitalize your natural mane!