Postpartum hair loss: why it occurs and what to do about it

Many pregnant women notice that their hair thickens during pregnancy. What they may not know is they can lose some of that hair after giving birth. 

After pregnancy, the first sign of hair loss is bigger clumps of hair in the shower or on your hairbrush. When this happens, it’s important not to panic. Continue reading to find out more about why postpartum hair loss (alopecia) occurs––and how long it lasts. 

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Postpartum hair loss is a type of stress-induced hair loss caused by changes in hormone levels. 

Approximately 40–50% of women are affected by this after giving birth. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, this type of hair loss is referred to as excessive shedding rather than true hair loss. The good news is that means you won’t get bald spots or experience permanent hair loss (AAD, n.d.). 

As any woman who’s had a baby knows, pregnancy changes the balance of hormones in the body. Levels of hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and prolactin are higher during pregnancy, and rapidly drop after the baby is born (although prolactin may stay elevated if you’re breastfeeding). 

This fluctuation in hormones can lead to postpartum hair loss, which can be distressing for new mothers. The process behind postpartum hair loss isn’t entirely understood, but there is a clear relationship between the hormones estrogen and progesterone and the hair growth cycle. 

At any one time, roughly 90% of your hair is in what’s called the active growing phase, which lasts for 2–6 years. Hairs then enter a transition phase for 1–2 weeks before entering a final resting phase. The resting phase lasts from 2–4 months, and at the end, hair starts falling out. Once the hair drops off, follicles return to the growth phase and begin all over again (Phillips, 2017, Murphrey, 2020). 

Higher hormone levels keep hair follicles in the growth phase longer during pregnancy, so you’re not losing as much hair as you normally would. Following childbirth, hormones drop and all those hair follicles in the extended growth phase enter the resting phase and fall out all at once. Basically, all of the hairs that would have fallen out if you weren’t pregnant fall out after the baby is born. 

Fortunately, this type of excessive shedding is temporary and your hair will go back to normal within 4–6 months after giving birth. Most women will be back to a full head of healthy hair by the time their new baby celebrates their first birthday, if not sooner (AAD, n.d.). 

If your hair is still thinning, you can discuss it with a healthcare provider. Many factors can cause alopecia, including thyroid disease, iron-deficiency anemia, stress, diet, medication, and certain hair care habits (Phillips, 2017; Ho, 2021). 

There are no clinically proven treatments for postpartum alopecia. The good news is, it usually resolves on its own. Since postpartum hair loss is tied to natural changes in hormone levels after pregnancy, there’s unfortunately no way to prevent it. 

However, some women have a slower recovery of their regular hair cycle. If your hair loss is bothersome, here are some tips that may help (AAD, n.d.): 

• Avoid excess brushing or styling, especially with appliances that emit high heat 

• Take advantage of volumizing shampoos

• Avoid intensive conditioning shampoos

• Experiment with hairstyles that make your locks look fuller

Other things that could boost hair recovery time include keeping up with prenatal vitamins after childbirth and eating a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables.

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Every article on Health Guide goes through rigorous fact-checking by our team of medical reviewers. Our reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the writer.

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Current version

December 06, 2021

Written by

Chimene Richa, MD

Fact checked by

Steve Silvestro, MD

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About the medical reviewer

Steve Silvestro, MD, Ro

Dr. Steve Silvestro is a board-certified pediatrician and Associate Director, Clinical Content & Education at Ro.