During my pregnancy I did very little with my hair. I mainly wore buns and occasionally con-washed. I rarely went to the beauty salon, and relaxed a total of two times–early in the second trimester and then right before I was due (gotta look cute in the hospital! *smile*) I pretty much halted my entire hair regimen. I ceased all vitamins (except prenatals), didn't use Boundless Tresses/MTG, didn't Henna, no deep conditioning, and so on and so forth. This was primarily because much of that wasn't safe during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Truthfully, it was kind of nice being lazy and doing nothing to my hair.
Despite this gross neglect, my hair thrived and looked amazing throughout my pregnancy! I had cut it back to Armpit Length just after my second trimester, so it was blunt cut and full. It was extremely thick, lustrous, and felt so silky to the touch. My new growth seemed to be softer and coming in with a looser curl pattern. Overall, my hair never looked better! As you probably know, when we're pregnant our body undergoes significant hormonal changes, including an increase in estrogen production. This affects our natural hair growth cycle, causing some hair follicles to shift into the anagen (growth) phase of the cycle so an above average number of follicles are producing hair. The increased estrogen will also inhibit some follicles that are in the catagen (shedding) phase so less hair is lost during this time. Due to these changes to the hair growth cycle many pregnant women will experience a boost in hair thickness, hair volume, and hair length.
Of course, after you've delivered your baby and the placenta that nourished baby is also delivered your body experiences a dramatic drop in estrogen levels. At this point our hair follicles now enter the shedding phase. (Shedding = hairs coming out from the root. Breakage = small pieces that break off at the ends). Other follicles will be affected during this time and enter the telogen (resting) phase. Since no new hair growth is being produced but hair shedding is increased dramatically, we sometimes experience hair loss. Of course, once the body readjusts itself to its pre-pregnancy levels of function the hair growth cycle should also return to normal.
With that said, I was already expecting these changes to occur in my hair post-partum. No surprise when my hair looked great during pregnancy, and also no surprise to discover hair loss post-partum. Being the hairnista that I am, I actually started a post-partum regimen immediately after delivery with the expectation that some shedding might occur. The main product I decided to introduce to my (at this time) very simple regimen was garlic. Yes, I said garlic! Garlic is a pretty common and effective way to help minimize shedding. You can take garlic supplements or use garlic-based products (i.e., Queen Helene's Garlic shampoo, Alter Ego nourishing garlic conditioner). Of course, if you're a DIY'er like me, you can make your own garlic conditioner simply by blending several cloves of garlic in your conditioner of choice. You can also make a hot oil treatment by infusing garlic into your oil of choice (i.e., olive oil or, in my case, Aceite De Ajo by Alopecil–since I use Dominican products almost exclusively).
Post-Partum Hair Pics
Front/Edges of Hair
5/17/09
As I mentioned, I discovered a couple of months after my baby was born that the front of my hair and temples had thinned significantly. I really don't know when or how it happened–but one day I realized that my hairline had receded noticeably. It's quite apparent when I have my hair pulled back into a ponytail, but otherwise not so obvious. Either way, it's important to me that I curb this shedding and get those edges to fill in. I'm so glad I started this garlic regimen early, as I suspect the problem may have been even worse had I been doing nothing at all. I have a few pictures so you can see the post-partum shedding and present state of my hair.
I always had slight indentions on either side, but never so far back or pronounced.
Back of Hair
5/16/09
No real complaints here. In an effort to really start anew and take back control of my hair, I opted for a fresh trim last weekend…. first one in about 9 months. I needed it! My last cut was during my second trimester. At that time there was no real reason for the trim–an impulse decision, if you will. I blame it on the hormones. *smile* It grew back fairly quickly. This time I told the stylist not to worry about giving me a blunt cut, but just to take off the split ends (because you know how they do… my hair would have been a chin length bob!)
Front of my hair is quite shorter, which lends for a V or U-shape in the back (depending on the trim).
More photos in my Hair Journal. Leave me a comment requesting the link if interested.
These days I'm still doing very little… bunning most days for work, con-washing every other weekend, essentially just minimizing manipulation. I don't get to the salon as much as I'd like, with the baby and all…. but try to keep my ends moisturized and dust occasionally for splits. I'm eager to start my Biotin again…. and that's likely all that I'll add. Right now my goal is to curb this post-partum shedding (my edges/temples) and, if possible, retain the wonderful thickness I got during pregnancy. I'll continue to add more products to my regimen as necessary, but for now here are just a few of my "must haves."
Post-Partum Staples
Suave Naturals Tropical Coconut Conditioner (con-wash/detangle/moisturize)
Aceite De Ajo by Alopecil – Garlic Oil Capilar (oil scalp/seal ends)
Biotin (5 mg daily)
Ladies, did any of you experience post-partum shedding? How long did it last, and what did you do (if anything) to curb it?
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Um…like the style of your writing.*_*
Il suffit de dire merci ne sera pas seulement suffisante, pour que la clarté exceptionnelle à l’intérieur de votre écriture. Je pense que j’ai enregistrer votre site pour les mises à jour futures. Un grand merci.
Hi, Yakini.
I’m not a mother, but I love your site. You have such a beautiful spirit, and family. I am interested in following your advise regarding perms, so could you please send me the link to your hair journal?
Thank you.
Hi,
I used to follow you on LHCF and you really key in my having BSL hair right now. I was interested in checking out your Fotki progress again and see that they have moved. Could you please provide the link. TIA
Hi Yakini,
) Please send me the link to your album, it will be very much appreciated
I would love to see your album, i am stuck at BSl for two years. I have been following you since fotki and i believe i can move past bsl, if i can view your progress as inspiration. We have very similar texture
fefe
I would love to see your album, please email me the link, God Bless. Yolanda
I experienced the SAME pattern of hairloss you show in your pics. I wear my hair without a relaxer, so the breakage was unsightly. I stopped nursing a few months ago and my hairline disappeared too. I’m glad I ran across your blog. NEVER heard of or thought to use garlic, but will look into it. Thanks for your product recommendations.
Congrats on getting married and having a baby! Good luck with the post-partum shedding, I’m confident that you will bounce back.
Right now my hair growth is going back to normal. But as you know, I have locs, and you can see where the thinning occured in the shaft of the loc. I remember we took family pictures in November and my father even asked me if my hair was thinning! *blink* You know it’s dramatic when DAD notices. LOL. Overall, I’m not really doing anything different now, as it seems to have corrected itself. I am more mindful of keeping it moisterized, and I think I’ll cut my locs down some to make my hair lighter and not put so much stress on the follicles. Thanks for this!
BlackPearl & Wendy, I would not take Biotin while nursing or pumping. That’s the reason I haven’t started back just yet. I would just continue taking your prenatals, and that should be sufficient for the time being to provide you with the extra vitamins/nutrients that you need, for hair/nails/everything else.
Yeah, i would definitely start the garlic regimen earlier post-partum, and maybe you can avoid the excessive shedding second time around! 
Ms. Houston, congrats on expecting your second bundle!!!
I experienced the same thing at 3 mos post-partum. I shed for two months total and considered myself lucky. My temples were a lot worst though, but after only two months of nursing them back to health they filled in. I also only combed my hair once a week in the shower to avoid major hair loss. I’m preggie again now and will take your advice and start taking garlic early. Another thing that helped is I continued to take my prenatal vitamins too. HTH
Grrr! I just made a post and it erased it. Anywhoo, I’m so glad I saw this post. I am 4 months post and it started at 3 months. I thought it was relaxer damage and all my hair was falling out! I was devastated. I posted on LHCF and most of the ladies said that it was probably PPS. I was thinking since I was 3 months post and hadn’t had any problems I was in the clear; that’s when it starts though. I bought some Nioxin and they are growing slowly but surely. I’ve been making a swoop bang and wearing half wigs. I’m breastfeeding too and want to know more about the nursing moms who take Biotin b/c I wanted to start taking that. I’ll definitely subscribe to your blog.
OMG! I’m so glad I found this. I too was devastated when my hairline fell out and I started getting all this shedding. I didn’t know that PPS started 3 months AFTER so I thought I was in the clear. I was devastated and am still REALLY self concious about it. I bought some Nioxin and they seem to be growing back slowly but surely. My hair’s not that long so I make a swoop bang and have been wearing half wigs to look presentable at work. I’m so glad you posted on LHCF today. Thanks to all of the wonderful women at LHCF I don’t feel so alone in this. I’m being positive that it will get better.
I had my baby about two months ago and I’m beginning to shed more than usual but no enough to be worried about…however, I have been considering adding biotin but don’t know if its safe during lactation…are you breastfeeding and do you think its okay?
Thanks for that information Kee! I love ORS products, and havent tried the temple balm yet. Kewl beans!
Good Morning Yakini,
I’ve been using the Organic Root Stimulator temple balm for my thinned temples and it seems to be working. It just has a not-so-pleasant scent to it when you first apply it. Your hair is still gorgeous!
I’m not a mommy yet so I can’t answer the question about post-partum hair thinning.
Have a nice Tuesday!
Kee
hey meka!!!! im so glad u came in and commented…. definitely been looking forward to hearing perspectives from all the veteran mommies. ure hair is absolutely beautiful now… so really good to know that it is possible to bounce back from this. im sure going natural helped out a lot too!
thanks for the feedback, folks.
okay, i was cracking up at this line: “but after giving birth, my smile turned into a big laugh, that was not funny.” you are too much girl!
glad im not the only one.
Yes girl, I went through the same thing. My hair line was exactly like yours. i too have a little “smile” for a hair line naturally, as we like to call it in my family courtesy of my grandfather, but after giving birth, my smile turned into a big laugh, that was not funny. When it happened I was devastated. My mom assured me that it would grow back. I became a little depressed and I cut my hair into what was known as the “halle berry” hairstyle. Shortly after, I stopped relaxing my hair and visiting my dominican hairstylist, where she can roll an afro, and have been happy since. My hair is thicker and healthier.
You are sooo good with hair care so you will be fine. Can’t wait to see the results.
Thanks ladies! Yeah, i remember that Eyam!
So funny, i thought i was one of the “lucky few” who had evaded hair loss… until i finger-combed it back the other day and my jaw dropped. I was looking straight like Susan Taylor. *smh* Im pretty sure it’ll fill back in quickly tho.
Oh, Corey hush! lol. Only the hair around the temples fell out, and you cant notice it unless im wearing a pulled-back ponytail (which i rarely do)
Damn not the hair..
Yeah, I shed a LOT…and so did all of the moms that were pregnant with me…can’t wait to check out the regimen…
Girl… my hair went thru major changes after BrookLyn. That was around the time I first started reading your regimen blog. I can’t wait to see what you’re doing now. It’s still beautiful hair.
Hey LS! Here’s my con-washing (aka co-washing) tutorial here: http://www.girlyhomewebzine.com/photos/conwash/index.html Im running out to a meeting, but will be back later to answer any more questions you have about it.
Can you give a little detail on con-washing?