What Are Postpartum Bangs?
Becoming a mother is a transformative experience, filled with an overwhelming blend of joy, exhaustion, and anticipation. Amidst the sleepless nights and endless diapers, many new mothers are taken aback by an unexpected change: postpartum hair loss.
Postpartum hair loss can leave many feeling more vulnerable during an already delicate phase of life. For many new mothers, the postpartum period is already filled with a whirlwind of emotions and physical changes, making the sudden and noticeable shedding of hair an additional source of stress and concern. As you navigate the demands of caring for a newborn, adjusting to a new routine, and healing from childbirth, the unexpected experience of losing hair can feel overwhelming. It can impact self-esteem and body image, making an already challenging period even more difficult to manage. Understanding that postpartum hair loss is a common, temporary condition can provide some reassurance as you work towards restoring your sense of normalcy and self-confidence during this significant transition.
Why Do You Loose Hair Postpartum?
During pregnancy you experience a boost of estrogen in the body. This hormone prolongs the growing phase (anagen phase) of hair, resulting in less shedding. After giving birth, estrogen levels drop significantly, causing many hairs to enter the resting phase (telogen phase) at once. This hormonal shift triggers the hair follicles, where a large number of them that had stayed in the growing phase (anagen phase) during pregnancy suddenly transition to the shedding phase.
When this shedding phase kicks in, it can often seem like an alarmingly large amount of hair is falling out all at once, feeling like hair loss.
How Long Does Postpartum Hair Loss Last?
It's important to understand that this increased shedding is simply your body catching up on the hair's natural growth and shedding cycle, and that this is temporary. The hair that did not fall out during pregnancy is now shedding to make up for lost time, which can give the impression of sudden and severe hair loss.
This is often not immediate and usually takes a few months after childbirth for the accumulated hair to begin shedding. The duration can vary, generally lasting between six weeks to six months. However, in some rare cases, it can last up to just over a year.
What Are Postpartum Bangs?
Postpartum bangs refer to the new hair growth that appears primarily along the hairline after a period of significant hair shedding, which many women experience after giving birth. As the hair begins to grow back, it often manifests as fine, wispy strands that resemble bangs. In the early stages, this regrowth might make it look like you've attempted to cut your bangs unevenly, resulting in a somewhat ragged or uneven appearance. This is why the phenomenon is humorously dubbed "postpartum bangs."
How To Grow Postpartum Bangs
Caring for the new growth will take patience and kindness, and involves adopting a gentle and nourishing hair care routine that promotes healthy growth and prevents further hair loss. Some of the best ways to care for your new growth is:
Be Gentle with Your Hair
Avoid Tight Hairstyles: Styles like ponytails, braids, or buns that pull on the hair can cause additional stress and breakage. The follicle of your hair (the bulb on the end of your hair) will be fragile. Opt for loose and comfortable hairstyles instead.
Detangle Kindly: We’re all guilty of impatiently ripping out hair while brushing tangles away. Use a detangling spray and detangling brush that is designed to gently remove the knots and tangles without pulling and snapping your hair.
Avoid Heat Styling: Excessive use of heat styling tools like blow dryers, curling irons, and straighteners can weaken your hair. Whenever possible, let your hair air-dry and embrace its natural texture. When you do need to heat style your hair, always use heat protection to shield your hair from damage.
Choose the Right Hair Products
Use The Right Shampoo: Gentle formulations help to maintain the natural oils in your scalp, which are essential for healthy hair growth. Biotin Shampoo is ideal for compromised scalps and hair. Made with a blend of caffeine, biotin, moringa, and ginseng root extracts. Biotin shampoo helps stimulate hair growth and maintain a healthy scalp balance.
Massage Your Scalp: A shampoo brush with soft silicone massage bristles are designed to delicately stimulate the scalp, enhancing blood circulation to the hair follicles, which is essential for promoting hair growth. By gently exfoliating the scalp, these bristles help to remove dead skin cells and excess oil, creating a cleaner environment that fosters healthier hair development. Regular use of a scalp massager can also relieve tension and stress, contributing to overall hair vitality and wellness.
Condition Regularly: A good conditioner can help to keep your hair hydrated and smooth. It's particularly important to focus on the ends of your hair, as this area is most prone to damage, breakage, and split ends due to its age and exposure.
Wash Your Hair: With a newborn baby, selfcare usually takes the back seat, it’s important to regularly wash your hair to prevent build up on your scalp that can suffocate your follicles and cause further hair loss. Aim to wash your hair two to three times a week to keep it healthy and balanced.
Protect Your Hair
Sleep with Care: Use a silk pillowcase. Switching to a silk pillowcase can significantly benefit your hair by reducing the friction that typically occurs when sleeping on cotton pillowcases, which are known to cause tangling and breakage. The smooth texture of silk allows your hair to glide over the surface easily, minimizing knots and split ends.
Cover in the Sun: Prolonged exposure to the sun's UV rays can weaken the hair structure, leading to dryness, brittleness, and even discoloration. Shield your hair by making it a habit to wear a wide-brimmed hat whenever you're spending extended periods outdoors. And always use a UV and heat protector to keep your hair healthy and vibrant.
Take Supplements: Essential minerals and vitamins support hair growth by nourishing hair follicles and enhancing the overall health of the scalp. B vitamins, such as biotin (B7) and B12, are particularly important because they promote the production of red blood cells, which carry oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicles, encouraging growth. Iron plays a crucial role as well, as it helps red blood cells transport oxygen to the follicles, preventing hair loss and promoting strength. Together, these nutrients ensure that the hair receives adequate nourishment for optimal growth and vitality.
Takeaway
Postpartum hair loss and the emergence of "postpartum bangs" can be an unexpected and challenging aspect of the post-childbirth experience. By including these gentle hair care tips into your life, new mothers can support healthy hair regrowth. With time, patience, and proper care, mothers can navigate this period gracefully, restoring their self-confidence and embracing the joys of motherhood with renewed energy.
