The majority of mums suffer from postpartum hair loss, but no matter how prepared you are for it, it’s still shocking and unnerving when your hair starts falling out. Sometimes it’s in big strands, sometimes in clumps, and sometimes you are left wondering if you are actually going to have any hair left if it keeps happening.
Perhaps the worst part is that it usually starts to happen just as you are starting to feel like yourself again. You’ve made it through the newborn trenches, starting to come out of the other side – a little more sleep, a little more routine, a little more time for you. And then BAM, your hair starts falling out and you can’t help feeling like you’re losing control yet again.
The good news is it does stop and there are also things you can do and products you can use to help manage your hair health and support your hair regrowth.
My postpartum hair loss journey
My postpartum hair loss started about 4 months after having Ryan. At first it was just a couple more hairs in the hairbrush, but after a few weeks I would just run my hand lightly through my hair and it would fall out. Washing it was slightly traumatic as there would be clumps of hair in my hands, and I avoided brushing it as much as possible as my hairbrush was full after just a couple of days. We would find hair all over the house – in the shower, on the floor, and even on the baby!
Believe me, there were a lot of tears shed and I came so close to booking in a hair appointment and getting all my hair chopped off as I was so distraught. A lot of people think “it’s only hair” but when you have given birth and been reshaped into an entirely new person, it’s more than hair… it’s your identity and often your lifeline to the “old you”.
Discovering the Elevana Hair Growth Activator
At around 5 months postpartum I discovered the Elevana Hair Growth Activator, a scalp serum designed to help support a healthy scalp and hair. Packed with nourishing botanicals and hair loving vitamins, it encourages healthy hair growth from the root up. With consistent use it reduces breakage, helps with hair shedding, and encourages hair to grow longer, stronger, shinier and healthier. Let’s be honest, isn’t this what everyone wants whether they are postpartum or not?
At first I’ll be honest I was a little skeptical, especially as someone who has super fine hair that gets weighed down easily. I’ve tried all the hair products under the sun and most of them leave me looking like I’ve swam through a deep fryer – my hair looks stringy and oily and just yuck. The Hair Growth Activator on the other hand is the lightest serum you can imagine. It’s light-weight and non-greasy and it doesn’t weigh my hair down at all. So much so, I can actually apply it a few hours before washing my hair and go about my day and my hair still looks normal. It washes out easily when I wash my hair and there’s no greasy or oily residue leftover – just soft, healthy hair.
Needless to say I was very impressed.
I started using the Elevana Hair Growth Activator two times a week, which was every time I washed my hair. I’d apply it usually around 4-6 hours before washing my hair and I would give my head a nice massage with the Scalp Massage Tool. It quickly became a ritual that I looked forward to, because not only was I doing something for me, but within 8 weeks I started seeing real results.
I think the thing to remember is with hair growth it doesn’t just happen overnight. You don’t just apply hair serum and wake up with inches of regrowth. It still takes time, patience, and most importantly – consistency. At around the 8 week mark, I really started to notice my hair was beginning to grow back. I had little baby hairs popping up all over my head – especially around my hairline and the crown of my head. My hairdresser couldn’t believe how much regrowth had appeared all over and said how incredibly healthy my hair was, especially postpartum and especially being highlighted blonde!
Fast forward 4 months and I cannot believe how fast my hair has grown. I’ve used the Growth Activator religiously, and now have a good 3 or so inches of regrowth. Most importantly, the hair that is coming through is so healthy. My hair feels softer, smoother and just generally healthier, and I love my little hair-wash ritual every few days. It’s something I can do for me, that makes me feel good, takes as little or as long as I like, and really has me noticing a difference.
I feel like in the space of 5 months I’ve gone from crying about my hair to feeling like I’ve got the best hair I’ve had in a long time and I know it’s only going to get better as it grows back… and for that I am so thankful!
Other things you can do to reduce & support postpartum hair loss
- Make sure you eat a diet rich in protein, iron and key nutrients to support healthy hair growth.
- Look at taking healthy hair vitamins which are rich in hair-loving ingredients like biotin, vitamin A, copper and zinc
- Talk to your doctor and ask about getting blood work done to check for things like iron, thyroid function, vitamin deficiencies and other potential contributors.
- Be a little more gentle to your hair for a while. Take it easy on the hot tools and hair dye until your hair settles down a little
- Avoid over-washing, harsh brushing or tight slicked back hairstyles that can encourage breakage
