Postpartum hair loss is NOT fun. On top of the cascade of physical and emotional changes you are going through after welcoming your beautiful baby into the world, you also have to deal with your hair falling out!
For some women, this unwanted hair lass can last for months… and day after day seeing clumps of hair on your pillow, in the shower or on your hair brush you might be wondering if it will ever stop.
Of course it does stop, and of course your hair grows back! But none the less, it can be stressful – so is there anything you can do to prevent it?
How to Minimize Postpartum Hair Loss
Postpartum hair loss happens as a result of the drastic drop in estrogen levels after giving birth. So while you can’t avoid it completely, the good news is it’s temporary and there are a few things you can do to support healthy hair regrowth.
After the birth of my first daughter, I did nothing to care for my hair. At the time of writing this post, I am only just about 6 weeks postpartum. Hair loss generally doesn’t kick in for several months after birth, so I am excited to see how my experiences compare this time (I’ll report back in time!).
With a toddler and a newborn, I really don’t have much time (or energy lol) to invest in my hair, so I’m going to keep things super simple and follow just three Ayurveda inspired tips to support healthy hair during this postpartum period. So here’s what I’m going to try!
1. Use an Ayurvedic Hair Oil
Ayurveda is known and loved for many things, but supporting strong, healthy hair is often at the top of the list! Ayurveda uses time-tested herbalised oils that are designed to support the scalp, nourish your hair and encourage healthy growth.
What Oil to Use
I’ve recently started using the RADIANCE Hair & Scalp Oil by Osi Oils as part of my postpartum hair loss plan. After just a few uses, my hair already feels so nice and soft! I’m so excited to see what the effects are longer term as I make it a more regular part of my routine.
This nourishing blend of castor, sesame and coconut oil is perfect for all hair types to support growth. It also contains some of Ayurveda’s most powerful hair growth herbs like bhringraj and brahmi, and the more commonly known rosemary which is synonymous with preventing hair loss and stimulating hair growth.
Benefits of Hair Oil
Not only does this hair oil help you manage postpartum hair loss and encourage hair growth, the blend of herbs and oils also stimulate the nervous system and sooth stress (which we all need with sleepless nights and cluster feeding!).
What’s even better, this gorgeous oil is organic and suitable for all Ayurvedic body types (doshas). It even has some lavender in it to help you get some deeper sleep when your little one allows it!
How to Use Hair Oil
Whatever hair oil you choose, it’s really simple to use! Simply warm the oil in your hands, massage into the scalp and smooth through the ends of your hair. You can also use an inexpensive scalp massager too (see more on this below).
It’s best to oil your hair in the evening so you can leave it in overnight if you choose for an extra deep treatment. But you can do this any time you feel comfortable having some oily hair!
Tips for Oiling Your Hair
A top tip when it comes to oiling your hair – make sure that when you shower, you apply the shampoo to your hair BEFORE it gets wet.
This helps effectively remove the oil so you can go about your day with shiny hair instead of oily. I learned this tip in an Ayurveda Clinic in Sri Lanka that I went to in 2016 when my hair was covered in oil all day every day!
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2. Practice Regular Scalp Massage
Most of the time when we want to improve our hair, we just focus on our hair. But it’s really important to support your scalp too! By practicing regular scalp massage, you’ll stimulate circulation to the hair follicles promoting healthy growth.
You can simply use your fingers to massage your scalp, but I purchased a set of these scalp massagers (really inexpensive!) a while back and absolutely love them (when I remember to use It’s like a mini home spa treatment – particularly when paired with a herbalised hair oil.
3. Eat a Nourishing Postpartum Diet
Healthy hair isn’t determined by external treatments alone. In Ayurveda, the true way to lasting healthy hair is to eat a nourishing diet and balance your digestion (agni).
Postpartum is one of the most depleting times in a woman’s life, particularly if you are breastfeeding. It’s critical to make sure you are eating enough of the right foods to fuel yourself and restore nutrient levels after pregnancy.
Ayurveda encourages a Vata balancing diet postpartum, full of easy to digest, nutrient rich, grounding foods to fully heal and recover.
My Favorite Shampoo
This post wouldn’t be complete without sharing my favorite Ayurvedic shampoo. This was actually the very first Ayurvedic product I ever purchased right when I was started my own Ayurveda journey about 10 years ago.
It’s quite different to regular shampoo – it comes as a dark brown herbalized powder that you mix with water to form a paste.
I use about 1 tsp of the powder in a cup or small jar and just add a little water at a time until it forms a thick but smooth paste. This gives me enough to shampoo twice. I don’t get much of a lather on the first shampoo, but I do on the second.
It truly only takes an extra minute or so over using regular shampoo, and to me it’s so worth it! After using, I just rinse out the cup while still in the shower any powder that may be at the bottom of my shower.
I’ve noticed significant improvements with hair loss when I’ve used this shampoo in the past, and often get compliments for how nice my hair smells. It also looks much cleaner and shinier than when using regular shampoos too.
Here is where I used to buy it from (it’s super affordable and lasts a really long time). Unfortunately this online store does not ship to Canada where I currently live so I have been buying it on ebay instead.
Postpartum hair loss effects all of us new moms in one way or another, but I’m excited this time round to give my hair some TLC, even if it’s only once or twice per week!
Are you currently postpartum? Are you struggling with hair loss? Let me know in the comments and if anything has helped you!
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