Postpartum Hair Fall: Choosing the Right Shampoo

Post-partum hair fall is a common issue and there are some shampoos that are ideal for it.

You've noticed a few months since giving birth that you are finding fistfuls of hair in the shower drain, take a deep breath, you are not going bald, nor are you alone. One of the most common (and most worrisome) changes new mothers experience is postpartum hair fall. Fortunately, it's a short-term deal. The good news is that although no shampoo can "cure" it, the right one will help your scalp and hair through the process.

Postpartum hair loss occurs due to a variety of reasons.

Many women experience thicker, fuller hair during pregnancy, as a high level of estrogen allows for more of your hair to stay in the growing stage of the hair cycle than it normally would. When delivered, estrogen levels plummet and all the "held in" hair falls out at once. The condition is known as telogen effluvium, and will usually appear 2-4 months after giving birth and reach its highest level around the 4th month, subsiding naturally within 6-12 months as your hormones return to a normal level.

This is a natural process of hormones, and not a symptom that there is a problem with your scalp, your hair care or your health. No shampoo, oil or serum is going to prevent the occurrence of it, as nothing topical causes it to occur in the first place.

But what can a shampoo actually do?

Remember that the goal during this stage is not to "stop the shedding", it's to:

Help to maintain healthy scalps and promote healthy hair growth as much as possible

Carefully avoid snapping or breaking the remaining hair, by using softer products and less rubbing

To help add fullness and density before regrowth is ready

Don't further damage with harsh ingredients that strip or dehydrate already fragile strands.

It is not a treatment, but rather support, scaffolding, and not a cure.

All About the Ingredients!

Caffeine There is some evidence that caffeine on the scalp can help to stimulate hair follicles and prolong the growth phase. It is one of the more evidence-based ingredients of anti-hair fall products.

Biotin has gained a wide popularity in the hair care marketing world but it's not likely to do much when you do not have a biotin deficiency (which is quite rare). It does not cause any harm; however, don't worry if your levels are normal.

Ginger Extract Ginger is a frequent component in "anti-hair-fall" shampoos and is said to stimulate circulation in the scalp. The facts and anecdotes here are more traditional and not as clinical as the facts and anecdotes elsewhere, so this is a nice bonus, not a proven cure.

Hair peptides and keratin containing ingredients; These are beneficial when it comes to strengthening the hair shaft and minimizing breakage, which is particularly crucial in the event that one is already losing more hair than typical.

Ingredients to Avoid

Sulphates (such as sodium lauryl sulfate) – These will strip the natural oils from hair and cause it to dry out and break more easily.

Heavy silicones  can cause fine, thinning hair to become weighed down and flat.

Any claims that promise to reverse or stop postpartum shedding is a red flag for marketing over substance because the hormonal culprit for shedding cannot be altered by a shampoo

A Note on Minoxidil

The only ingredient with sound, clinical proof of hair regrowth is minoxidil. It's not a shampoo ingredient, however, and isn't typically suggested for breastfeeding without a physician's approval, as there is no strong information in that setting. When hair loss appears more severe than usual, don't self-treat, consult a dermatologist.

Timing for seeing a doctor

Shedding should subside after about one year. If you notice any of the following, see your health care provider:

• Hair loss that persists beyond one year after giving birth

• Patchy bald spots instead of thinning of hair all over the head

• Fatigue, weight gain or loss, cold intolerance – symptoms of thyroid imbalance.

• Low energy or other symptoms in addition to the hair loss, which might indicate iron deficiency

• All of these can contribute to thinning hair and can be easily evaluated by having a simple blood test.

The Bottom Line

Soothing, sulfate-free hair products containing beneficial ingredients such as caffeine or strengthening peptides are good, low-risk options during the postpartum hair shed. While it won't halt shedding – nothing topical will – it can keep your scalp healthy and cut down on needless breakage while your hormones find their new normal. Be kind to yourself, think about giving your body some time, and just put it in its best light that this is a special phase of having more hairs on your pillow.