Almost 2 years ago I gave birth to the most beautiful baby girl ever! Being pregnant and becoming a new mom was so new to me, I had no idea what to expect with my pregnancy journey and also my hair journey during and after my pregnancy. With changes through my pregnancy came changes to my natural hair. I knew all about postpartum shedding and what could possibly happen to my hair after I had my baby. I spoke about how I dealt with postpartum hair loss here. I then began to notice texture changes with my hair.
I like to be transparent with my readers and let you know what I go through in this journey in hopes that it may help someone else who may be going through the same thing. As we know changes are sometimes hard no matter what they are. I’m not going to lie, as I noticed changes in my hair I got a little sad.
Pre- pregnancy my hair was long thick and I had a looser curl pattern. If I had to type it id say 3c maybe.
wand curls after baby (left) 3 months after baby (right)
During my pregnancy my hair thrived! This is because during pregnancy the higher levels of estrogen prolong the growth phase, which results in less shedding and thicker hair. Some women also notice that their hair becomes shinier and more moisturized during pregnancy or that it changes in texture. Many women notice these changes.For me my hair was fuller, thicker and doing well. I took my prenatal vitamin everyday and drank lots of water.
I breastfed my baby for 9 months she suddenly stopped on her own. I began to take post-natal vitamins and stopped taking my prenatal vitamins since I no longer needed that amount of nutrition since I was not longer breastfeeding, a few months later I began taking a regular women’s multivitamin. This is when I really began to notice another drastic change with my hair. My thick hair began to break off, it was less dense and lacked volume. It was growing but it was now thinner. I thought to myself that it was all in my head. But as I began to look back at pictures it was evident.
My hair straight now vs. 5 Months post baby
I had to totally switch up my routine. Things I used to do no longer worked. I noticed that my hair was always super dry. I went from deep conditioning every 2 weeks to once a week with heat. I always do the L.O.C. method. My hair was so different that the styles I used to do no longer looked the same. I just couldn’t get that same look! So I just started to wear my hair on a bun every. .. single.. day (my way of protective styling). This turned out not to be a very good idea because I neglected my ends, and didn’t moisturize my hair properly (bad idea). I recently visited the Chicago Curl Collective to get my hair straightened. Moral of the story I had to get 2 inches cut off!!
I decided to embrace my new texture and learn to care for my hair all over again. I’ve had to put in place new techniques and take a different approach and its OK. This natural hair journey is really a “journey”. I’ve been rocking with it since 2009 and everyday is a new adventure and a new learning experience. I knew that I would experience changes, but I had no idea that I would have to learn care for my hair all over again with a new texture. Im still learning. My hair may never return to how it was pre-baby and I’m perfectly ok with that.
Denise
March 30, 2016 at 6:36 pmYes I have also experienced postpartum shedding. My daughter will be two in July. I had postpartum shedding when she was two months and ended when she was 7months old. I lost alot of hair. I had two bald patches to on both sides of my head. It was that bad! I was not natural at the time but that awful experience forced me to pay attention and take proper care of my hair. Thats when my natural hair journey began and I am enjoying every single day of it. After relaxing my hair for 20 years, now I’m learning how to treat and style my hair.
Samantha
March 31, 2016 at 7:33 amOmg!!I thought it was me just not taking care of my hair. My son will be 2 next month and Im dealing with the same issue. My hair was extremely dry and loss a lot of my volume. Im pregnant again so I hope after this one my hair wont be too bad. As for right now, I deep condition weekly concentrating on my ends and moisturize at least twice in a week. I did the bun look for awhile too but my hair continued to get extremly dry now I do twists updos so my hair cant get to detangled.
Michelle Thames
March 31, 2016 at 8:59 amCongrats! Yeah make sure to still take your prenatals. I think that’s where I messed up at. I took it for a while then switched to a multivitamin.
Gabrielle
March 31, 2016 at 9:27 amThis is me too! My twins turned 2 November and I started noticing the difference in December and thought I was tripping but I really came to terms with it February! I know I take care of my hair and I thought it was the crochet but I always take a break between installs and take really good care of my hair! But yes it is thinner and my curl pattern is way looser but I am going to embrace this new head of hair and look at the up side. Like at least it doesn’t take as long to wash and style.
JaeJae
March 31, 2016 at 6:12 pmI think maybe you should have gradually stopped using the prenatals to help your body get use to the change. The reason I said that is that I was using steroids for my acne for over a year, then I went cold Turkey and stopped using it altogether. Bad mistake. My hair was shedding like crazy, my acne came back with a vengeance. Now, it’s been a year and my skin and hair started to normalize. My skin is almost clear and my roots are thick but my ends aren’t. I had to do a big chop leaving only 2 inches of hair. Moral, if the body gets accustomed to drugs being added, it goes into shock when the drug is abruptly removed. Something to keep in mind.
Markita @ Sweshfit
March 31, 2016 at 9:19 pmAww so sorry to hear this! I can only imagine how hard that would be to already be dealing with so much post partem and have to deal with hair loss on top of it. The good thing is that even with the changes, your hair is still what most of us dream of <3
Christina J
April 4, 2016 at 8:47 amAbsolutely! My son is two now, but I remember going through crazy shedding during post. My hair was thick with lots of volume pre, but after my hair was low dense and very fine. I had dry hair and breakage! I def had to relearn my hair and right now my hair is thriving and almost back to normal
Denee Colleen
April 8, 2016 at 4:06 pmI do not have a child yet, but I a m always preparing for the future lol. I’m just wondering if continuing the pre-natal vitamins would help your stay in the state that it was pre-pregnancy?
Thank you for your honesty, and your hair is still GORGEOUS
Michelle Thames
April 16, 2016 at 11:32 amthanks love! You can continue to take them but its not best well after having your child considering they have more vitimans than you need. It does help your hair stay the way it was pre-pregnancy though. But after you should definitely switch to a women vitamin.
Simone
April 10, 2016 at 1:42 pmThank you so much for this! My daughter is 2 1/2 and my hair has completely changed. I think the stress of a bad relationship, plus becoming a single mom really took a toll on my hair! It’s very brittle and much drier. All I used during pregnancy was rosewater and black castor oil. It was wonderful. Now nothing seems to work; I am having to relearn my hair and myself all over again
Michelle Thames
April 16, 2016 at 11:24 amYou are so welcome love! Yes its definitely a struggle! We are in this together!
Solita
May 9, 2016 at 2:11 pmI don’t think you had to stop taking your prenatals I’m not a doctor but I’ve been taking prenatals since I was 17 and I am now 25 because it’s the best multivitamin out there , it is prescribed though .