Haircare Tips During Pregnancy
Pregnancy can cause changes to almost every part of your body, including your hair.
During this time, your body works extremely hard and undertakes some truly incredible changes to create and nurture your baby. In particular, your body creates large quantities of extra blood and hormones. These are important for a healthy pregnancy but can cause a whole host of symptoms for pregnant women, affecting all different areas of the body, including the skin and hair.
Some symptoms of pregnancy are out of your control, but to give yourself the best chance of retaining your lustrous locks throughout pregnancy, you’ll have to take extra special care of your hair and overall health.
Read on to discover more about how pregnancy may affect your hair and our top haircare tips during pregnancy.
Pregnancy and your hair
Whilst everybody experiences different symptoms during pregnancy, and no two people’s experiences are the same, some people find that pregnancy actually does wonders for their hair.
This is because the high levels of oestrogen and androgens that are present during pregnancy can result in less hair shedding and faster hair growth, causing hair to get longer and thicker during pregnancy.
Of course, hormones are not always the most predictable, and some pregnant women, in contrast, experience thinning hair or hair that changes in texture instead.
If you do experience thicker hair during pregnancy, then bear in mind that all good things must come to an end, and you may experience post-partum hair loss in the months after birth or after you stop breastfeeding. This is due to hormone levels dropping again, causing your hair to begin shedding again.
When you lose hair post-partum it can look like a lot of hair is falling out because you will lose the excess hair your body was holding onto in addition to normal shedding. Post-partum hair loss can happen gradually so that you hardly notice it at all, or in large clumps, but try not to panic as anything lost can grow back over time.
No matter what pregnancy throws at you and your hair, it’s important to review your hair care routine during pregnancy to protect your health, your hair, and your baby.
Our top hair care tips for pregnant women
Whilst pregnant, you may need to adapt your hair care routine to look after the new life you are growing and to meet the changing requirements of your hair and body. Here are our top five hair care tips during pregnancy.
Maintain a healthy diet
How healthy your hair is often a reflection of your diet, especially during pregnancy. Eating a healthy diet is particularly important as you’ll be eating for two, and the baby will be taking a lot of your nutrients – so you need to make sure there’s enough left for you too. A diet containing plenty of nuts, fish, and eggs can help your hair to grow shiny and healthy. Making time to ensure that you’re eating a healthy and balanced diet can do wonders for your energy levels and mood as well as your hair.
Drink plenty of water
To keep yourself, your baby, and your hair healthy during pregnancy you will need to up your water intake. According to Tommy’s, you should aim to drink 6-8 200ml glasses of water or fluid every day whilst pregnant. It’s easier to become dehydrated during pregnancy, and not getting enough fluids can cause hair to become dull, dry, damaged, and frizzy.
Use natural hair care products
During pregnancy, it’s normal (and sensible) to suddenly become super conscious about everything that you’re putting in or on your body. It’s a good idea to review your hair and skincare products to ensure that they are suitable for use when pregnant. Avoid hair care products containing harsh, synthetic ingredients like sulphates, parabens, and phthalates, instead, invest in natural and organic hair care products containing gentle, nourishing, and chemical-free ingredients to keep your hair healthy during pregnancy.
Avoid dying or bleaching your hair
Bleach and hair dyes usually contain small quantities of toxic chemicals and during application it is possible for these chemicals to be absorbed through the hair or the skin and then enter the bloodstream. Whilst the limited number of studies available usually conclude that hair dyes contain such low doses of these chemicals that is unlikely to harm you or your baby, we recommend using as few chemicals on your hair as possible during pregnancy to help keep it healthy. Bleach and hair dyes will seriously dry out your hair and leave it much more susceptible to becoming damaged, split, or broken.
If you really fancy a change in hair colour during pregnancy, why not try dying your hair using natural henna? Henna is a natural substance derived from the plant and is safe to use on hair and skin during pregnancy.
Have your hair trimmed regularly
Having your hair trimmed regularly during pregnancy will help to remove any split ends before they cause further damage, keeping your hair looking healthy and shiny. It can be particularly beneficial to keep up with your hairdresser appointments if you experience any changes to your hair such as dryness, thinning, or a change in texture during pregnancy. We recommend visiting the hairdresser for a trim every 4 to 6 weeks or so. Make sure you get a trim in before your due date too, as you may be a little short on time once your baby has arrived!
No matter what changes to your hair you experience during pregnancy, rest assured that they are only temporary, and your hormone levels and hair should be back to normal before your little one reaches their first birthday.
Here at Nereus London, our luxurious hair care products use natural and organic hair-boosting ingredients to strengthen and nourish your hair, look after your scalp, and encourage thick, full, and healthy hair growth. Our products are free from sulphates, parabens, silicones, and harsh chemicals, making them a safe option for pampering your hair during pregnancy.