What are the best vitamins, supplements for postpartum hair loss?

Unfortunately for some new mothers, postpartum hair loss is a hardship they have to endure. This type of hair loss doesn’t happen to everyone, but can cause plenty of depression and anxiety for those who are unlucky enough to deal with it. Why does it happen in the first place and can you combat it with vitamins and supplements? We’ll be looking at all of that today as well as providing other tips and solutions.

Why does postpartum hair loss happen?

Postpartum hair loss is when a mother starts to shed their hair after giving birth to their child. It's not instant and can start occuring a couple of months postpartum. If you’re dealing with this, don’t be disheartened as you’re not alone. In fact, according to the American Pregnancy Association, an average of 40-50% of women will experience postpartum hair loss.

But what actually happens in the body that causes this hair loss? Usually, hair has a growing, resting and shedding phase. During pregnancy, there are huge (and natural) changes in a woman's hormones which includes increased estrogen levels. These increased estrogen levels cause the hair to remain in the growth phase. However, following pregnancy, estrogen levels start to fall and hair goes from the growth phase to the shedding phase to allow for new hair growth. The good news is it’s usually not permanent as new mothers can expect to lose around 400 hairs a day during this period which can last from four months to even upto a year.

As for why it doesn’t happen to everyone, it is largely due to the genetics of the female. With that said, hormonal changes from pregnancy can trigger hair loss issues that are genetic. As Hairs To You podcast guest Nicole Budani explained:

“It [women’s hair loss] can be just genetic, but usually there's more factors that play into it. It's not usually so straightforward. So you can have the genetics for hair loss underlying, and then there are factors that are hormonal. So pregnancy, for example, a lot of women notice hair loss after they've given birth. It's more common to notice it after because of the hormones for pregnancy, especially while carrying. It's like growth, it’s good stuff. But it can happen at any point, because guess what? It's changing our hormones.”

Vitamins and supplements you can take for postpartum hair loss

Just because postpartum hair loss can occur, doesn’t mean you should just sit back and accept it. After all, a woman's hair is virtually their identity, and seeing a vast number of hair follicles on the floor or in the shower drain can be an extremely demotivating and crushing feeling. Below are some of the vitamins and supplements you can take to combat postpartum hair loss.

#Biotin: A B vitamin, Biotin is found in a number of hair growth supplements and haircare products and is said to be great for the health of one’s hair, skin and nails. It should be noted that there is no scientific evidence that it helps regrow hair, but it can certainly help in keeping whatever hair you have remaining healthy and strong. You can also take biotin supplements on its own.

#Multivitamin tablets: Multivitamin tablets are not only ideal for women dealing with postpartum hair loss, but virtually everyone. They provide the vitamins and nutrients your body needs and help prevent nutrient deficiencies that could potentially cause hair loss.

#Maca: Maca is a great supplementary option particularly for hormones. Also known as Ginseng Andin, Peruvian Ginseng, Lepidium meyenii, or Lepidium peruvianum, studies show that this vegetable can help reduce hormone-related discomfort and can help women experience improvement in hormonal symptoms which results in less hair loss. Maca can be taken as a powder or in capsules.

#Collagen: Collagen supplements come with a wide range of health benefits. One of them is strengthening not only the hair, but the skin around the root of your hair follicles. Daily intake of collagen will help your hair build proteins which ultimately leads to longer, healthier and thicker hair.

#Zinc: If it’s not present in your multivitamin tablets, consider getting some zinc supplements. A zinc deficiency has been linked with hair loss and adding it to your daily routine could potentially help with hair growth..

Other tips for postpartum hair loss

There are a couple of other things you can do while you’re experiencing hair shedding, particularly when it comes to your lifestyle. They include the following:

- When taking a shower, avoid intensive shampoos and conditioners that may weigh your hair down. Make sure to be gentle when washing, brushing and styling your hair to prevent any further hair from falling.

- Consider a new haircut that specifically makes your hair appear fuller. Make sure to avoid tight hairstyles as this can cause breakage.

- Look to use hair volumizing products that are promoted to give your hair a fuller and more thick look. This can potentially help

- Maintain a good and healthy diet by making sure your body is getting all the necessary vitamins and nutrients it needs. You can do this by making sure to have a good amount of whole grains, fruit and vegetables. This way, you won’t even need to take supplements as often!

Hairpieces as postpartum hair loss solutions

Of course, there’s another way to deal with postpartum hair loss and that’s to embrace the hair loss — at least, temporarily — and conceal it entirely with a women’s hairpiece. This can be with a women’s hair topper if you have balding or hair loss in certain areas. Alternatively, you could opt for a full cap wig for women if your level of hair loss is more extreme.

This will not only give you a full head of beautiful hair, but also help with any postpartum depression you’re experiencing so you can focus on life rather than your hair falling. The best part? Wigs and hair toppers for women are easy to attach and give you the hair you want instantly. So if you’re a busy mom, you won’t need to worry about spending too much time on your hair just like Amanda. Watch her postpartum hair loss story below:

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