Postpartum Hair Loss: When It Starts, When It Stops, and What Actually Helps

Around month four, my shower drain looked like a small animal had died in it. Hair on my pillow, in the baby’s fist, wound around the baby’s toes (check the toes). If that’s you right now, it’s normal, and it’s temporary.

Why it happens

The dermatologists’ term is telogen effluvium: excessive shedding. The American Academy of Dermatology says it’s caused by falling estrogen levels after birth.

When it starts and when it stops

• Starts: a few months after the birth.
• Peaks: around four months postpartum.
• Back to normal: most people regain their usual fullness by the baby’s first birthday, and many are back sooner.

What helps (it’s mostly cosmetic, and that’s fine)

You can’t stop the shedding. You can make what’s left look better while the new growth comes in. The AAD’s tips:

• Volumizing shampoo. Look for protein in the ingredients; it coats the hair and makes it look fuller.
• Skip “conditioning” shampoos and intensive conditioners. They weigh fine hair down.
• Use a light conditioner made for fine hair, mostly on the ends.
• Get a haircut. A shorter style can make hair look fuller, and it’s less to deal with when you have about four minutes a day for yourself.

What to skip

Anything sold as a cure for postpartum shedding. The cause is a hormone shift that resolves on its own, so a product can’t really fix it; it can only claim credit when your hair comes back by itself around month ten. If you’re breastfeeding, run any supplement past your doctor first.

When it’s not just postpartum shedding

If your hair still isn’t back to normal after a year, the AAD says to see a dermatologist. Something else may be going on, and it’s worth finding out.

Hair is one of many bodily surprises in the first year. The rest of the postpartum recovery questions cover the ones that show up sooner.

Follow-up questions

When does postpartum hair loss start?

A few months after birth. The American Academy of Dermatology says shedding usually peaks around four months postpartum.

When does postpartum hair loss stop?

The American Academy of Dermatology says most people see their hair return to its normal fullness by the child's first birthday, and many sooner.

Do hair growth supplements fix postpartum hair loss?

The shedding is caused by falling estrogen after birth, so it's temporary either way. The American Academy of Dermatology's advice is about making hair look fuller while it recovers, not about pills. If you're breastfeeding, ask your doctor before taking any supplement.

When should I see a dermatologist about postpartum hair loss?

If your hair hasn't regained its normal fullness after a year, the American Academy of Dermatology says to see a dermatologist, because something else may be causing the loss.