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Postpartum Hair Loss: When It Starts, Duration, and Regrowth Tips
Updated on October 8, 2025 | 3 min read
Jaclyn LaBadia, Davines Writer
Postpartum hair loss is a common side effect of pregnancy, affecting 50% of new moms. The good news is that losing your hair after giving birth is only temporary. Ahead is everything you need to know about postpartum hair loss, including how to manage shedding, plus products and tips for maximum regrowth.
Key Takeaways
What to Know About Postpartum Hair Loss
- Postpartum hair loss is common, temporary, and usually starts 2–3 months after birth, peaking around month 4.
- Triggered by hormonal shifts and sometimes worsened by stress or lack of sleep.
- Support regrowth with gentle care, a balanced diet, and continued prenatal vitamins.
- Use quality hair loss treatments to strengthen roots, boost growth, and restore fullness naturally.
- Most shedding resolves within 6–12 months—see a doctor if it lasts longer or feels excessive.
In This Article
Understanding Postpartum Hair Loss
Symptoms of Postpartum Hair Loss
Causes of Postpartum Hair Loss
When Does Postpartum Hair Loss Start?
How Long Does Postpartum Hair Loss Last?
Living With Hair Loss
Prevention and Treatment Options
Postpartum Hair Regrowth Tips
Nurturing Your Hair with Davines
FAQs
Understanding Postpartum Hair Loss
Postpartum hair loss is an unfortunate yet common side effect of being pregnant. Hormonal changes in the body throw the hair’s growth cycle out of whack. Healthy hair normally grows in four stages; growth/anagen; transition/ catagen, resting/telogen, and shedding/exogen.
Pregnancy disrupts this cycle with a boost of estrogen and progesterone. These hormones keep the hair in a prolonged growing stage, making it thicker and fuller, usually in the last trimester of pregnancy. But when those levels fall postpartum, hair moves into the shedding phase where strands fall out, making room for new growth.
When does postpartum hair loss start? Many new mothers experience shedding around a month after pregnancy, peaking around two to four months after birth.
Symptoms of Postpartum Hair Loss
Postpartum hair loss affects people in many ways. Your hair can start to feel different after giving birth, including increased dryness or oiliness and changes in texture. Other signs to look out for are:
- Hair thinning, particularly on the top and crown of your head or around the hairline
- Increased shedding on your pillow, hair brush, clothing or the shower drain
- Hair coming out in clumps when washing or brushing
- Short baby hairs growing around your face and neck
- Receding hairline at the temples
Causes of Postpartum Hair Loss
Hormonal changes during and after pregnancy are the main contributor to postpartum hair loss. During pregnancy the oestrogen and progesterone levels in your body increase significantly. But as soon as three days after giving birth these levels drop back down to normal, and in some cases, even lower.
This sudden drop causes hair follicles to enter the telogen phase of growth where the hairs begin to shed. Other contributing factors include:
- Genetics
- A traumatic birth with significant blood loss
- Lack of sleep
- Increased anxiety or stress
- Poor diet or nutritional deficiencies
When Does Postpartum Hair Loss Start?
So when does postpartum hair loss start? While every pregnancy is different, it usually begins around two to three months after giving birth. It reaches its peak around the fourth, due to the drop in oxytocin and progestin. Postpartum hair loss is usually temporary, resolving on its own within a few months. Although some women may experience hair loss for longer periods.
How Long Does Postpartum Hair Loss Last?
By now you’re probably wondering, how long does postpartum hair loss last? It commonly lasts between three to five months, with the worst of it at around four.
And when does postpartum hair loss stop? While every new mom’s experience varies, it can last up to a year after childbirth. Your hair should be back to normal by your baby’s first birthday. If you’re still experiencing hair loss by then it’s time to see your doctor to rule out other causes like thyroid problems or anemia, both of which can contribute to hair loss.
Living With Hair Loss
If you’re dealing with postpartum hair loss, remember that it's temporary and you’ll get through it. To cope:
- Follow a gentle hair care routine
- Eat a protein-rich diet and stay hydrated
- Keep taking your prenatal vitamins, which also work as postpartum hair support
- Opt for a one-length blunt haircut to create the look of thicker hair
- Try protective styles if you have natural or curly hair
- Use accessories like hats, scarves, headwraps, headbands, and clips to disguise thinning
Most importantly, remember that pregnancy and childbirth are huge, life-changing journeys—be kind to yourself.
Prevention and Treatment Options
Wondering how to prevent postpartum hair loss? While there’s no way to prevent it, there are things you can do to help alleviate it. The most effective postpartum hair loss treatment includes:
- Eating a diet of protein-rich foods and vitamins including iron, zinc, vitamin B12.
- Staying hydrated, getting enough sleep and managing stress.
- Reducing how often you wash your hair weekly.
- Using gentle shampoos and moisturizing conditioners.
- Avoiding tight hairstyles and detangling gently to avoid pressure on hair follicles.
- Massaging your scalp with your fingers daily to stimulate healthy growth and remove build up.
- Avoiding hot styling tools as much as possible, but using heat protectants when you can’t.
Postpartum Hair Regrowth Tips
Postpartum hair regrowth will happen on its own but there are things you can do to maximize it. These tips for hair regrowth will help your strands grow long and strong after giving birth.
- Use high quality hair loss products to help stimulate hair growth and improve hair thickness. Consider an LED scalp mask helps promote collagen production and encourage blood flow for faster regrowth.
- Massage your scalp daily to help stimulate circulation.
- Be gentle when washing, detangling and brushing-never brush when wet.
- Exfoliate and deep condition weekly with a scalp scrub and hair mask.
- Reduce heat and always use heat protection.
- Avoid tight hairstyles to prevent breakage
- Sleep on a silk pillowcase to reduce friction and prevent dryness.
- Use a microfiber towel.
- Eat a diet rich in protein and iron.
Most importantly, remember that pregnancy and childbirth are huge, life-changing journeys—be kind to yourself.
Nurturing Your Hair with Davines
Hair loss can feel discouraging, but once you ask, “When does postpartum hair loss start?” it’s also time to build a recovery routine. Effective care requires gentle treatment to avoid further damage.
Davines offers products formulated with natural ingredients to support postpartum hair health, including:
Each product is crafted through ethical, sustainable practices to help restore your hair to its healthiest state.
FAQs
When is the most common time for postpartum hair loss?
While every pregnancy is different, the most common time for postpartum hair loss usually begins around two to three months after giving birth. It reaches its peak around the fourth month when oxytocin and progestin drop, often ending at month six. Although some women may experience hair loss for longer periods of up to a year.
Does taking prenatals after birth help with hair loss?
While taking prenatals after birth can’t help with hair loss per se, it does support your hair’s overall health by providing nutrients like vitamins B, C and D, calcium, folic acid, iron and omega-3 fatty acids. These are essential for maintaining healthy hair.
How do you know if you're having postpartum hair loss?
If you notice thinning on the top or crown of your head, along your hairline, or around the temples; clumps of hair shedding on your pillow, brush, clothing, or in the shower; short new “baby hairs” growing around your face and neck; and these changes appear after pregnancy, you are likely experiencing postpartum hair loss
Take it to the Professionals
Visit your local Davines Salon for customized consultations and treatments to target your hair concerns.
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