What does motherhood do to your hair?

Motherhood is an experience that brings with it a whole heap of changes. As well as having a tiny human to care for 24/7, mothers also have to deal with a range of changes to their own bodies. One area that is often overlooked, given the extent of other physical changes that pregnancy and early motherhood entail, is hair. In honor of Mother’s Day, let’s explore this now.

How does hair change during pregnancy?

Pregnancy involves a raft of hormonal changes and these usually impact a woman’s hair in various ways. Perhaps the most notable hair change during pregnancy occurs at around the 15-week mark. Many women find that their hair feels thicker and fuller.

Part of this is due to reduced shedding. With fewer hairs falling out, the hair is left feeling thicker. Many women also report that their hair grows faster as the first trimester leads into the second. This can make for a truly feel-good, luscious head of hair to accompany that growing bump although it’s somewhat counterbalanced by the additional shaving, waxing, and plucking that’s required to keep up with faster, thicker hair growth elsewhere!

Hair changes after birth

Hair loss in the months after giving birth comes as a surprise to many women. Somehow, despite the vast array of pregnancy books and parenting classes that are out there, this is something that often doesn’t get a mention. The first that many women know about it is when they jump online a few months after giving birth, to search for reasons their hair might be suddenly shedding so extensively.

While some women’s hair will merely thin as a result of this post-partum shedding, it can lead to bald spots in more serious cases, particularly around the hairline. These are followed by tufts of hair when regrowth begins.

Usually, hair loss begins within two to six months of giving birth, although for some women it is when they stop breastfeeding that it occurs. And some women never experience it at all.

How to manage post-partum shedding

If motherhood has caused your hair to shed, there is plenty you can do about it. A good hairdresser, who can provide personalized advice as well as regular trims is essential.

At home, there are also steps you can take. Fewer washes and blow-dries are a good start, along with less heat styling.

It’s also important to do all you can to nourish your hair in the early months of motherhood. With so many hair masks and treatment oils on the market, there’s something to suit every hair type and budget, so make sure you nurture your hair as well as your little bundle of joy.

Fitting haircare into a busy routine

Motherhood usually means less time to do your hair. A LOT less. That’s fine because your days are taken up with the delights of loving and caring for the new mini person in your life. But it’s also good to still feel like your old self, and a big part of that is finding time to do something other than pulling your hair back into a ponytail (unless you were a dedicated ponytail wearer before motherhood, in which case, you can simply sit back and feel like you’re winning!).

A big part of establishing a new, faster haircare routine is finding the right products. From dry shampoos to leave-in conditioners, there are plenty of ways you can save precious minutes and still look fabulous. It’s also well worth experimenting with air-drying if you usually use a hairdryer. Air-drying is better for the condition of your hair and can save plenty of time, though it’s not for everyone.

Quick and easy glamour

Having less time to do your hair also means you have the chance to find some new go-to styles looks you can achieve rapidly so that when you finally do get a break from changing nappies and feeding, you can quickly go from mam to glam.

There’s a lot that we can learn from our own mothers here. What was your mother’s go-to hairstyle? Did she spend hours in the salon to perfect her look, or had she learned a few quick styling techniques as part of her motherhood adventure?

Recent figures from the team at All Things Hair shed some light on this. The company asked its readers if they had a go-to hairstyle that they inherited from their mums. For 28.5% of women, their mothers inspired them to wear their hair naturally, embracing their own personal style of beauty. This was the style that more women inherited from their mothers than any other.

After natural hair, came waves and curls, with 12.7% of women reporting this to be the go-to hairstyle their mum had handed down. Next came a ponytail (11.3%), followed by a bob (4.6%), and finally softness (3.3%).

Using haircare as me time’

Motherhood also presents the opportunity to redefine your me time’ (what little you have left of it). The chance to have a long, uninterrupted soak in the bath has likely never felt like such a treat, so why not make it time to do something special for your hair? Repair masks and intensive conditioning treatments can work wonders for hair that needs a bit of TLC.

Fitting in trips to the salon is important too. What better chance for some quiet me-time? Motherhood can be all-consuming, especially in the early days, so carving out some time to remember that you’re an individual in your own right, as well as a mum, is important for your mental and emotional health, as well as the state of your hair!

As a final word on the subject of motherhood and hair, it’s worth remembering that your attitudes and behaviors when it comes to your hair will be passed down to the next generation. The way you style your hair will influence how your daughter wears hers, as the All Things Hair survey shows. Something to remember next time you’re doing your hair with your little one looking on.

What does motherhood do to your hair?

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