Pregnancy is one of the most ecstatic yet overwhelming phases in a woman’s life where she foresees the feeling of becoming a mother. This phase unravels an unprecedented experience for a woman as she goes through significant changes in her body and mind owing to increased estrogen levels in the body.
One major change experienced by women during this phase is in the hair cycle which might even be witnessed by a sudden hair fall or otherwise a longer and thicker hair than usual. To prevent such changes, hair care during pregnancy becomes indispensable and challenging at the same time.
Read this article till the end to get attuned to the variegated tips for ensuring the growth, quality and health of your hair during the course of your pregnancy. Before we take a stride for hair care tips during pregnancy, it is important to know the reasons for hair changes. So, let’s proceed!
Why Does Hair Change During Pregnancy?
Hair changes during pregnancy can be attributed to the sudden variation in the normal hormone levels in the female body. This hormonal imbalance results in a shift in the phases of hair growth, viz, active, resting, and shedding phases. This may result in dryness and itchiness in hair, accompanied by sudden changes in hair growth, which might even end up in hair loss. However, adhering to certain hair care tips during pregnancy can protect your hair against damage.
10 Pregnancy Safe Hair Care Tips For Women
Adherence to healthy hair care practices is vital for ensuring that your hair is in good shape. While there are a myriad of hair care tips that can be considered, below are enumerated the most viable tips for ensuring that your hair is in good health.
1. Maintaining a balanced diet
A well-balanced diet is one of the most predominant factors to ensure hair care during pregnancy. At the same time, a healthy diet is also important for the nourishment of the child. A healthy diet includes:
- Fresh vegetables rich in iron and vitamins
- Protein-rich food including meat, fish, cereals, and lentils
- Beta-carotene-rich foods like carrots and sweet potatoes
- Dried fruits as well as a specific quantity of dairy products daily
Proper nutrition is extremely important and should be given utmost precedence during pregnancy.
2. Massaging hair
A relaxing hair massage improves blood flow, which can significantly contribute toward hair growth and refinement in texture and thickness. Hair massaging also prevents dryness of the scalp and dandruff, along with relieving stress and headaches. You can also massage your hair with natural oils and leave it for a few hours before taking a shower.
3. Applying shampoo and conditioner
Pregnancy-safe hair care requires the application of mild shampoo with natural ingredients, consisting of minimalistic chemical composition. Conditioning is equally important as it facilitates the detangling of hair. It also enhances the overall smoothness of hair. The practice of applying shampoo and conditioner should be resorted to once or twice a week.
4. Avoiding hair colours
Pregnancy is an extremely crucial phase in the life of women wherein they also need to ensure nourishment of the developing baby in addition to balancing the unprecedented changes undergoing in their body. As such, it is extremely important to avoid the use of chemicals or unnatural substances during this course as the same may have a detrimental impact in the long run.
5. Washing your hair gently
It is important to allow the wet hair to attain its natural texture and shape by blow-drying it. Avoid combing your hair when it is wet because when the hair in its wet state is extremely delicate, during pregnancy it becomes way more sensitive to breakage. So, using a wide-toothed comb is recommended for combing the hair during pregnancy.
6. Frequently trimming your hair
Many hair care tips during pregnancy may not seem too impactful, but their impact in the long run cannot be overlooked. One such tip requires frequent clipping or trimming of the hair to ensure homogeneity in its texture. Plus, trimming your hair often significantly reduces split ends, making your hair look significantly thicker.
7. Using natural hair care products
Safe hair treatments during pregnancy require the use of appropriate natural products. For this, it is important to recognise the trend of your hair growth and the nature and type of your hair over a certain period of time. It is equally important to analyze the immediate impact of the product on your hair before going for its long-term use.
8. Avoiding extreme hair treatments
As a pregnant woman, you need to ensure that you don’t opt for any extreme hair treatment practices, which involve the use of hot rollers or irons for hair straightening, or even using hot oils on the scalp. Resorting to these practices may lead to irreversible fragility of hair and can also result in oversensitivity of the scalp. As such, these practices should be strictly avoided during the course of pregnancy.
9. Saying goodbye to stress
Stress relieving is cardinal during pregnancy and allows the body to get revitalised which is crucial for both the mother and the developing baby. At the same time, relaxing also allows proper blood flow and hormonal flow in the body, which plays a pivotal role in the hair growth cycle.
10. Avoiding hair stylists
Women should avoid treatments from hair stylists during the pregnancy stage in order to prevent any use of unnatural treatment on the hair. This is especially recommended to prevent exposure of your hair to harsh chemicals, strong odours, and different forms of allergic reactions that may pose irreparable damage to your hair.
How To Prevent Hair Fall After Pregnancy
Many women may experience a sudden hair fall post-pregnancy. Also called Postpartum shedding, the sudden hair fall happens due to excessive generation of Estrogen in the body. Some common tips to prevent hair fall during this stage include:
1. Intake of vitamin supplements after consulting with a doctor
Supervised intake of vitamin-rich supplements is essential to avoid hair loss after pregnancy. It is extremely essential to take supervised supplements rich in iron, vitamin D, vitamin B12, folic acid, protein and zinc, and omega 3 fatty acids.
2. Taking nutrient-rich foods
Consumption of foods with rich nutrients is pivotal to ensure a proper hair growth cycle after pregnancy. These foods should include green leafy vegetables (rich in vitamin C), eggs (for vitamin D), fish (for Omega 3), and a protein-rich diet including meat and cereals.
3. Switching to a volumizing shampoo
A volumizing shampoo is recommended after pregnancy as it makes the hair look thinner, smoother, and uniform. At the same time, the use of chemically rich products should be avoided on the scalp.
We all know pregnancy is a crucial juncture in every woman’s life. Therefore, taking good care of your physical and mental health is extremely important during this phase. Every part of your body is undergoing immense change and each deserves special attention. Even though it might seem arduous to adapt to such tips, these recommendations are cardinal for ensuring healthy hair during and after pregnancy.
FAQs
Excessive hair fall during pregnancy can be attributed to an excessive variation in the hormonal balance or because of overstressing.
Normal hair growth can be expected after 5 to 6 months of delivery. While shedding may stop anytime within 3 to 4 months after delivery, complete recovery of hair can be expected after 6 months.
Yes. Once your hair reaches its normal growth pattern and texture, you may continue the use of your regular hair products. However, the use of chemical products rich in Sulphates should be strictly avoided for healthy hair.
Yes. Natural hair masks composed of oils and butter can be safely used during pregnancy. However, the use of chemical or keratin-rich masks should be strictly avoided.
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