If you're noticing more hair in the shower, on your pillow, or in your brush more than ever before, take a breath. You're not alone, and you're not doing anything wrong.
Postpartum hair loss, or ‘telogen effluvium’, affects many women after pregnancy, yet it's rarely spoken about openly. After months of physical change, recovery, and adjustment, sudden hair shedding can feel unsettling, especially when you're already dealing with so much.
In this guide, Hairburst will answer queries like, ‘How long does postpartum hair loss last?’ and ‘How to stop postpartum hair loss', helping you navigate thinning hair. Remember, postpartum hair loss is a normal phase after giving birth, and with the right support, your hair can start to feel like yours again.
| 2-4 Months | 4-6 Months | 9-12 Months |
| Women report noticing the early signs of postpartum hair loss. | Hair loss peaks. | Hair settles and returns to its normal rhythm. |
When Does Postpartum Hair Loss Start?
Postpartum hair loss, also known as postnatal shedding, is the increased hair fall that happens after giving birth. During pregnancy, higher oestrogen levels keep hair in the growth phase for longer. This is why hair often looks thicker, fuller, and stronger when you're pregnant.
After birth, however, oestrogen levels drop, hair follicles return to their natural cycle, and shed the hair that was held in place during pregnancy. This kind of hormonal hair loss typically begins between 2 and 4 months after giving birth, but it's important to recognise that this is just delayed shedding; it isn't permanent hair loss.
How Long Does Postpartum Hair Loss Last?
With postpartum hair loss peaking between 4 and 6 months after your baby’s birth, you’ll be glad to hear that it gradually settles by the baby’s first birthday, at around 12 months – another thing worth celebrating! This is because your hormone – or oestrogen – levels have finally stabilised, allowing your hair to return to its natural rhythm.
How to Stop Postpartum Hair Loss
As we’ve mentioned, postpartum hair loss is caused by an entirely natural hormonal shift, something we can’t avoid. There are, however, ways in which we can manage the severity of shedding and speed up our recovery times.
Give Your Body Time To Rebalance
Recovery from hormonal shifts takes time, and that’s okay! Relax, be patient, and wait it out – regrowth is already happening beneath the surface, even if you can't see it yet.
Reduce Tension on the Hair You Have
After postpartum hair loss, new hair growth often comes through fine and delicate, especially around the hairline and temples. Protecting this fresh hair growth is key to a speedy recovery:
- Avoid tight hairstyles that pull on your scalp
- Be gentle when brushing your hair (especially when wet)
- Limit heat styling where possible
- Choose lightweight, strengthening formulas that won't weigh hair down.
Embrace Nutritional Support from Within
Pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding can all place extra demands on nutrient stores. While postpartum hair loss is hormonally driven, nutrient depletion can affect how quickly hair regrows and how strong it feels as it returns.
Eat balanced meals, stay hydrated, and consider integrating Hairburst’s hair growth vitamins or hair gummies into your hair care routine to nourish your hair from the inside out. Our vitamins contain essential ingredients, including biotin and other B vitamins, that boost keratin production and support healthy hair growth.
Take our Advanced Hair+ Formula, for example. These innovative capsules are packed with science-backed ingredients like ashwagandha, reishi mushroom, B vitamins, antioxidants, and more, striving to target hair loss at the root.
Nourish the Scalp
Your pre-pregnancy hair care routine may not accommodate your postpartum hair care needs. That’s why it’s important to take a closer look at your go-to products and find out if they’re nourishing your scalp in the way they should be.
Hairburst’s range features plenty of quality hair treatments, shampoos, and conditioners, such as the Volume & Growth Elixir, which rely on science-backed formulas to strengthen hair growth. Take a look at our versatile collection and find products that elevate your postpartum hair routine.
Shop Hairburst Today
Postpartum hair loss doesn't mean your hair is gone for good – this isn’t your new normal. Your body has done something extraordinary. Hair growth takes time, and with the right support, progress continues beneath the surface.
So, now that you’ve got a better understanding of how to stop postpartum hair loss, it’s time to begin your recovery journey with Hairburst. Our range features science-backed products designed to nourish your hair and restore your confidence. Explore our collection online today and order Hairburst’s best hair products for your needs.