How do I treat postpartum hair loss?

Bottom linePostpartum hair shedding is normal and temporary, peaking around four months and resolving by about a year, so you can't stop it but can care for hair by being gentle, avoiding tight styles and high heat, using volumizing products, and eating well; ask your clinician to check iron and thyroid if shedding is heavy, and see a dermatologist if it's patchy or persists beyond a year.

Postpartum hair shedding is a normal, temporary phase. During pregnancy, high hormones kept extra hair from falling out; after birth, those hairs shed together, usually peaking around four months postpartum and resolving on its own by about a year. You can't stop it, but you can care for your hair while it recovers.

How to care for your hair

• Be gentle - avoid tight ponytails, buns, or braids that pull
• Use a volumizing shampoo and a light conditioner mainly on the ends
• Skip heavy styling and high-heat tools while shedding
• Treat hair gently when wet, when it's most fragile
• A new haircut or style can make thinning look fuller

Support overall hair health

• Eat a balanced, nutrient-rich diet
• Ask your clinician to check iron and thyroid if shedding is heavy or prolonged, since both can affect hair

Reassurance and red flags

This is not permanent and regrowth is normal. See a dermatologist or doctor if hair loss is patchy, severe, still worsening beyond a year, or comes with other symptoms - that points to a cause beyond normal postpartum shedding.

See when will hair grow back after childbirth for the timeline.

Femora helps you track postpartum symptoms over time so you can see this phase pass and know when to seek advice.