SILENT SHEDDING: A GUIDE TO POSTPARTUM HAIR LOSS

PREGNANCY is a journey full of joy, change, and surprises.

- VUYILE MADWANTSI

While we often talk about the glow, the strong nails, and the thick, shiny hair, the postpartum chapter can come with its own set of challenges, especially the hair loss.

If you've noticed extra strands on your pillow or clogged your shower drain after having a baby, you're not alone, and you're not doing anything wrong.

Postpartum hair loss is one of those hush-hush realities of motherhood that catches many women off guard.

You spend nine months basking in compliments about your “amazing hair”, only to feel like it’s falling out in handfuls a few months after birth.

It’s scary, it's emotional, and it’s completely normal.

What’s happening with your hair after birth?

Dr Kashmal Kalan, the medical director of Alvi Armani Hair Restoration Clinic in Sandton, explains that what you're experiencing is your body's way of resetting after pregnancy.

“During pregnancy, high levels of oestrogen keep hair in its growing phase, which is why it looks so thick and full.”

“After birth, hormone levels drop and a large number of hair follicles move into the resting phase, leading to noticeable shedding around three to four months postpartum.”

This shedding phase, medically called telogen effluvium, is temporary.

According to Kalan, most women see their hair begin to regrow within six to 12 months, often before their baby’s first birthday.

But that doesn’t mean the emotional toll is easy to brush off.