Wait…Where Did My Edges Go?!

Thick, shiny, and long! This was my hair during pregnancy. It was flourishing, beautiful, and simply the best it had ever been. But after my sweet bundles of joy were born, something happened. A couple of months into my postpartum journey, my edges started disappearing; and I felt like my beautiful locs were shedding more and more each day! Was it stress? Lack of sleep? Change in diet (barely finding time to eat)? 

Initially, I thought it was all of these things. What did I do to my beautiful hair? I was still taking my prenatal vitamins, so maybe it was something I wasn’t doing which caused my edges to fade. In reality, it wasn’t me at all. This was actually something that was very normal!

According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, many new moms see significant hair loss a few months after having a baby. After pregnancy, our estrogen levels fall, causing excessive hair loss. The good news is that this is totally temporary. Many see their hair return back to normal by their baby’s first birthday, if not sooner. After about six months, my edges started coming back and my hair regained its fullness. 

While there isn’t a quick fix for this, I found that implementing a healthy hair regimen helped support and stimulate my hair growth, allowing me to maintain great hair well after recovery. Shampoos and conditioners formulated for fine or thin hair were also beneficial. These products were focused on conditioning and thickening my hair. I could totally tell the difference! The Syntonics Grothenic line was one of my go-to’s. My hair instantly felt better after each wash. I also found hair growth oil to be helpful. Mielle Organic’s Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil helped to nourish my scalp, edges and stimulate growth. 

A normal reaction to hair loss is to try and fix it. In reality, it’s best to leave it alone. I became more conscientious of how I treated my hair. I was more gentle. When styling, I made sure to use lower heat settings on my tools. And as tempting as braids and other protective styles may be, I approached them with caution. Putting too much tension on your hair can lead to more hair loss. I found protective styles helpful but I made sure my installs weren’t too tight. My go-to style was a sew-in with curly hair and minimal leave out. Using  Ardor’s Curly hair bundles I could wash, wet, and go, which helped minimize the need for styling tools.  

What a journey… The things we go through after babies! But it was comforting to realize that there was a reason for my hair loss. It’s totally scientific! Whether you are suffering from postpartum hair loss, or hair loss due to other factors, I hope you know that you aren’t alone!

Your Best Hair Friend,

Erin