I’ll admit I was in denial. I was fairly healthy. I didn’t wear too-tight hair styles. I slept in a satin bonnet (well, most nights). So, why was my hair STILL shedding and breaking around my edges?! It turns out the culprit was none other than the dreaded postpartum shedding brought on after giving birth to my second child. You see, I didn’t suffer from postpartum shedding (at least not this badly) with my first child, so I couldn’t possibly be dealing with it the second time around, right? Wrong. By the time my daughter was about 8 months old, I finally realized that something needed to be done.
So, you know that awesome head of hair you rock during pregnancy?
Well, that’s because hair is in an extended telogen or resting phase of the growth cycle. Those 100 strands of hair that are normally shed everyday stay put. You can thank hormones, specifically high estrogen levels for that! However, after giving birth, those hormones get crazy again, and estrogen levels begin to drop. Enter telogen effluvium, a form of alopecia that is usually acute and is brought on by many different factors; in this case, a change in hormone levels. Thanks again, hormones.
The good news is that postpartum shedding usually begins 1-5 months after giving birth and may last a few months after it’s begun. Your hair growth cycle will gradually return to normal, and the hair loss will stop. Some cases are more severe than others. In my case, I ended up with a receding hairline at the temple after the shedding had subsided:
Yeah, the Ghost of Edges Past.
Something had to be done, FAST! I began to do in depth research on oils and herbs that help promote healthy hair growth. I wanted a natural product that would help those suffering from excessive shedding like myself, or other hair loss issues like traction alopecia–hair loss caused by too much tension placed on the hair (i.e. tight braids), and serve as a general hair growth aid. After deciding on the ingredient list, I searched for a manufacturer that shared my same vision of using what’s available in nature, rather than using a host of synthetic chemicals that are often harmful. And so, KLH Botanicals was officially born, and I began to use our first product, GREENHOUSE™ HERBAL HAIR GROWTH OIL! Packed full of vitamin-rich herbs and scalp stimulating oils, I couldn’t wait to see the results!
The process was simple. I massaged a few drops of the oil to the affected area for about 3 or 4 minutes. While the main ingredient is castor oil, which is thought to improve blood circulation to the scalp, the manual massage is super important to stimulate those follicles. I did this about 3 times per week, sometimes 4. After a couple of weeks, I saw a noticeable difference, with full results after about 3 months!
Sorry–I was so happy to have my edges back after a few months that I forgot to take pictures! But as you can see, I have a hair line again!
So that’s my story. In addition to using the oil regularly, I also take a great multivitamin and have a green smoothie every day. I am very pleased with how the product is performing with others as well (including men suffering from hair loss) and can’t wait to show their progress!
I hope you’ve been encouraged to NOT give up on your hair if you suffer from postpartum shedding. You can get it back with healthy hair practices and healthy eating. Healthy hair starts from the inside, so drink plenty of water, eat healthfully, and try a hair growth aid. Nightly 5 minute scalp massages are not only soothing, but the extra stimulation may also help encourage growth.
Have you beat postpartum shedding? Sound off below!
Sources:
Piérard-Franchimont, C., & Piérard, G. E. (2001). Teloptosis, a turning point in hair shedding biorhythms. Dermatology, 203(2), 115-117
Elizabeth CW Hughes, MD Dermatologist, Group Health (2015) “Telogen Effluvium” Cooperative http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1071566-overview#a4
