If there’s a period of time when you absolutely have to live a healthy life through and through, it’s during your pregnancy. This means clean food, clean skincare and haircare, clean habits, etc. Among all of these, safe hair care products are the most ignored. And that shouldn’t be the case, no matter what. Hair care during pregnancy is also a priority. Period.
The thing about mainstream hair products, from regular shampoos to those specifically created for colored or damaged hair, is that they contain the most toxic amount of substances. All the more reason for pregnant women to transform not just their skincare but also their hair care routine.
Hair Changes During Pregnancy
Generally speaking, hair growth consists of three different phases. The first is active growth. The second is the resting phase. And the third is shedding. During each phase, it’s normal to shed around 100 hairs per day.
At the time of pregnancy, needless to say, there are extra hormones in your body that shift the natural cycle of your hair. These extra hormones that are coursing through your bloodstream cause your hair to grow and remain on your scalp. This means no shedding. That explains why hair during pregnancy seems thicker and longer than usual.
More often than not, hair strands tend to thicken at the time of pregnancy. Your hair diameter increases after all. But sometimes hair during pregnancy becomes either less or more curly. So it’s pretty evident that hormones affect the shape of your hair follicles when you’re pregnant. And the follicle shape is what determines the hair fiber shape.
On the other hand, some women experience the opposite. Meaning hair becomes thin and less shiny. Some even have to deal with severe hair fall. And this doesn’t just happen during pregnancy but sometimes even after it.
Tips for Hair Care During Pregnancy
#1 Use a good shampoo and conditioner
The best and simplest way to go about it is to choose safe hair products during pregnancy. These are the hair products you use on a daily basis. So they might as well be the right kind.
Hair experts at Skincare Top List also agree that a good shampoo is one packed with ingredients that not only improve hair growth. But that also control common conditions that cause hair to fall in the first place, like dandruff. You should also always buy a shampoo based on your hair type.
The list of ingredients added to the formula is often neglected. So don’t make that mistake. It’s important to check if your shampoo is infused with natural ingredients like avocado oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, aloe vera, etc. Particularly during pregnancy! These types of natural ingredients boost hair growth along with adding shine.
What about hair conditioners? These ought to moisturize your hair and even detangle them, right? You know a conditioner is good when it performs this job flawlessly. Yes, that’s true. But you have to make sure the ingredients responsible for softening and nourishing your hair are nutrients. They should maintain your hair’s natural pH value and smoothen your hair cuticles.
#2 Avoid harsh chemicals
Let’s say you wish to pamper yourself by spending the day at the beauty salon. The idea of dyeing, perming, or highlighting your hair does sound appealing. But can you actually go ahead with it? As long as the hair coloring product you’re using is labeled pregnancy-safe, you can.
Otherwise, avoid exposing your hair, scalp, bloodstream, and growing fetus to the chemicals widely present in hair treatment products. Many doctors recommend keeping away from such products only during the first trimester. Because it’s during the first trimester that your baby is developing.
So if you end up using such harsh chemicals, they might get absorbed into your scalp and pass along to the growing person inside you.
But how is it possible for these chemicals to get absorbed internally through the scalp? Well, even the scalp consists of pores. So if these pores open up, which is almost often the case when harsh chemicals come in contact with them, the harmful substances are bound to enter your bloodstream and reach your placenta.
#3 Get oil massages done a few times a week
What is one of the most effective and common tips for hair care during pregnancy? It’s oil massages, around 2-3 times per week. Use warm natural oil for the massage. Gently massage the oil onto the scalp with your fingers. The safest options are coconut oil, olive oil, castor oil, jojoba oil, almond oil, and sesame oil.
Or you could go for essential oils such as lemongrass, cedarwood, lavender, chamomile, and rosemary. Lavender boosts hair growth. Rosemary increases hair thickness. Chamomile makes the hair shiny and soft. Cedarwood slows down hair fall. And lemongrass relieves dry scalp and eliminates dandruff.
#4 Go for hair trims regularly
Hair changes at the time of pregnancy are hard to control, agreed. But don’t make these changes impossible to manage. Letting your hair succumb to the side effects of pregnancy gives rise to only more agitation.
So if you want to exercise more control in terms of hair changes, trim your hair regularly. Get rid of those rough or split ends. What this does is not only minimize hair damage during pregnancy. But it also makes sure your hair grows quickly and in a healthy manner.
#5 Don’t over-wash your hair
This is a very useful tip not just for pregnant women but for all women out there. When you over-wash your hair, what you’re actually doing is destroying the natural oils present on your scalp. These are essential for providing nourishment to your hair. So when gone, it’s only logical for your hair to look dull, damaged, and dry.
So think twice before shampooing that beautiful hair every single day. Especially during pregnancy! Unless your scalp and hair type is oily. Then it makes sense to wash your hair every day. Otherwise, you’ll only end up causing more dryness.
#6 Eat healthy meals
Often neglected is the advice that you should consume healthy foods and drinks during pregnancy. Whatever you eat, your baby also eats. But let’s keep that aside for a second. Hair changes during pregnancy are only normal. But that doesn’t mean you cannot manage the condition by eating the right kinds of foods.
Dealing with hormonal changes is never easy. But if you neglect your diet completely, then you’re just making matters worse. Particularly when these hormonal changes are creating negative side effects, such as hair fall and dullness. So all the more reason to incorporate a balanced diet. It, no doubt, provides an immense amount of nourishment.
So what’s that perfect list of foods you can incorporate into your daily diet for healthy hair? Here it is…
- Eggs
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Flax seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Sesame seeds
- Cold-pressed oils
- Yogurt
- Whole grains
- Almonds
- Fresh fish
- Fresh meats
- Lean poultry
The End
With the best hair care during pregnancy, you can get a hold of the situation. But please remember to always speak to your doctor before you choose to include or exclude a particular product or ingredient. After all, it’s the advice of a professional medical practitioner that mattes over and above anyone else.
But there’s no denying that hair changes during pregnancy occur at a noticeable degree. So why not take natural steps to counterbalance the negative impact your hormones create at the time of pregnancy!
