Who doesn’t want “good hair days” all year long? Well, you might just have lots of them during your pregnancy. Due to the increase in estrogen hormone, moms-to-be can have either much thicker and silkier hair or might face the wrath of hormones in the form of intense hair fall. Though the former is quite prevalent in most cases. The hair remains in the resting phase for most of the pregnancy and shows abundant growth. This phase, however, is followed by pregnancy hair fall after delivery as the hormone levels suddenly drop to normal.
Pregnancy brings with it many changes to your body and your hair is no exception! Hence good hair care during pregnancy is necessary to avoid a large number of hair fall after delivery. During pregnancy, you should pay extra attention to not only what you are drinking and eating but also what you are using on your body, and for hair wash during pregnancy, to safeguard your baby’s health and wellbeing. And that’s why you need natural and toxin-free hair care products that are safe for both the baby and you.
Tips for Hair Care During Pregnancy
While it is impossible to prevent or stop the changes brought on by pregnancy, certain precautions can go a long way in managing hair care in pregnancy. Here are some tips you can follow for hair care during pregnancy:
Massage your hair and scalp
Gently massaging your scalp with a warm oil at least twice a week nourishes and strengthens the hair. There are numerous natural oils you can try like Almond, Moroccan Argan, Amla, Bhringraj, Tea tree, Coconut, Coffee oils and more. Each of these oils has a specific benefit in pregnancy hair care, and using a concoction of these is the best way to ensure your hair gets all the benefits. Choose a natural hair oil that is made without Mineral Oil and has these natural oils to reduce itching and dandruff when pregnant, strengthen hair and promote hair growth.
Understand Your Hair Type
Understanding your hair type is important to plan your treatments and home hair care during pregnancy. Hair types can be dry, oily, dry hair with oily scalp, frizzy, damaged, dull, dandruff-prone, straight, wavy, curly, or coily. Each hair type requires different hair care during pregnancy.
Healthy diet
It is strictly advisable to take nutritious meals during pregnancy that are both balanced and healthy. You can, however, put something or more on your diet that can help you with hair care during pregnancy. Try protein-rich food items such as eggs, cheese, yogurt, nuts and seeds to ensure your body gets adequate nutrition.
Stay hydrated
Pregnancy or not, drinking appropriate amounts of water never failed anyone. Water is exceptionally good for maintaining proper skin and hair health. Hydrated scalp can keep dandruff in pregnancy at bay. So, keep yourself hydrated throughout the day by drinking ample amounts of water.
Reduce your exposure to the sun
The harsh UV rays from the sun can have a damaging effect on your skin and hair. It’s best to avoid stepping out when the sun is at its peak. If you have to step out then cover your head with a hat or a scarf to protect your hair. Avoid exposing yourself to dust and pollution as well since they too can have a detrimental effect on your hair health. This is one of the basic hair care tips during pregnancy as excessive sun exposure and UV rays are harmful for the baby, as it breaks down the folic acid needed for baby’s development.
Do not comb wet hair
Wet hair is prone to easy breakage. Hair is most vulnerable when wet so, if combed at this time the natural hair moisture can get stripped off, and hair become fragile and brittle. Combining wet hair makes hair dull, brittle, loose from the roots, and dry which can lead to hair fall in pregnancy. Never comb your wet hair, instead apply a good natural hair serum to detangle the hair and add moisture to them which forms the basis of good hair care during pregnancy.
Trim hair ends regularly
Get your hair trimmed regularly to prevent split ends, and ensure your hair remains healthy. Regular hair trimming maintains hair tangle-free and limits hair breakage and hair fall during pregnancy.
Say no to chemical-based hair treatments
If you have always liked experimenting with hair colors, and chemical treatments, it’s time to tone down a bit. The harmful chemicals might get absorbed by the scalp, and circulate through your blood, which may harm your baby during pregnancy.
Choose your hairstyles carefully
Choose loose braids and ponytails over tight buns and braids as hairstyles to avoid damaging your hair. Do not strip off the hair bands through hair which causes hair breakage and dries the hair follicles. A short haircut is many times preferable by many women as a hair care during pregnancy and post-pregnancy, as short hair lengths require shorter time for maintaining sessions.
DIY hair mask
Hair fall during pregnancy may lead you to explore creative ways with which you can reduce it. You can put ingredients like fenugreek seeds, aloe vera gel, castor oil to keep your hair healthy. You can also get a natural hair mask rich with Keratin and Moroccan Argan Oil to nourish and moisturize your hair and reduce dryness.
De-stress
Pregnancy can be stressful at times because you have to care for two, and ensure that everything you do is right for your baby. However, stress can affect your hair health and make it prone to damage and lead to hair fall. Try meditation, listen to music, go for a walk or do some light exercises after consulting with your doctor to relax your mind and destress.
Hair serums
Serums are liquids with high concentrations of ingredients that help solve the hair and skin problems. Regular use of an all natural hair serum after hair wash keeps hair healthy, lucious, smooth, detangled and shiny. Adding a good hair serum to your pregnancy hair care benefits by resolving problems like pregnancy hair fall, brittle hair, and damaged hair.
Natural Shampoos and Conditioners
It is absolutely important to use natural hair care products during your pregnancy. You can choose them based on the hair type. Right ingredients are equally important. You might want to keep your eye on the ingredients sections while buying a bottle of shampoo and conditioner. The highlights would certainly be: Hydrolyzed Silk and Wheat protein, Argan Oil, Murumuru seed butter, Beetroot extract, and more. Choose an all natural hair shampoo with coconut-based cleansers instead of sulfates to cleanse your hair without stripping it of moisture. Avoid harmful toxins like Parabens, SLS, Mineral Oils, PEGs and synthetic fragrances.
These tips can make it easier for you to manage your hair care during pregnancy. However, it is important to keep in mind that you do not over wash your hair which might strip off the hair of moisture and natural oils.
The Moms Co Recommends Best Natural Hair Care Products
These all natural hair care products will help you in improving hair growth and strengthening the roots. For a healthy pregnancy hair care to reduce hair fall during and after delivery these best natural hair products are a must:
NATURAL PROTEIN SHAMPOO
The Natural Protein Shampoo has coconut-based cleansers that gently cleanses and natural proteins strengthen, moisturize and help reduce the damage caused by harsh chemicals and pollution.
NATURAL PROTEIN HAIR CONDITIONER
The Natural Protein Hair Conditioner is a toxin-free combination of Hydrolyzed Wheat and Silk Proteins, Argan Oil, Murumuru Seed Butter, Beetroot extract and Vitamins that repair and deeply moisturize the hair, leaving them soft and smooth.
NATURAL KA+ DAMAGE REPAIR SHAMPOO
The Natural Damage Repair Best Keratin Shampoo from our Hair System uses gentle, low-lathering coconut-based cleansers that clean your hair, while Natural Keratin and Moroccan Argan Oil work to repair hair damage.
NATURAL KA+ DAMAGE REPAIR HAIR CONDITIONER
The Toxin-Free Natural Damage Repair Keratin Conditioner from our KA+ Hair System is enriched with Keratin & Moroccan Argan Oil that repair hair structure, shine and manageability. Shea Butter and Proteins form a protective layer around the hair, making it softer, smoother & silkier.
NATURAL PROTEIN HAIR SERUM
The Moms Co.’s Natural Protein Hair Serum with the goodness of Moroccan Argan Oil, Wheat, Pea and Oat Proteins is India’s first silicone-free serum that protects, repairs, and smoothens hair.
THE MOMS CO NATURAL HAIR STRENGTHENING OIL
Natural Hair Strengthening Oil by The Moms Co. is a combination of 8 natural oils including Amla, Bhringraj, Coffee and Tea Tree oils. The Natural Hair Strengthening Oil is proven to improve hair strength by 77% and reduce hair fall. Amla oil in Natural Hair Strengthening Oil nourishes roots and strengthens hair while Bhringraj oil improves blood circulation and encourages hair growth. Coffee oil in Natural Hair Strengthening Oil stimulates hair follicles.
FAQs
Why Do You See Changes in Hair During Pregnancy?
There is a sudden change in the hormonal levels during pregnancy. The rise in the estrogen levels causes hair follicles to enter into a resting phase. These changes in the body can make hair fuller, voluminous, and lucious. Hence you see changes in hair during pregnancy. As the pregnancy ends the level of these hormones drop down which may cause hair fall after pregnancy.
Are hair products safe during pregnancy?
All natural hair care products are safe during pregnancy. These products will not only provide nourishment to your hair but will also be free of harmful chemicals and toxins. The hair products which have sulfate and paraben are strictly prohibited for use during pregnancy and lactation, as these chemicals can harm the baby.
How often should you wash your hair when pregnant?
Wash your hair twice or thrice a week with Sulfate-free shampoo that has natural cleansers made with Coconuts. Sometimes pregnancy can make you quite prone to colds and fevers. If you are susceptible to cold, then avoid washing your hair more than once or twice a week and dry your hair immediately after washing them using a hair dryer. It is better to continue the same intervals during cold weather. How often you wash your hair depends on your hair type, environment, exposure to dust and pollution and some other factors. If you don’t wash your hair for long durations then it can make your scalp itchy and may cause infection due to build-up of oil and dead skin cells. So do wash your hair but take adequate hair care during pregnancy to avoid any problems for you and your little one.
Hair care during pregnancy is important to avoid heavy hair damage during pregnancy and hair fall after pregnancy. A good sleep, good diet and easy home remedies for hair fall and pregnancy hair care goes a long way.