Pregnancy changes a lot of things – good hair doesn’t need to be one of them! With a little TLC, you should be able to keep your hair just as you like it. In fact, some of you may be happy to find your hair becomes thicker and shinier, whilst others won’t be so lucky, and may notice it becomes drier and frizzier.
There are plenty of things you can do to manage your hair during the next few months – so whether you want to get it back under control, or make the best of your new bouncy locks, here are some easy tips on how to take care of your hair in pregnancy.
Hair changes during pregnancy
Understanding why your hair has changed recently might help you make-a-plan for taking better care of your hair during your pregnancy. Just very briefly (you’ll have to head to the experts for more details on this) an increase in oestrogen levels affects the usual growth/shedding cycle of your hair, which often means you don’t shed much until after your baby’s birth. You may well notice more hair than usual falls out once your baby is born – but that’s perfectly natural too!
Hormone changes may also change your hair’s texture, resulting in curlier or straighter hair than you’re used to. Whatever hair changes you’ve noticed, we can guarantee taking care of your hair during pregnancy will make you look and feel better. So, let’s look at how to keep it in tip-top condition.
1. Avoid damaging chemicals whilst pregnant
Firstly, there are some things that it’s best to avoid whilst pregnant. Treatments like bleaching, dying or perming your hair, or using chemical-filled hair products, are best to avoid during pregnancy. Experts have differing views on how much harm these chemicals can have on your baby, but whilst there’s still debate we suggest it’s safer to avoid chemicals if you can. This could be the perfect time to give your hair a rest from intense styling, and why not switch to products made from natural ingredients for your pregnancy hair care?
2. Pay attention to your pregnancy diet
You know the saying – beauty comes from within. Your pregnancy diet can be the object of scrutiny – cutting out coffee, staying away from sushi, it can be a lot to think about. Luckily there are several pregnancy-safe superfoods that will keep your hair healthy throughout your pregnancy.
Here are five everyday superfoods to help keep your hair naturally healthy during pregnancy:
- Sweet Potatoes - filled with beta carotene to protect against dry dull hair.
- Salmon - filled with omega-3 fatty acids for shiny, full hair.
- Greek Yoghurt - filled with vitamin B5 to prevent hair loss.
- Eggs - filled with biotin for hair growth.
- Kale - filled with vitamin A, Iron and vitamin C to prevent brittle hair.
We’ve got loads more tips on how to 'eat healthy' in our pregnancy blog.
3. Try to de-stress
Believe it or not, too much stress in pregnancy can be bad for your hair. Regular walking, a relaxing bath, a gentle exercise routine or time hanging out with friends are all great ways to handle stress.
4. Keep up regular hair maintenance
These regular hair maintenance rules should apply whether you’re pregnant or not, but we recommend they become part of your regular pregnancy hair care routine.
Trim your hair regularly!
To avoid split ends, don’t forget to pop to the hairdressers for a trim on a regular basis. You may find your hair is more brittle than usual so cutting off damaged ends will keep it looking healthy.
Avoid tight hairstyles!
Tying your hair back too tightly can cause damage and since it could well be more brittle at the moment, we recommend you don’t add any additional strain, but stick to looser hairstyles.
Try to stick to gentle shampoos and conditioners!
Of course, regular hair washing will still need to be part of your haircare routine, but it’s best to avoid harsh ingredients like retinol and salicylic acid in your shampoo and conditioner during pregnancy. Here’s a list of other skincare ingredients to avoid during pregnancy.
We love this intensive repair shampoo by Green People
5. Try some DIY treatments
No one deserves to be pampered more than a pregnant mamma. So why not indulge in some DIY pregnancy self-care. One great trick to try is an oil scalp massage. Using warm oil (emphasis on the warm – not scalding) on the roots of your hair will help to strengthen them and reduce your hair loss. Massage this oil in with gentle circular motions to help stimulate blood flow in the scalp and boost that hair growth even more. Plus who doesn’t love a massage.
Another great treatment is homemade fenugreek paste. It’s a rich source of iron and protein and will really make your hair shine. Just soak about a tablespoon of seeds in some water overnight. Then grind them down into a paste, apply to your hair and wash off an hour later. Some people add the fenugreek to coconut oil and yoghurt to make a hair mask – it leaves you hair looking great, but with all that mixing, it’s only for those with time on their hands!
6. Treat yourself with kindness
So now know how and why your hair might change during your pregnancy. Plus you have some easy to follow tips on how to take care of your hair in pregnancy too. Why not involve your family in keeping your locks looking gorgeous – get your partner or children to pamper you for a while. After all you’re doing all the hard work bringing a new member into the household. But most of all, just remember to be kind to yourself whilst you go through all these amazing changes!
