Happy International Women’s Month!
For this week’s post, we are going to be hearing from some strong, amazing and beautiful black women who wear the title of ‘mother’ among many others. I spoke to the group of ladies about their hair experiences during pregnancy, and postpartum hair loss.
As I have mentioned in past blogs, I have a 16-month-old. During my pregnancy, my hair really flourished and grew really well. Though I had been vaguely informed of other women’s experiences of hair loss after delivery, I was not ready for my edges to be snatched 3 months postpartum.
In this conversation, I wanted to hear from sisters about their personal hair experiences’ during pregnancy and postpartum in all its nuances. Here is what they had to say.
Me: “What was your hair like prior to and during pregnancy?”
Daisy (31, Mum to a 3 year old): “ Before pregnancy my hair was relaxed, barely shoulder length, thin and patchy at the back. I had a bald patch for as long as I could remember. This was due to relaxing my hair from the root to the tip every month and a half. Plus, heat damage and never giving my hair a break from weaves.”
Claudia (28, Mum to a 2-year-old): “Before pregnancy my hair was natural, very dry, I was still learning how to manage and love my natural hair. I have thick hair naturally. During pregnancy, it became even more thick and started to grow more.”
Paola (33, Mum to a 2 year old): “My hair was in a very short cropped fro, growing from wearing a fade cut for many years.”
Uche (29, Mum to a 1-year-old): “Before pregnancy, my hair was relaxed and very thick. During pregnancy, my hair became thicker, longer and looked healthier. I only relaxed it once during pregnancy.”
Me: “Did you suffer from postpartum hair loss? If yes, what (if any) were the emotional/mental effects it had on you?”
Kimberley (29, Mum of two aged 1 and 3): “Yes I did suffer from hair loss. I lost so much hair towards the front of my hair line it was embarrassing. My hair didn’t break so much until after I stopped breast feeding. I hadn’t anticipated that. I became very self-conscious, because while I could cover up the changes my body had gone through, I couldn’t mask what was happening to my hair. It seemed to be worse after my first pregnancy than my second. I don’t know if this was because of the babies different genders having an effect on my hormones. After all of this, I went to cut my hair off completely, before deciding to ‘make the most of it’ and get locs instead, figuring if they didn’t work out for me I could then cut my hair as I’d already been planning to.”
Sharlynne (32, Mum of 3 aged 5 and twins aged 2): “Yes I did have postpartum hair loss. Mainly my edges but also more hair loss around areas that I suffered traction alopeacia. It affected my attitude to doing my hair. I often got frustrated with the ‘balding’ edges & spots and so had no desire to try out different hairstyles.”
Deseree (29, Mum to a 2 year old): “Yes my hair shed a lot after pregnancy so very stressful but edges stayed intact. Even my eyebrows appeared thinner during pregnancy.”
Esther (28, Mum to a 21 month old): “My edges fell out a bit, this was definitely a combination of hormones and my go to hairstyle wasn’t protecting my hair at all. Luckily I had no negative effects as a result of my hair falling out because I know it will grow back with care. Perhaps I wouldn’t be so relaxed about it if I had significant hair loss.”
Me: “Did your hair ever return to its pre-pregnancy condition?”
Uche: “After giving birth I went natural. My hair is so thick that I cannot comb it or part it without crying because of the pain. I will be relaxing my hair again because it is unbearable. My edges and temples have been restored.”
Paola: “I only decided to start growing my hair months after I gave birth. And since I wore a fade or bald cut for at least five years I’m not sure if my hair was growing back at a normal rate.”
Claudia: “Yes my hair did return to its prior condition. I also learnt how to manage my natural hair better so my hair started to improve overall.”
Daisy: “My hair became a 100% better. I ditched the relaxer and I cut it all off. I started growing my afro hair. My first relaxer was when I was 10 so at 29 years old, it felt like learning a new skill and learning something about myself that felt empowering as a new mum. It was the perfect project, to boost my confidence and also fill in time as I was on maternity leave for a year. I wanted healthy hair and real pride in my natural afro hair. I was also planning ahead of time. So that in the near future when we decide to have baby number 2, I will hopefully be able to minimise or avoid the same hair loss by changing my hair routine and maintenance.
It was great to have these voices contribute to this conversation, gaining insight on the diversities and yet similarities in some of their experiences. Most women are having to deal with the physical changes that come with pregnancy and societal pressures to ‘snap back’- in addition to understanding the transitions of their textured crowns.
In part two of the conversation on #mummyhair the women discuss access to information in our community and they share some sisterly advice for potential mothers. Subscribe so you don’t miss it.
Comment below and let me know what your postpartum hair experiences were, or what assumptions you had before reading what the ladies had to say.
