Postpartum Shedding — A Six-Month Storm That Almost Always Passes
Three to six months after birth, hormonal shifts trigger a sudden shed. What’s normal, what’s not, and when to start asking questions.
A Storm That Almost Always Passes
During pregnancy, oestrogen levels keep follicles in the growing (anagen) phase. Around 3–6 months after birth, hormone levels drop sharply and the "held" follicles all enter telogen at once — and shed together over the following 1–3 months.
This is normal. It happens in roughly 50% of women, lasts about 6 months, and resolves without treatment.
How Much Shedding Is Normal?
A typical postpartum shed loses 100–300 hairs per day at peak (compared to ~50–100 normally). The visible signs: a wider part line, more hair in the brush, a soft halo of new short hairs along the hairline as regrowth catches up.
When to Get Tested
Get bloodwork if any of the following are true:
- Shedding continues past 9 months postpartum
- You feel exceptionally tired or cold (thyroid)
- You followed a restrictive diet (iron, B12)
- You are breastfeeding while on a vegan or low-protein diet
Should You Treat It?
For most women, no. Wait. Eat well, sleep when you can, take a basic prenatal/postnatal multivitamin, and let the cycle complete. If at 12 months postpartum hair has not visibly recovered, then it is reasonable to investigate further with a GP or trichologist.