The Fast Facts
- Hair loss is part of the process after having a baby. It typically stops within a year.
- These postpartum hair loss products are approved by experts, and we note which ones are safe to use while breastfeeding.
- Our top picks include Nutrafol Postpartum Capsules and Women’s Rogaine Unscented 5% Minoxidil Foam.
While you can’t prevent postpartum hair loss, there are a handful of products that can help set you up for regrowth.
Pricier serums and supplements can certainly be helpful, but some budget-friendly drugstore items can also help prevent breakage and promote healthy hair when you need it most.
Here are some postpartum hair loss products dermatologists may recommend to new parents.
Pricing guide
- $ = under $10
- $$ = $10 to $30
- $$$ = $31 to $50
- $$$$ = over $50
A note on safety
Oral supplements are tricky because they’re
not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Before taking any sort of supplement while pregnant or breastfeeding, be sure to consult a lactation specialist or your OB-GYN.
Our Medical Standards and Insights team has carefully researched and vetted over 11,000 products and services. We fact-check health claims, evaluate ingredients, and look into each brand’s reputation before sharing products and services on Healthline.
To choose the brands on this page, we considered all the vitamin brands that passed our vetting process. Then, we personally tested some of them to narrow down our list even further.
Why and when postpartum hair loss happens
Many people experience thicker, shinier, and healthier hair overall during pregnancy. This is due to increased hormone levels that
“Although women aren’t necessarily growing many more strands of hair, they’re keeping more of them,” she said.
But that often changes around 3 to 6 months postpartum, when hormone levels decrease and those extra hairs start shedding.
Sleepless nights and stressful days spent calming a fussy newborn certainly don’t help your hair return to normal, either.
If you’re breastfeeding, postpartum hair loss may appear closer to the 6-month mark, notes Dr. Brendan Camp, a Manhattan-based dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology. He says this is because breastfeeding prolongs the drop in estrogen levels.
The American Academy of Dermatology suggests talking with a doctor if it’s been a year since giving birth and your hair hasn’t returned to its usual fullness.
Shedding can last for months, and it generally peaks 4 months after giving birth, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Most people will see an improvement within the first year of giving birth.
However, there is a distinct difference between postpartum hair loss (telogen effluvium) and shedding due to your estrogen level dropping.
Telogen effluvium is a type of hair loss that most commonly causes non-scarring alopecia. It results from a stressful event like surgery, a serious illness, or childbirth. It’s quite different than shedding caused by a drop in estrogen levels.
“Estrogen levels naturally fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle, and a drop in estrogen levels can cause the hair to enter a resting phase and shed, which is typically less severe than postpartum hair loss and occurs on a regular cycle,” Vallecillos said.
While both can result in shedding and thinning of the hair, postpartum hair loss is typically more severe and can last for several months.
“Shedding due to a drop in estrogen levels as a consequence of the menstrual cycle, conversely, is self-limiting, much less severe, and resolves quickly when estrogen levels normalize,” Vallecillos said.
How telehealth can help
If you’re still experiencing hair loss or lack of improvement after a year, online services such as Hers can pair you with a healthcare professional who can evaluate your symptoms, determine if there is another underlying cause, and prescribe medications if necessary.
Topical minoxidil may be one option. While generally considered safe while breastfeeding, it’s important to tell the healthcare professional you are breastfeeding.
The other common medicated hair loss treatment is finasteride, which is not recommended for women.
American Academy of Dermatology
Dr. Marisa Garshick
research
prenatal vitamins
National Institutes of Health
Experiencing hair thinning or hair loss can be concerning, especially when you’re postpartum. It can feel like a really sour cherry plopped on top of the massive hill of changes your body has endured.
There are products to help return your locks to their typical state. And in most cases, hair loss is temporary.