Hair Care For Pregnant Women

Pregnancy Hair Care by Patricia Hughes

Pregnancy changes many things about the body, including the hair. The changes and challenges each woman experiences with her hair are unique. Some of these changes, such as improved thickness and growth, are beneficial and others can be frustrating. As the hair changes, some adjustments in your hair care routine may be needed.

Many of the changes in the hair are caused by changes in the hormone levels during pregnancy, particularly estrogen and progesterone. Although all women experience hormonal changes, the response can depend on several factors, including genetics. For some women, less shedding of the hair results in thick, beautiful hair that has never looked better.

The thickness and shine some women experience isn’t enjoyed by all pregnant women. Changes in the hair vary for each woman – and even from pregnancy to pregnancy in the same woman. It’s possible to have great hair the first time and dry, brittle hair with a subsequent pregnancy.

Some women find their hair becomes dry during pregnancy and they may experience breakage as a result. If your hair is dry during pregnancy, use frequent deep conditioning treatments. Salon treatments may help and your stylist can offer suggestions for hair care products and techniques to improve the condition of your hair.

There are some things you can do to prevent breakage. One is to stop wearing tight pony tails. Mothers often pull back the hair at home to keep it out of the way or because we don’t have time to style it. Elastic hair bands contribute to hair breakage, so if dry hair and breakage is a problem, ditch the pony tail for now.

When you visit your stylist for a deep conditioning treatment, have her trim your hair. When the ends get dry and brittle, they tend to break easier. Having the brittle ends cut off can help prevent this. Consider going a little shorter or adding layers when you have your hair cut. In addition to preventing breakage, layers make breakage less noticeable and layers often help improve the appearance of dry hair.

If you have dry hair during pregnancy, you should shampoo it less frequently. You can skip the shampoo, give it a good rinse in the shower and apply a conditioner, if dry hair is a problem. Styling products and leave in conditioners approve the appearance of dry hair. Be careful when styling your hair and use heat as sparingly as possible. Wait until the hair is almost dry before using the blow dryer to avoid drying out the hair and contributing to the problem.

Not all women experience dry hair during pregnancy. Some find the oil production in the scalp increases in response to the hormonal changes of pregnancy. Previously easy to manage hair may become oily and limp as your pregnancy progresses. Some women find they were able to wash their hair every other day, but during pregnancy, they need to shampoo every morning.

The texture and manageability of the hair may change during pregnancy. The hormonal changes in pregnancy cause more of the hair follicles to remain in a resting phase, rather than shedding. This is the source of thicker hair during pregnancy. For women with fine hair or straight hair, this is often a blessing. These women are responsible for the myth of beautiful hair during pregnancy.

For women with thick, course, curly or dry hair, this additional hair can be more of a curse than a blessing. Thicker hair just means unmanageable frizz for some women. In this case, some changes in the cut or styling may help. Layered hair cuts or thinning techniques during a hair cut can help cut down on too much volume.

Styling products can help manage out of control hair during pregnancy. What to use depends on your hair’s texture and style. A great cut and scrunching in a little spray gel may be all curly hair needs to look great. Straightening products and frizz control hair products are helpful for getting control of out of control hair.

Select hair products based on your hair type and the issues you are having during pregnancy. A moisturizing shampoo and deep conditioner is great for dry hair. For oily hair, choose a gel type shampoo that is designed to cleanse the scalp and take care of the excess oil.

Some women worry about hair care products and chemical ingredients. For this reason, many women avoid chemical treatments during pregnancy, such as perms, coloring or straightening the hair. There is no solid evidence that styling products cause damage. However, if you are worried about hair care products, read the labels and choose natural ingredients. There are several organic shampoos and hair care products that contain no dangerous chemical ingredients.

Biography
Patricia Hughes is a freelance writer and mother of four. Patricia has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Florida Atlantic University. She has written extensively on pregnancy, childbirth, parenting and breastfeeding. In addition, she has written about home décor and travel.

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