Effects of pregnancy on your hair

Pregnancy is an experience every woman looks forward to at some point in life. It is also full of surprise changes in your body and this includes your hair. Some of the changes are great, while others are not; some are temporary while others can be permanent.

Hormonal fluctuations in the body during pregnancy are the biggest culprits in hair change. Pregnancy can make your hair feel fuller, greasier, drier, frizzier or even straighter. Some women will probably find their hair growing much more quickly. Many mothers-to-be get depressed about their hair during pregnancy, I, however, assure you that what you are going through is very normal. These are some of the experiences you will have with your hair during pregnancy:

Thicker hair: You will enjoy thicker and longer hair. The extra hormones that make sure the baby grows strong and healthy, do the same to your hair; they keep your hair in the growth phase during your entire pregnancy. All the hair you normally shed on a daily basis, stops falling out; in fact, you may not shed a single hair.

The hair appears to become thicker and more lustrous during pregnancy because, from the early days, the body has a lot of estrogen, the female hormone. This slows down of the normal cycle of hair growth and loss, so the scalp holds on to more hair than usual.

 Research has also shown that hair strands get thicker when a woman is pregnant. For many women, the hair gets shinier, too – particularly in their second trimester. Unusual hair loss during pregnancy happens to very few women and may be as a result of mineral or vitamin deficiency.

Thinner hair: After the baby, many women say bye to the great hair days of thicker hair. Many women lose their hair in literal handfuls three to six months after the baby comes. The shedding while recovering from pregnancy is both normal and healthy and should not worry any woman as the hair will simply be returning to its normal state (pre-pregnancy state). Take a healthy diet and do not stop taking pre-natal vitamins as they help with the health of the hair.

Texture: Prenatal vitamins give your hair and scalp extra vitamin boost, resulting in healthier and thicker hair. As your pregnancy grows, its texture also changes. It starts feeling thicker and healthier. When the baby comes, the texture will most likely go back to its original state.

Dry Scalp: During pregnancy, sebum, the natural oil the scalp produces, changes. Some women will have more of it, while others will complain of a drier, itchier scalp. Each woman's experience is different and it is quite normal to experience scalp changes during your pregnancy.

Product: Pregnancy does not require a woman to change her hair products like shampoo, conditioners or hair oils. If the hair, however, becomes unusually dry while you are pregnant, use products that are more moisturizing. Clarifying shampoo will help women whose hair will have become very greasy.

What matters is that you need to know how to cope with the changes and keep your hair healthy.

• Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables to protect the hair shafts and encourage hair growth.

• Treat your hair gently especially when it is wet and fragile.

• Avoid using heated instruments like blow dryers; if you must use it, keep the heat very low.

• Cornrows and tight braids can pull and stress your hair; avoid them.