During pregnancy many women experience thicker hair and longer nails. This is a result of the change in hormones. Unfortunately this is usually short lived and when the pregnancy ends nail grown returns to normal and many women start experiencing hair losing after they give birth. The average woman loses approximately 100 hairs a day and they are continually being replaced with new hair growth. The shock of hair losing in your hairbrush in the morning will subside within three to six months after you have given birth. A woman that breast feeds their babies may have a reprieve before significant hair lose begins. For these women their hair won't start to fall out until they stop breast-feeding.
The cause of the hair losing is the change in hormones, specifically the hCG hormone. The hCG or human Chorionic Gonadotropin, stimulates growth in the fetus as well as creating changes in a woman's body. A pregnant woman may experience longer and stronger nails as well as thicker and shiny hair. Not everyone experiences these changes as each pregnancy affects a woman differently. Hair loss pregnancy rarely occurs and if it does your physician should be alerted. Any abnormal changes should be reported to your physician immediately as they may be a health alert. Occasionally malnutrition will cause hair loss and brittle nails during pregnancy. Many women also experience excess hair growth on other parts of their bodies during pregnancy, especially on their stomachs, forearms and their upper lips. This hair will fall out as well when your hormone levels return to normal.
If you are very distraught over the loss of your hair you can purchase hairpieces or wigs that are the same color as your hair to get you through this unnerving period. Hairpieces are great if you just want to fluff up your ponytail with extra hair. If you have the patience and the time you could also get a hair weave or extensions. Just remember that your hair is still falling out in large amounts so you may want to wait to get specialty hair dos until six months after the end of your pregnancy. Wigs are a great way to camouflage a bad hair day and increase your confidence. You can find great wigs on the Internet that will closely match the color of your own hair in synthetic versions or you can buy wigs with human hair that can be cut by your hair stylist and colored or streaked any color you wish. Human hair can also be styled with heat just like your own so it will look more natural.
Several ways to help keep your hair healthy during this time of hair losing is to clean your hair only when it needs it, condition it to keep the cuticle smooth and avoid tangling and use a wide toothed comb to help detangle your hair. Once your hair has returned to normal you can start color treating or perming your hair again.
When you are still experiencing hair loss your hair may be in a weakened condition and your scalp may be prone to irritation. Your hair stylist can help you decide when it is a good time to start caring for your hair normally.