The first few months with a new baby are a blur of joy, exhaustion, and discovery. You are learning this tiny new person, and your body is on its own wild recovery journey. Then one day, you are in the shower or brushing your hair, and you see it. It is not just a few strands in the comb. It is clumps. Real clumps.
As a hair loss specialist here in Pearland, I sit with so many new moms from Shadow Creek Ranch to Silverlake who come in feeling anxious, embarrassed, or scared. One of them was Elyndra S., a first time mom who walked into Foxtail holding a handful of shed hair in a zip bag because she thought something was seriously wrong. Her first question was the same as everyone else: “What is happening to my hair?”
Let me start by telling you what I told her. You are not alone. You are not doing anything wrong. What you are experiencing is incredibly common. Research shows that up to 90 percent of new moms deal with noticeable shedding after giving birth. It is called postpartum telogen effluvium, and although it feels overwhelming, it is temporary. My goal is to walk you through why this happens and show you the real solutions we use at Foxtail Hair Salon to help you feel like yourself again.
Why Your Hair is Suddenly Everywhere
During pregnancy, your estrogen levels go up significantly. This keeps your hair in the growing phase longer, which is why you may have loved your pregnancy hair. But after birth, your estrogen drops quickly. That drop causes many hair follicles to move into the shedding phase all at once.
Here is the typical timeline I see with clients like Elyndra:
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The Start: Shedding usually begins around month 2 or 3 postpartum.
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The Peak: The most intense shedding often hits around month 5. This is when the widening part, thinning temples, and scalp visibility cause the most panic.
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The End: For most women, shedding slows significantly around month 8 or 9, and the cycle normalizes by the one year mark.
Even when clients know the science, the emotional toll is real. When Elyndra sat down and showed me the thinning around her temples and the wider part line she tried to hide with headbands, she said, “I do not even want to be in photos with my baby right now.”
That emotional truth matters.
Building a Healthy Foundation for Regrowth
While we cannot stop hormones from shifting, we can absolutely support the strength and regrowth of your hair.
Feed Your Follicles
Your body is healing. Your hair needs nutrients to regrow well.
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Iron, zinc, and B vitamins
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Protein rich foods
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Continuing prenatal vitamins
This improves the quality of the new hair coming in.
Gentle Does It
Your hair is fragile right now, and the way you handle it matters.
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Use sulfate free shampoo
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Comb gently from ends upward
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Avoid daily high heat
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Try loose styles instead of tight ponytails
A gentle scalp massage or a Davines NaturalTech Scalp + Hair Ritual at Foxtail can stimulate circulation. This treatment is around 65 dollars and gives your follicles a healthier foundation. Many new moms tell me it is the first peaceful moment they have had in months.
When “Just Waiting” Is Not an Option
This is where solutions that help you look good now become important. When Elyndra came to see me at five months postpartum, she had an important family event in two weeks and was devastated by the thinning near her temples. Waiting six months for regrowth was not realistic for her confidence.
Smart Styling for Instant Volume
A new cut can work wonders. A soft bob or face framing layers lift the hair visually. Changing your part can hide temple thinning and make hair appear fuller.
Using mousse at the root and directing the blow dryer upward can give instant lift. When I showed Elyndra how to apply a small amount of texturizing spray at her crown, her face immediately softened. Even a quick technique can make a noticeable difference.
The Foxtail Secret: The Right Kind of Extensions
When thinning is more severe, especially around temples or part lines, extensions can be a game changing option. But postpartum hair has unique needs. It cannot handle heavy, high tension methods.
I learned this the hard way early in my career. Around twelve years ago, I applied extensions that were too heavy for a postpartum client named Marina L. I saw breakage near her temples a few weeks later, and she cried in my chair. I cried after she left. That moment changed my entire approach to postpartum hair. I promised myself to never apply a method unless it was lightweight enough for fragile hair.
That is why consultations now matter so much. I assess the strength and density of your hair before choosing the method.
My go to postpartum safe options are:
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Hand tied extensions: Lightweight, even distribution, nearly undetectable. Typically around 1200 to 1500 dollars depending on rows and hair length.
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Tape in extensions: Flat, gentle, flexible.
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Halo extensions: Zero stress, removable, perfect for occasional use.
A Real Journey: Elyndra S.
Month 5 postpartum:
She arrived panicked. Her temples were noticeably thin, and her part had widened. She showed me a photo from a mom group and said, “Will extensions pull out more hair?” She also hesitated at the cost. “Over a thousand dollars while I am on maternity leave feels scary.”
We talked through what she needed most: confidence while her natural hair grew back. She decided to move forward with a small, lightweight hand tied installation for volume.
Week 2:
She came back concerned about slight heaviness near her temples. This happens often because these areas thin the most. I adjusted her placement farther from the delicate zones. The relief on her face was instant.
Month 9:
Her natural regrowth had filled in significantly. The widened part was nearly back to normal.
Month 12:
We removed the extensions, and her natural hair was full, healthy, and strong. She hugged me and said, “I finally feel like myself again.”
Social proof: Her before and after transformation on Instagram earned over 100 saves, and three moms from her Shadow Creek Ranch group booked appointments after seeing her hair.
Your Postpartum Hair Questions, Answered
Will extensions cause more hair loss?
Not when chosen carefully by a specialist. The wrong method can cause breakage, but the right method can protect your fragile areas while you regrow.
How do I know if my hair loss is normal?
Overall thinning is normal. Bald patches or shedding past the twelve month mark should be checked by a doctor.
What is the first step?
Talk to someone who works with postpartum hair every week. Understanding your timeline and options reduces stress immediately.
Let's Find Your Confidence Again
Postpartum life is already emotional. Your hair should not add to the stress. Whether you need a scalp treatment, a soft cut, or a temporary boost with safe extensions, we can create a plan that fits your lifestyle, your budget, and your comfort level.
If you are ready to stop hiding in photos the way Elyndra once did, come see us.
Visit us at Foxtail Hair Salon, 2111 North Main Street, Pearland, Texas 77581.
Call us at 832-295-3821 or book a complimentary consultation online. Let’s help you feel like yourself again.