Can your hair texture change after postpartum?

Becoming a parent is among the most surreal experiences one can have. It seems as though your heart is bursting with love, but simultaneously, your body can feel more delicate and fatigued than it ever has after the ordeal of giving birth, even though you are amazed by the miracle it has just performed. With hormones fluctuating wildly and energy levels oscillating, you may discover that you are adapting to a new version of yourself on physical, mental, and emotional levels.In the midst of all these changes, your hair starts to narrate its own tale as well. Due to hormonal changes, many women notice significant hair loss in the months following childbirth.

However, it often surprises people to learn that not only does the amount of hair change, but sometimes the texture does as well.Your hair may grow straighter if you have curls, or develop waves if it’s straight, and the texture of your locks can change in surprising ways, serving as a reminder that motherhood transforms more than just your routine—it transforms you.Many individuals observe that their hair becomes thicker, shinier, and fuller during pregnancy, resembling a natural glow-up. Dr. Ruben Bhasin Passi, a dermatology consultant at CK Birla Hospital in Gurugram, explains to India Today that this occurs because elevated estrogen levels prolong the hair growth phase, which stops normal shedding.This provides that additional volume and vitality. However, after the baby comes and hormone levels decrease, the narrative shifts. “When there’s a sudden decrease in hormone levels, the body adapts and hair experiences significant changes, which often surprises new mothers,” she adds. The doctor further explains that hair naturally cycles through phases of growth (anagen), rest (catagen), and shedding (telogen). During pregnancy, increased levels of estrogen keep more hair in the growth phase. After childbirth, when estrogen levels decrease, a number of these hairs enter the shedding phase simultaneously.