I have always had a love/hate relationship with my hair. In it’s natural state, it is Shirley Temple curly and has a mind of it’s own. This is when I hate it. I blow dry and flat iron the crap out of it to make it straight. I hate this process because it takes FOREVER, but once completed, this is when I love my hair…most of the time.
I have very thick, just below the shoulder length hair and I have worn it in the same style for over 13 years; only the length has changed. Oh, and there were those two bangs gone wild experiences. I will never. do. that. again. and I really mean it this time! 90% of the time I wear my hair up in a pony tail or hair clip and no, sadly that’s not just since I had a baby and needed to simplify my life, I’ve always worn it that way. I love having the length, just not weighting down my head or flying in my face. I love the color of my hair, minus the grays that I swear appeared out of nowhere almost four years ago causing me to spend almost $200 every six to eight weeks dyeing it. I have never had highlights or lowlights or attempted any other lights; I get my hair dyed it’s natural color – dark chestnut or something like it.
I’m the first to admit that I have always lost a lot of hair. It drove my parents crazy, of course they also had off white tile throughout their house. I’ve always lost a lot of hair, but not in handfuls! Apparently it’s normal to lose a lot more hair than usual in the first few months after giving birth, but this is ridiculous! I know I don’t need to panic, it’s not like I’m going bald…I hope! But, wow, it sure feels like I could! What is going on?!
According to the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board:
Normally, about 85 to 95 percent of the hair on your head is growing and the other 5 to 15 percent is in a resting stage. After the resting period, this hair falls out — often while you’re brushing or shampooing it — and is replaced by new growth. An average woman sheds about 100 hairs a day.
During pregnancy, increased levels of estrogen prolong the growing stage. There are fewer hairs in the resting stage and fewer falling out each day, so you have thicker, more luxuriant tresses.
After you give birth, your estrogen levels take a tumble and a lot more hair follicles enter the resting stage. Soon you’ll have more hair coming out in the shower or on the brush. This unusual shedding will taper off and your hair will be back to its pre-pregnancy thickness about six to 12 months after you give birth.
Not all women notice dramatic changes in their hair during pregnancy or the postpartum period. Among those who do, it tends to be more obvious among women with longer hair.
Great, lucky me! I have to put up with this for six to 12 months? Yikes! I better stock up on Drano and buy a wig.
The best is yet to be and I don’t believe blondes don’t have more fun.
