Depressed with my hair after having my son

[racrane]

I started to grow my hair out in the spring of 2011 and I was excited that I'm approaching waist. HOWEVER, lately, I'm just miserable. I need support, encouragement and advice.

I am losing my hair. I know that's normal after baby. But I have a small bald spot, and my hairline is receding. I am taking good care of myself so I know it's not from poor nutrition. But it's mortifying and I don't know how if it will come back. I don't know what to do in terms of style and so I just put it in a basic braid. Not too tight and how I part it hides the bald spot. I'm afraid to do buns and make them too tight.

I haven't posted a picture because of album uploading issues but even my family who's delicate about embarrassing issues have admitted my hair loss is pretty extreme. I know it's bad.

Anyway, any good styles apart from my basic braid? I really never thought I'd follow suit with many other moms and chop my hair off but my hair looks so pathetic now. :( I really know I"d regret it if I did chop but I hate my hair as it is. Please help and thanks!

[Kelikea]

French or Dutch braids help to even the weight of the hair along the head, and not pull all at one place. Or, make a smaller section, braid it separately from the large section and then bun or braid them together. If it was me, I would go for a small hair cut, just 2-3 inches. It would help lessen the weight and pull on your scalp.

[shutterpillar]

I have no style suggestions, because I did the same thing after both of my children - chopped it off to a chin length bob. It just looked pitiful otherwise. I can also say at that time I did not mind, because I was not actively trying to grow my hair.

I just wanted to give you my sympathies. I have been there. I lost about half of my hair after the birth of both of my children. Thankfully, it grew back to about 90% of it's original thickness, but I looked like a mess during that time - especially with already having fine hair.

((hugs)) good luck.

[ladonna]

This happened to me after each child too. It grows back I promise, I never cut the length of my hair because of it though I just waited for the bald spots to grow back. I did always have sideswept bangs in those years.

[rock007junkie]

**Hugs** Oh honey, I can totally relate. I started growing my hair when I got pregnant with my son and 6 months after I had him I lost so much hair I got bold spots in the front. My only brilliant idea I had at the moment to cover the two bold spots on each side was to get bangs. My only advice is to hang in there. It'll stop after a while.

[Wahinee]

It will come back. It's frustrating, but all you can do is wait. I had my son in 2010 and when I look back at pictures of myself when he was 1 year old I have all these fuzzy little baby hairs sprouting up all over the place. They eventually grew out and my hair thickened up.

Now I have a 5 month old and I'm shedding badly. My hairline is very thin. I am just letting it run its course and not getting too stressed out.

Your hair will definitely benefit from you being gentle with it and wearing it in a braid all the time and will be very healthy when it comes back.

[racrane]

Thank you all for the advice so far. I'm thinking of getting bangs - does anyone recommend that then? It may help the appearance. I also need a trim anyway as it's been over a year so it may do me some good just to go ahead and trim 2-3 inches and get bangs. But I"m a little freaked out because I don't want to lose anymore hair than I have to.

[Chestnuthenna]

That's so unfair, isn't it! It's a stress thing after the birth and as everyone else has said, it will grow back. I once had a bald spot at the back of my head and went to a dermatologist about it who prescribed a hair growth lotion (it's so long ago now i can't remember which one) which actually worked pretty quickly. Maybe it might be worth seeing a specialist? Good luck!

[Kelikea]

Thank you all for the advice so far. I'm thinking of getting bangs - does anyone recommend that then? It may help the appearance. I also need a trim anyway as it's been over a year so it may do me some good just to go ahead and trim 2-3 inches and get bangs. But I"m a little freaked out because I don't want to lose anymore hair than I have to.

This sounds like a good idea, if you like bangs. Just try not to stress about it, that will only make it worse. Make sure you let the hairdresser know that you want a style that will be easy to maintain as well as grow out; and not to take too much length off so it can still be worn up.

[Agnieszka]

Soon they will grow back. You will be surprised by how many new little hair will pop, it will be clearly visible. Mine started to grow back about 10th month post birth. My son is now 16months and I have about 7cm fringe from the regrowth.

[Katze]

Sorry to hear you are going through this. :flower: It is just plain unfair, especially if you are used to treating your hair and body nicely!

When DD, 3, was almost 3 months old (it was the weekend of our wedding - how memorable!) my hair started falling out in handfuls, and didn't stop for 3 months or so. I lost at least half my hair. I didn't have bald spots, but my ends got so thin I finally chopped (and got bangs) and even after I started taking biotin and the shed stopped, it took a long, long time for the new growth to fill it.

Waiting and watching for new growth was really depressing, and my hair really did look like crap for a long time. Now 3 years later my new growth is between APL and shoulder, and the last of the old growth is at BSL.

Honestly if it makes you feel better I am considering chopping if this happens to me again (I am currently 36 weeks pregnant). A lot of people cut after a shed, and I don't really see anything wrong with it - for me, getting used to short hair while taking care of a baby just sounds like extra work (styling, washing, getting haircuts) so I am hoping I don't have to.

It WILL grow back; in the meantime, see what you can do to feel better about yourself. If that means a haircut, it's not the end of the world - hair does grow.

good luck!

[racrane]

I will call for a hair appointment soon, then. I think 2-3 inches and bangs will do me good. It will help a lot. Though I hate losing any hair. :(

[picklepie]

I cut bangs when dd(13mo) was about 5mo-- my hairline was almost transparent, and you could see my scalp through my hair for a good few inches back if I wore it up. When I wore it down, my part was wide and irregular. I've always had thick hair, and the postpartum shedding I had after my first two kids was minimal, so this third time really threw me! Now I have an obnoxious four or five inches of new growth puffing out my hair at the top, and the rest is BSL. The bangs are growing out too. I wear bandanas a lot!

It's reassuring to see the new growth, though, and I bet you'll start noticing some soon. Congrats on your sweet new babe!

[dulce]

I also lost hair after the births of my 2 kids but it grew back.Just baby your hair ,watch your sleep and nutrition and try to be patient,that's easier said than done I know.Good luck.

[manderly]

Oh I feel you! Buckets of hair, I tell ya!! My hair is pissing me off because it's EVERYWHERE!! Wrapped around his toes, twisting in his diapers, stuck under his armpit. GRRRR. I lose handfuls daily - I didn't realize how much hair I WASN'T losing on a regular basis when I was pregnant.

[Wildcat Diva]

I am sorry you are going through this. Your plan sounds good. Not doing a drastic chop means that you can still do updos as it grows out. You can just be gentle and don't pull too much. I know you wear braids too so you can still do that easily too. For an outing, which I hope for for you, you could try a paranda braid.

[racrane]

Thanks for all the advice. I haven't done a paranda braid... I might try that. Variety is the spice of life; I've been sticking to one braid since August...

[jacqueline101]

I'd try a trim and the prescribed growth lotion.

[racrane]

So, I've been procrastinating on getting my hair cut. I know it's the best thing for it right now (it needs a trim badly) but I'm terrified the stylist is going to botch it. Anyway, I have an oval shaped face. Anybody have tips on what kinds of bangs look is best? I don't want to go in blind and walk out hating it.