Postpartum Hair Shedding
Everyday exposureBeauty & personal careAlso called · 8 names▾▴
postpartum hair loss, postpartum hair shedding, hair falling out after birth, postpartum alopecia, telogen effluvium after birth, postpartum hair regrowth, breastfeeding hair loss, pregnancy hair changes
Hair
General information · effects depend on amount, timing, and how it is used. About these sources
Research strength: 3 / 5
ACOG reports that pregnancy may make hair thicker and that scalp shedding often begins about three months after birth. Gizlenti and Ekmekci measured a higher share of hairs in the growth phase during pregnancy than in the fourth postpartum month. AAD says shedding often peaks around month four and most women regain normal fullness by the first birthday; ACOG gives a shorter three-to-six-month regrowth window. These sources describe a temporary change but use different markers for recovery. Ask your provider about your situation.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-18
Sources
- ACOG: Skin Conditions During PregnancyProfessional society
- American Academy of Dermatology: Hair loss in new moms: Dermatologist tips
- Gizlenti and Ekmekci (2014): The changes in the hair cycle during gestation and the post-partum periodUS government
Research strength: 3 / 5
ACOG reports that pregnancy may make hair thicker and that scalp shedding often begins about three months after birth. Gizlenti and Ekmekci measured a higher share of hairs in the growth phase during pregnancy than in the fourth postpartum month. AAD says shedding often peaks around month four and most women regain normal fullness by the first birthday; ACOG gives a shorter three-to-six-month regrowth window. These sources describe a temporary change but use different markers for recovery. Ask your provider about your situation.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-18
Sources
- ACOG: Skin Conditions During PregnancyProfessional society
- American Academy of Dermatology: Hair loss in new moms: Dermatologist tips
- Gizlenti and Ekmekci (2014): The changes in the hair cycle during gestation and the post-partum periodUS government
Research strength: 3 / 5
ACOG reports that pregnancy may make hair thicker and that scalp shedding often begins about three months after birth. Gizlenti and Ekmekci measured a higher share of hairs in the growth phase during pregnancy than in the fourth postpartum month. AAD says shedding often peaks around month four and most women regain normal fullness by the first birthday; ACOG gives a shorter three-to-six-month regrowth window. These sources describe a temporary change but use different markers for recovery. Ask your provider about your situation.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-18
Sources
- ACOG: Skin Conditions During PregnancyProfessional society
- American Academy of Dermatology: Hair loss in new moms: Dermatologist tips
- Gizlenti and Ekmekci (2014): The changes in the hair cycle during gestation and the post-partum periodUS government
Postpartum Hair Shedding — Breastfeeding
Research strength: 3 / 5
AAD describes postpartum shedding as temporary and says most women regain normal fullness by the first birthday. Gizlenti and Ekmekci found a hair-cycle ratio difference between breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding women at month four, but not by the first postpartum year. A questionnaire survey by Hirose et al. associated longer breastfeeding with self-reported shedding, but noted possible sampling bias. These observational results do not show that breastfeeding causes hair shedding. Ask your provider about your situation.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-18
Sources
- American Academy of Dermatology: Hair loss in new moms: Dermatologist tips
- Gizlenti and Ekmekci (2014): The changes in the hair cycle during gestation and the post-partum periodUS government
- Hirose et al. (2023): Investigation of exacerbating factors for postpartum hair lossUS government
Pregnancy
ACOG reports that pregnancy may make hair thicker and that scalp shedding often begins about three months after childbirth. ACOG says hair usually grows back completely within three to six months. AAD says shedding often peaks about four months after birth and most women regain normal fullness by the child's first birthday. Cleveland Clinic says shedding commonly begins about three months after birth, usually lasts less than six months, and fullness should return by the first birthday. These sources describe different recovery windows and endpoints. Gizlenti and Ekmekci (2014) measured the anagen (growth) and telogen (resting) hair-cycle ratios with Trichoscan in 116 women divided into four groups: 28 at 24 weeks of pregnancy, 30 at term, 29 in the fourth postpartum month, and 29 in the first postpartum year. The fourth-month postpartum group had a lower mean anagen rate and higher mean telogen rate than the groups at 6 and 9 months of pregnancy. These were group comparisons, not repeated measurements of the same women. Hirose et al. (2023) surveyed women who delivered at two facilities and answered a questionnaire 10 to 18 months after birth. Of 1,579 women invited, 341 replied (21.6%); 10 were excluded, leaving 331. Among those respondents, 304 (91.8%) reported at least some shedding. Average reported start, peak, and end times were 2.9, 5.1, and 8.1 months. The authors noted possible sampling bias because people with hair shedding may have been more likely to respond, so 91.8% is not a general-population prevalence estimate.
Breastfeeding
Gizlenti and Ekmekci (2014) found that at the fourth postpartum month, breastfeeding women had a higher mean anagen (growth-phase) ratio and lower mean telogen (resting-phase) ratio than non-breastfeeding women (P = 0.014). They found no significant difference between breastfeeding groups in the first postpartum year (P = 0.385). Hirose et al. (2023) found an association between longer breastfeeding duration and questionnaire-reported postpartum shedding. Its cross-sectional, self-reported design and possible sampling bias do not establish that breastfeeding causes hair shedding. The studies measure different outcomes and provide limited evidence about this association.
This entry describes a body change, not a hair-care ingredient or product. The American Academy of Dermatology calls excessive postpartum shedding telogen effluvium. Cleveland Clinic explains that after birth some hairs enter a resting phase and shed a few months later.
What was tested
Gizlenti and Ekmekci measured scalp hair-cycle proportions with Trichoscan in 116 women across four pregnancy and postpartum groups. Hirose et al. used a questionnaire about shedding, its timing, and feeding duration among 331 respondents from two facilities; only 21.6% of those invited replied, and the authors noted possible sampling bias. Galal et al. (2024) clinically and dermoscopically assessed 200 women who already had postpartum hair loss at one university dermatology clinic, 6 to 8 weeks after delivery. In that selected clinic group, 9.5% were diagnosed with telogen effluvium alone; the rest had telogen effluvium with androgenetic alopecia, traction alopecia, or both. This clinic sample does not show how common those other conditions are among all postpartum women.
Breastfeeding and postpartum hair shedding
- Source A says
- Gizlenti and Ekmekci found higher anagen and lower telogen ratios among breastfeeding women at month four, but no significant difference in the first postpartum year. (Gizlenti and Ekmekci, J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2014: The changes in the hair cycle during gestation and the post-partum period)
- Source B says
- Hirose et al. found that longer breastfeeding duration was associated with questionnaire-reported postpartum hair shedding. (Hirose et al., Int J Womens Dermatol 2023: Investigation of exacerbating factors for postpartum hair loss)
- Why they differ
- Gizlenti and Ekmekci measured hair-cycle ratios at set postpartum time points, while Hirose et al. asked women to recall shedding and feeding duration. Both studies were observational, and Hirose et al. noted possible response bias.
- What the evidence shows overall
- Gizlenti and Ekmekci and Hirose et al. report different associations using different measures. These studies do not establish that breastfeeding causes postpartum hair shedding.
How long shedding or recovery may take
- Source A says
- ACOG says scalp shedding often begins about three months after birth and that hair usually grows back completely within three to six months. (ACOG: Skin Conditions During Pregnancy)
- Source B says
- AAD says shedding often peaks about four months after birth and most women regain normal fullness by the child's first birthday. Cleveland Clinic says shedding usually lasts less than six months and fullness returns by the first birthday. (American Academy of Dermatology: Hair loss in new moms: Dermatologist tips, Cleveland Clinic: Postpartum Hair Loss)
- Why they differ
- The sources describe different outcomes and time markers, including the end of active shedding, regrowth, and return of normal fullness.
- What the evidence shows overall
- ACOG, AAD, and Cleveland Clinic describe a temporary postpartum pattern but give different recovery windows. The studies do not establish one exact recovery date for every person.
- AAD says volumizing shampoo and a lighter conditioner can make hair appear fuller; it notes that choosing products may take trial and error. (American Academy of Dermatology)
- Cleveland Clinic describes gentle washing and combing, lower heat settings, and looser hairstyles as ways to reduce added hair damage or tension. (Cleveland Clinic)
- Cleveland Clinic says continued shedding beyond six months can be discussed with a provider, since another cause such as iron deficiency or thyroid disease may be involved. (Cleveland Clinic)
- AAD says a dermatologist may ask about the timing of hair loss, examine the scalp and hair, and consider blood tests or a scalp biopsy if a disease, nutrient deficiency, hormone imbalance, or infection is suspected. (American Academy of Dermatology)
- AAD notes that postpartum shedding may occur alongside early hereditary hair loss, and says an accurate diagnosis helps identify the cause. (American Academy of Dermatology)
Not enough research found yet.
Experiences from moms and non-medical voices. Not medical evidence.
- American Academy of Dermatology: Hair loss in new moms: Dermatologist tipsSecondaryPage dated 2025-10-02Independent check
- Cleveland Clinic: Postpartum Hair LossSecondaryPage dated 2022-06-13Independent check
- ACOG: Skin Conditions During PregnancyProfessional societySecondaryIndependent check
- Gizlenti and Ekmekci, J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2014: The changes in the hair cycle during gestation and the post-partum periodUS governmentPrimaryIndependent check
- Hirose et al., Int J Womens Dermatol 2023: Investigation of exacerbating factors for postpartum hair lossUS governmentPrimaryIndependent check
- Galal et al., J Clin Aesthet Dermatol 2024: Postpartum Telogen Effluvium Unmasking Additional Latent Hair Loss DisordersUS governmentPrimaryIndependent check
- American Academy of Dermatology: Hair loss: Who gets and causesSecondaryIndependent check
- American Academy of Dermatology: Hair loss: Diagnosis and treatmentSecondaryPage dated 2022-12-13Independent check
Last reviewed 2026-10-18
Independent check 2026-10-18
Not yet clinician-reviewed
Ask your provider about your situation.