However, if a majority of your hair follicles do happen to be in the telogen phase, you will experience increased shedding—and, though it’s unfortunate, it’s also totally normal. “Our hair is highly sensitive to any kind of imbalance due to the fast rate [at which] it reproduces,” James says, explaining that extra hair shedding for up to three months post-pregnancy is common. In order to help try to maintain any semblance of homeostasis in the body during such a profoundly transitional time, “it is often recommended that new moms stay on prenatal vitamins for at least six months after giving birth.” Why can increased feelings of stress lead to hair thinning and loss? This again ties back to balance, or homeostasis, in the body, specifically in relation to the sympathetic nervous system and the adrenal glands6. “Both of these hormone [regulators], if out of balance due to high stress, will create hair thinning and loss,” James says. The good news here is that turning your stress levels around can also profoundly reduce hair loss—the bad news, of course, is that that’s much easier said than done (though we have some helpful tips ahead). It’s well documented that nutritional deficiency can affect both hair growth and hair thickness, or structure. If you suspect that you’re suffering from any nutritional deficiencies, make an appointment with your doctor before reaching for any supplements.
