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Dealing with post partum hair

It seems massively unfair that after all that our bodies have already had to cope with in regard to pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding that now our hair is affected aswell. Hair loss is common after having a baby and usually occurs between 3-6 months after birth...I have not suffered any yet but I am starting to worry that it is just a matter of time seeing as I am not yet two months out. Apparently this can be caused by the drop in hormones after pregnancy. While pregnant it is likely your hair loss decreases and your hair will feel thicker and healthier, then after pregnancy with the drop in certain hormones you may then lose all the hair that you would have lost anyway but didn't due to pregnancy.
Other post natal complaints can include hair being drier (which has definitely happened to my frizzy barnet) and being more flyaway.
In order to try and minimise the chances of suffering this I have been taking some precautions and using some products to try and keep my hair healthy.

The first thing I am doing is taking a vitamin supplement. I am currently still taking the Boots Pregnancy support vitamins which I took throughout my pregnancy and are suitable to take while breastfeeding, they just ensure your body is getting all the vitamins and minerals it needs. 
In addition to this I also take my prenatal DHA fish oil capsules, taking essential fatty acids can help with hair loss and encourage the growth of healthy hair. I also try and eat salmon once per week and plenty of avocados for the healthy fats they contain.

In regards to diet I make sure I eat plenty of protein. I am not a vegetarian so I do get protein from lean meat and fish like turkey and tuna. I also eat plenty of beans and pulses and nuts. I am currently on a dairy free diet but milk and cheese are also good sources of protein and calcium. I also use the 'Vega sport' protein shake when I workout to ensure my muscles have enough protein to recover and that the exercise does not effect my milk supply. I am going to do a full review on this protein in another post but it is vegan and whey free (some whey powder can contain heavy metals and is not ideal to use while breastfeeding) and it actually tastes pretty good and gives you 30g protein per serving. Another high protein snack I eat is the 'Pulsin' protein bars, I have the vanilla chocolate chip flavour which tastes really naughty but actually contains all healthy ingredients with no gluten or soya. They also give you 12g of protein per bar.
Another really important factor especially while breastfeeding is to stay super hydrated. I drink at least two litres of water during the day and then I have my water bottle beside the bed and drink another litre throughout the night during night feeds. Not only is this beneficial for breastfeeding and milk supply but it also aids healthy skin, flushes toxins from the body and will help healthy hair growth for those who suffer dry and brittle hair.

Now on to the products that I use on my hair. Firstly the Holy grail of hair brushes the Tangle teezer, I always associated this as a brush for children but it is amazing on both wet and dry hair and detangles really effectively while minimising the amount of hair breakage. And they come in loads of cool colours and designs, definitely a hair must have!
Next Batiste dry shampoo. I've tried a few dry shampoos and I always end up back with Batiste. It's not healthy to wash your hair too frequently, and when you are a mum it's not that easy either! I tend to wash mine twice to three times a week which doesn't sound very often but I am not prone to greasy hair. The Batiste refreshes hair really well between washes, there are loads of different scents to choose from and it's one of those faithful products that you just know won't let you down.

Next I try and use a gentle shampoo when I do wash my hair. At the moment I am loving the 'Organix' range and I am using the anti-breakage keratin oil one. This shampoo contains fortifying keratin proteins that strengthen the hair and increase it's elasticity helping to prevent breakage. It also smells nice!
I also use a deep conditioning mask every time I was my hair. I use the L'Oreal Absolut repair lipidium deep conditioning one for very damaged hair. I wash my hair in the shower before washing my body then after rinsing the shampoo out I apply this mask and put my hair in a clip so it has some time to work it's magic while I wash my body. It really helps condition the hair especially if you have highlights like me and it smells lovely.
I also try to use raw, virgin coconut oil as a hair mask about once a fortnight (possibly less frequently now I have a baby!) I would put it on dry hair before bed and then wash it off in the morning. Coconut oil is super moisturing and nourishing for the hair.
 
I always apply a serum to my wet hair after each wash and at the moment I am loving the Wella professionals Luxeoil. This is a reconstructive oil which provides keratin protection. I have never had a keratin treatment on my hair but I find this serum really smooths the hair follicle and again smells lovely. It is pricey but lasts ages, I only use two pumps and my hair is really long. You can also use it on dry hair to smooth flyaways.
I will keep you updated in my two and three month post partum updates as to how my hair is coping!

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