Having a child is a miracle. With that miracle comes some sacrifices. Of course your body is one. Not that my body was all that before, but gee wiz. In addition to a stomach that looks like Tony the Tiger’s, I’ve been secretly suffering from extreme postpartum hair loss. I’m not talking about your typical shedding or thinning. I’m talking completely bald spots. Yes, my hair looks stunning in this picture thanks to Latched + Hooked. Now that I got a handle on the hair loss, I thought I would share my story and how I dealt with it.
After giving birth to Harper last September, I continued to wear my usual extensions. One day in December I was brushing my hair (extensions) and a braid got caught in my brush. I’m like WTH is that? When I went to investigate, I found that there was tracks (braids with extensions) hanging down. If you’ve ever worn a weave, you know the hair is cornrowed down so the extensions can be sewn on. My cornrows were no longer attached to my head. I didn’t freak out because this scene is similar to one that took place 5 years earlier when I had Peyton.
I continued to investigate. I found several more detached cornrows around my hairline. When I moved the braid out the way, all I saw was skin. It seriously looked like I got a Brazilian wax around my hairline. Instead of going into panic mode, I grabbed a scull cape and wore that every day until I took the extensions out.
Left photo is of the braids that detached from my scalp. Middle photo is the shedding from the hair that was left. Photo on the right is about 1 1/2 months after the hair loss.
I removed the extensions a few weeks later at night while everyone was sleeping. Once I took my hair down, I saw the real damage. I looked like Mister T, no joke. Let’s not get on the shedding on the rest of my head. My counter was full of hair. So much hair that I couldn’t believe there was any left on my head at all.
The shedding wouldn’t stop. My hair hair was feeling horrible. What did I do? I grabbed some scissors and started cutting. I kept cutting until my hair felt better and the shedding stopped. I cut at least 4 to 5 inches off. I actually thought about grabbing my husbands clippers and going to town but then I remembered I would have any hair to attach braids to in the future. Yes, all this went down in my bathroom while everyone was sleeping.
Now that my baldness was exposed, what was I going to do? I wasn’t going to be a slave to this hair loss. I wasn’t going to let it run my life. Until I plotted my next moves, my styles consisted of wearing clip in bangs, head wraps and scull caps. I hit up Tiffini, the owner of Latched + Hooked and told her what happened. Not only did she sympathize with me, she told me to come see her.
While wearing my fabulous curls from Latched + Hooked, I was able to take care of my hair underneath. I took my hair vitamins and applied Jamaican black castor oil to the bald areas. The regrowth has been a slow process because my hair was gone from below my scalp. It took forever just to see a little sprout.
This was a hard story to share. You know everyone talks about folks edges not being loyal (I’ll never say anything bad about anyones edges again). No one shouldn’t have to ball up in the corner just because you’ve lost some hair. You have options and you can still look fabulous. Latched + Hooked offers a variety of pre-curled crochet hair, braids, twists and more. You can learn more about Latched + Hooked HERE.
Did you experience postpartum hair loss? How did you deal with it?
EarthAngel172
July 27, 2016 at 10:00 amI’m going thru this right now at 3.5 months postpartum. My edges are super thin and the texture of my hair has changed a bit too. I’m losing lots of hair every day and it’s depressing.
Nikesha
July 27, 2016 at 11:13 amThis was a great read, and very inspiring for those of us suffering from hair loss. Thanks for sharing you me story because it definitely helps me view my situation in a different light….that it’s not the end of the world!
Bernetta
July 27, 2016 at 12:11 pmMan, I am so sorry to hear that. I am glad that it’s growing back too. I cut all my hair off last year because my hair was in a slow shed and change. It was just not the same. So I cut it off and started over. I agree Latch + Hooked offers a great way to have a protective style and remember, you can always make a wig too!
Caprece l
July 27, 2016 at 12:42 pmWhat a beautiful post Trina, I went through this after Mickey and it’s tough. I know this post will help a lot of mommies, and women in general who go through this. XOXO
Latoya
July 27, 2016 at 12:42 pmThank you for sharing your story. I am experiencing some hair thinning, I’m 7 months postpartum. I’m afraid to take anything because I’m still breastfeeding. You mentioned hair vitamins, which ones? Please recommend.
Raquel
July 27, 2016 at 1:08 pmWow!! This is crazy and I would have been a wreck! I took it hard when my hair was severely damage three years ago and my curls were not poppin. But I got my stuff in order. You’re brave for sharing your story and showing the actual pics!
Tiffiany
July 27, 2016 at 1:53 pmI experienced extreme post-partum hair loss, too. The difference is my hormonal changes seemed to coincide with the beginning of androgenetic alopecia. Most of my hair never grew back. I wear wigs, use hair fibers & scarves. I refuse to go into hiding bc of my hair. I share my story because we are more than our hair.
Roni
July 27, 2016 at 1:55 pmThis happened to me too. I wore braids when I delivered my baby and then went in for a new set when she was about 2 months. The second set is what took my hair out. I was losing whole braids and when I took them down I would unravel the braid almost to the knot to have the whole knot with hair attached detach from my scalp. I was devastated because it is so hard to grow back edges after you lose them. I used Baby Don’t be Bald grease and jamaican castor oil to bring them back. Now three years later I am about to deliver again and I am re-thinking getting braids this time. Thank you for sharing your story.
Kanae
July 27, 2016 at 4:01 pmThis is my story as well. I’ve been slightly depressed and don’t want to be a slave to it. I’m going to look into those fibers as well and some wigs.
Thanks Trina for sharing this!
Lexi
July 27, 2016 at 5:05 pmI’m glad you were able to find a solution with Latched + Hook. Your hair always looks great and you would’ve never known until you showed me. It’s great you are able to share with us so we can look out for this after having a baby so people won’t freak out! Love your hair ??
Danielle
July 27, 2016 at 9:10 pmLove that you shared this! Hopefully it’ll inspire more women to not be so mean about other’s hair loss. We’re judged about so much already.
Kristen-Meme
July 27, 2016 at 9:13 pmThanks so much for sharing. My shedding started three months after having my son. I washed my hair one day and noticed that my edges were gone. I freaked out because it was literally skin there no hair. My long hair looked like an island on my head. I held off taking vitamins …due to nursing and my edges started to come back in almost a year later. The more I worried about it the slower it seemed to come back. I wore my hair down for a year and didn’t put ANY stress on my edges. I’m going to try the latched look…does it pull or tug on the hair?
Junette
July 27, 2016 at 9:55 pmIt definitely happens. But like you said its just hair. It doesn’t define who you are. You have concurred the true battle of acceptance. Pregnancy treats each and everyone of us differntly but the remarkable outcome is that wonderful healthy baby. That hair will grow back. Keep it moisturized and continue to take those vitamins. That hair will be back before you know it. Stay positive and thanks for sharing ♡
Dương Thu Hằng
July 27, 2016 at 11:47 pmI really love this post. Thanks for your sharing. Hope that I could read more and more useful article like this. Keeping moving forward
Shilene
July 30, 2016 at 7:04 pmAfter I had Baby #3 in my 30’s my hair has never been the same. my crown is thin and I had a bald spot. I also developed seborrhea dermatitis after wearing back to back sew ins. I went to a dermatologist to clear my scalp up and I’m wearing my natural hair more. Slowly but surely getting back to normal.
Lauren
August 1, 2016 at 10:56 amThank you for sharing! Trina I am dealing with the same thing after having my 2nd daughter last year. I lost my edges after my first daughter in 2013…but this time around is a whole nother level! I am still dealing with it and the shedding and she is almost one! Jamaican black castor oil has been my saving grace and I am also about to start taking vitamins to assist. Thank you for sharing your story
Adrienne
August 1, 2016 at 12:34 pmGreat read!! Your hair always looks amazing but I really appreciate how honest and candid you are in this post. How has the Black Castor Oil been helping?
Charlotte
August 1, 2016 at 3:12 pmWith my first pregnancy the bulk of my hair loss was at the crown, but thankfully grew back. With Micah, my edges suffered most.
Thank you for sharing the struggles that often come with pregnancy.
Krissy
August 5, 2016 at 2:09 amI actually suffer from alopecia since i was about 19. My hair started falling out at my nape on the right and left sides. Then my edges on the rights and left. I used to cover by keeping my hair long or slicked down into a ponytail but my scalp hates ponytails. It wasnt until i embraced my natural curls that i came to a place of acceptance. I wish it would grow back but its not going to so i just deal. I was duped after having my baby tho. My hair was ling and thick and healthy and had filled in on the edges a bit. A few months later ot was bald city again.
Adanna
August 7, 2016 at 4:00 pmGirl, the struggle is real. I struggled with this a few months after giving birth to both of my children but my daughter was really extreme. My edges were completely bald. I did scalp massages with Jamaican Black Castor Oil and used a few Ayurvedic oils (can’t recall names now) but those really helped.
Y
August 12, 2016 at 8:26 pmThe same thing happened to me. I blamed the faux locs, I thought they were too heavy. After reading this post I attribute the baldness to postpartum. It is really hard to hide. I will consider crochet! Thank you. Your realness helps us girl
Angel
August 14, 2016 at 12:11 amHi Trina,
Bless you for having the courage to share something so deeply personal & that we as women often shy away from discussing. I have not experienced shedding at this level, but shedding and loss–yes. For you or anyone else still searching for a solution, I encourage you to consider a product I have tested over the past few month’s and provided detailed reviews on. I truly believe in this product, but I think it tends to fly under the radar a bit. The company/brand is Deity USA(www.deityusa.com) My two reviews can be found here Deity Reigns http://goo.gl/VLfH6Vns AND here Crown & Glory http://goo.gl/zkCnGg.
If you have any questions, drop me a line. Be blessed beauty 🙂
LaTasha Lipford
January 5, 2017 at 9:14 amIm currently experiencing postpartum hair loss and it can be devasting at times. I have always been self conscience about having thin hair. When it started to shed a few months after giving birth to my beautifil son, my confidence was down to the floor. I just continue to thank God for my son and look at the postives. I take my vitimans and apply jamican castor oil to my bald spots and keep it moving. Thank you for sharing your story. You have truly inspired me.
fay
July 31, 2020 at 9:01 pmHair loss really affected me my first pregnancy.. actually cried to my obgyn.. she ended up recommending a postpartum hair vitamin from baby blues (www.babyblues.care) not as a cure but something to help the process not be so severe. It actually slowed down my shedding and helped my hair not feel so dry and thin. The hair loss really took a toll on my self esteem probably more than any of the postpartum symptoms.