Does Hair Grow Faster During Pregnancy?

Reviewed by Dr. Shruti Chavan, MBBS
April 25, 2022 Written by Anjali Sayee

Pregnancy is when a woman’s body undergoes many different changes. It also affects the hair. But does hair grow faster during pregnancy? Anecdotally it is said yes. Many observe their hair getting thicker and strong during pregnancy. But how can pregnancy impact hair growth? Read this article to learn the answer and know more about various factors impacting hair growth during pregnancy. Scroll down.

In This Article

How Does Hair Change During Pregnancy?

Your body experiences dramatic hormonal changes during pregnancy. The first hormone that increases in your body in this period is human chorionic gonadotropin (also known as hCG) (1). This is the hormone standard pregnancy test measures to determine pregnancy. Other hormones like estrogen, oxytocin, and prolactin also increase in this period (1). These hormonal imbalances could have an effect on your hair.

There also is an increase in blood circulation during pregnancy, and this may accelerate hair growth. We will further understand this phenomenon in the following section.

Hair Becoming Thicker During Pregnancy

Our hair has a natural growth cycle. Individual hairs grow on the scalp over 2 to 3 months and are pushed out by new hair strands afterward. However, this cycle changes during pregnancy (2).

You might experience your hair growing thicker around 15 weeks into pregnancy. However, in reality, individual hairs do not grow thicker. They instead stay longer in the growing phase of the hair cycle, leading to a thicker appearance. This change happens due to an increase in the estrogen hormone.

But it is important to note that not all women experience thicker hair during pregnancy.

Hair Becoming Thinner During Pregnancy

Some women may experience increased hair fall during pregnancy due to decreased estrogen hormone. It is believed that a decrease in estrogen could be caused by hormonal imbalances during pregnancy or the discontinuation of contraceptives. However, more research is warranted in this regard.

Why Does Your Hair Fall Out After Having A Baby?

Pregnant women will also experience an increased hair loss after delivery. This happens when their estrogen levels normalize, sending the additional hair from the growth phase to the resting phase. This is when more hair falls out than usual, until around 3 to 4 months after the child is born.

While you may observe your hair falling in clumps, you do not have to panic. This is just normal hair loss that happens all at a time. Post-childbirth hair loss can happen any time after delivery. It usually may last for a year before subsiding naturally. However, consult your doctor if you experience hair loss even after a year since childbirth.

Several changes happen to your body during pregnancy. For some, hair grows faster during pregnancy, while some may experience hair thinning. The hormonal imbalances during pregnancy show different changes in different people. However, it is normal to experience hair fall, and most of the hair will grow back with time. You may also experience hair loss after childbirth, and there is nothing to be worried about, as these are common during pregnancy. But, if the hair loss persists even a year after childbirth, you may consult a doctor and seek treatment.

Key Takeaways

Your body experiences drastic hormonal changes and increased blood flow that aid hair growth during pregnancy.
Estrogen levels shoot up in the first 15 weeks, giving hair a fuller look by altering its growth cycle.
Estrogen levels plummet after delivery leading to heavy hair loss, which stops after a few months or a year.
If hair loss continues after a year, you may need to consult a doctor.

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