Postpartum Hair Loss in Australia: What New Mums Need to Know

Noticing handfuls of hair in the shower after having a baby?

Seeing more hair than usual in your brush, on your pillow or around the house?

For many new mums, postpartum hair loss can feel alarming — especially when your hair looked thicker during pregnancy.

The reassuring part is that increased shedding after childbirth is extremely common.

And while the temptation may be to immediately search for the best hair oil for postpartum hair loss, understanding why your hair is shedding is the best place to start.

Here’s what new mums should know about postpartum hair loss, how long it can last, and how to build a gentler scalp and hair-care routine during this stage.

What Is Postpartum Hair Loss?

Postpartum hair loss usually isn't permanent hair loss.

It is commonly a form of temporary excessive shedding known as telogen effluvium.

During pregnancy, higher hormone levels can keep more hairs in the growing phase of the hair cycle. After childbirth, hormone levels change and many of those hairs enter the shedding phase around the same time.

The American Academy of Dermatology explains that postpartum shedding commonly becomes noticeable a few months after childbirth and often peaks at