Haircare during and after pregnancy | Top tips to strengthen strands

Your body experiences so many changes when you’re expecting. Did you know hormonal shifts during pregnancy can affect your hair too? We’re here to answer your pregnancy-related hair questions, from what happens during to postpartum hair loss.

First of all, here’s the science bit: while you’re pregnant, you tend to have more anagen hairs (these are hairs in the growth phase). You also have a higher hair growth rate and diameter because of soaring estrogen levels. After pregnancy, however, changing hormone levels mean that hair enters the shedding phase, which women typically start to notice at around three months postpartum.

What to expect when you’re expecting: Haircare During Pregnancy

On the positive side, there is an increase in estrogen hormones that stimulate the growth of your hair. Some women see a fuller, thicker head of hair, it all depends on the individual. On the flip side, for some, dandruff can be a result because of the hormonal changes your body is going through. It can be a stressful time for your hair which is why GG is here to help.

Healthy hair starts from the roots, even during pregnancy. A haircare regime that includes weekly cleansing and conditioning can be shown to help relieve dry, itchy scalps while you’re in this transitioning period.

What is dandruff?

Dandruff happens when the cycle of shedding old skin cells speeds up, leaving bits of dead, flaky skin on the scalp. Not fun. And, for some women, the arrival of baby doesn’t relieve every skin issue. Itchiness and dryness may persist for months after giving birth as well. This is where our Intelligent Haircare Balance Routine can help.

Find your balance

GG’s Technical Director Robin Parker explains why our Balance Shine Enhancing Overnight Mask is the perfect place to start in tackling dandruff: “The mask specifically is ideal for helping to remove these plaques of dead skin cells, helping get the scalp back to a healthy, balanced place and then by continual use of the routine maintains this rebalanced result,” he explains.

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Infused with Oat Lipids Complex to help reinforce the scalp’s natural protective barrier and AHA Complex.

Robin says: “The AHA complex works in two ways. It helps to smooth the cuticles of the hair, increasing shine and a healthy appearance. Also AHA’s have a mild exfoliating effect on the scalp, this helps to lift the plaques of dead cells.”

Here’s how to use it: Apply a generous amount to dry hair, smoothing from root to tip. Gently massage into the scalp to relax before bed and leave overnight. Wake up and rinse off.

Next up, cleanse and condition using our Balance Shampoo and Conditioner Duo. Why do you need these in your pregnancy haircare routine?

For the same hormonal reasons, the sebum production on the scalp can become disrupted. Once this starts to happen the natural microbiota present on the scalp and can also be thrown out of balance.

Robin continues: “This, in turn, can lead to a build-up of dead skin cells on the scalp which is what causes the itching and flaking. The Balance Product Range has been carefully formulated to give your hair and scalp the best chance of restoring this natural, symbiotic balance.

“Designed to help maintain a slightly acidic pH and formulated without aggressive detergents the routine will help the scalp help itself in returning to a healthy balanced state.”

All of the Intelligent Haircare Balance products nurture and nourish hair and scalp to optimum health thanks to our Purely Positive Promise: putting your hair health at the heart of everything we do and all formulated without harmful sulphates or mineral oils.

Hairloss after pregnancy: tips for fuller, thicker strands

Motherhood is already filled with sleepless nights; so there’s no easy way to say, it might not seem fair hair loss is a common factor often involved too. According to the American Pregnancy Association, post-partum, hair loss can affect up to 50% of women. Why? Estrogen levels decrease as your hormones stabilise again, meaning hair reverts back to its old condition and reaches the shedding phase. Typically, this happens around three months postpartum. The good news is these changes are all common, so try not to stress this is only temporary – your hair will return to its normal growth cycle. For those mama’s looking for tips and tricks to boost hair growth, look no further, GG’s expertly formulated serums can produce results in as little as 4 weeks!*

Robin explains why GG’s Hair Growth Serum Intense is the perfect match for mama’s suffering with hair loss or thinner strands. “It’s ideal for post-pregnancy hair concerns. The concentrated combination of active ingredients in the serum has been shown to help stimulate the hair follicles into action.”

“The hormonal changes caused by pregnancy and childbirth disrupt the normal balance of the hair growth cycle by kick-starting the hair follicles, the Intense Serum gives you a head start on getting things back to normal,” he continues.

Here’s how it works

Proven to increase the thickness of each strand by up to 13%** for fuller, thicker and healthier looking hair, now newly reformulated with an extra 3% concentration of caffeine than our Original! In case you’re wondering why caffeine is so important, it promotes hair growth right from the roots – where the initial stages of hair growth really kick in. It does this by targeting a hormone called ‘DHT’, which causes hair loss. DHT can prevent vitamins, proteins and minerals from helping hair follicles to grow. Caffeine combats this by causing hair cells to produce more ‘ATP’, which is a form of energy that encourages hair to grow, helping you achieve dreamy fuller, thicker, healthier-looking strands.

A healthy scalp = Healthy Hair

To get the best results, on dry or wet hair, start by applying 20 drops directly onto the scalp and hairline. Massage in well. Smooth any excess serum through the length of your hair and let it work its magic!

When you’re massaging hair products directly to the scalp you’re aiding blood circulation to the scalp and stimulating the roots. Stimulated hair follicles will grow faster, healthier and stronger thanks to getting all the right nutrients and minerals from your body through the improved blood supply into the scalp.

Need some extra tips and tricks for thin hair? Many things contribute to lacklustre locks, so we’ve combined our favourite ways we CAN actively combat thin hair from scalp massages to eating your way to better hair. Read more here!

*Based on two independent user trials.

*Based on independent user trial.

Pic credit: @happilyeverallen