Just a few days ago we mentioned how hormones can affect your health in some pretty fascinating ways – and over the last few months I have truly been a testament to that!
Over the last 10 years, I have been pregnant and nursed 5 kids – now, after having baby 5, my hormones are all completely scrambled up trying to get back to their normal state. The hardest part of this postpartum experience is definitely the hair loss.
Why Postpartum Hair Loss?
Almost every woman goes through this period after giving birth – and for some of us, it truly is a struggle. Postpartum hair loss happens because most hair follicles grow hair for several months, then rest for several months. At any given time, usually 10% of your hair follicles are resting. During pregnancy, your hair follicles are resting even more – so you lose even less hair than you would normally.
After the baby arrives, your hormones go into manic mode, and try to catch your body up on all the hair loss that should have happened, but didn’t.. it’s totally normal, but it might scare you to see all that hair fall out. It scares the death out of me and I start to go into manic panic mode.
How to Cope with Hair Loss
So many women head to their local salon or, perhaps even their doctor for support with hair loss – it’s wonderful, though, when you can take your own steps to support a healthy scalp just by reaching in your cabinet. I love to be able to make things myself, so I usually turn to my Essential Oil rack to see what I can use to help support my scalp.
Sulphur for Healthy Hair
Human hair is made from Keratin – which is very high in sulfur content. Sulfur gives hair its strength and elasticity. If you aren’t getting enough sulfur, your hair can be very dry and brittle (and therefore thin very easily too). If you are experiencing thinning hair or hair loss and you aren’t postpartum, you may want to try to extend the growing and resting phase of your hair cycle to allow healthier, and stronger hair to grow in. Sulphur can help you do that.
Sulphur can be incorporated into your diet through food (foods like Fish, Beef, Eggs, Onions, Garlic, Asparagus, Cauliflower, Kale & more)… which provide the materials you need for keratin to synthesize. You can also pick up a dietary supplement like Sulfurzyme (from Young Living) which will support healthy and natural hair growth.
Here’s an easy way to whip up healthy hair oil that you can massage into your scalp daily to promote healthy hair.
Healthy Hair Serum
- 10 drops Rosemary Essential Oil
- 10 drops Cedarwood Essential Oil
- 10 drops Lavender Essential Oil
- 2 oz glass dropper bottle
- Castor Oil (for thinning hair) or Jojoba Oil (for dry hair)
To make: mix the essential oils with the castor or jojoba oil. Massage on your scalp after taking a shower to encourage and support healthy hair and scalp. There isn’t a need to wash out – I would recommend showering and applying it in the evening.
Optional: Adding Thyme Essential Oil is also wonderful for supporting a healthy scalp and to promote the delivery of nutrients.
What oils do you use? We use Young Living Essential Oils – find out more about Young Living and how we use them for our family HERE.
Hi, I just found out about this site after looking into cent’sableshopinn. I am impressed with all the good, natural information. Who is writing this blog if I might ask? I have a question about this particular post. Castor oil for thinning hair. Where do I buy it? Thank you
Hi Crystal — I’m Sheryl. I’m the same one who writes Cents’Able Shoppin.. I have this blog too. You can find Castor Oil on Amazon. If you would like a good brand, you are welcome to email me at rebootedmom (at) gmail (dot) com.
Thank you. I have seen castor oil at walgreens, is this different than what the mix ask for?
If you are looking for one in stores, try to find one that is cold pressed, hexane free, and unrefined. I haven’t gotten mine at Walgreens so I’m not sure if theirs is a good quality one, I got mine on Amazon (Sky Organics, unrefined, and hexane free 16 oz) – it was around $12 when I got it a few months ago.
Thank you! found your page while looking for ways to improve my diet while postpartum. I will share I started taking a postpartum hair vitamin (www.babyblues.care) – it has vitamins and minerals to help hair growth and it has been effective. Hoping to combine that with healthy eating and have the best hair I can post baby.