Postpartum Hair Loss: Why It Happens, When It Peaks and When It Stops

By DermLens AI · 11 October 2026 · 5 min read

A few months after having a baby, many women are alarmed to find handfuls of hair in the shower or on the pillow. It is distressing, and it is also very common. A recent study gives us some of the clearest numbers yet on what to expect.

How common is it?

A questionnaire study published in 2023 asked women who had given birth at two facilities, 10 to 18 months earlier, about postpartum hair loss. Of the 331 responses analysed, 304 women (91.8%) reported postpartum hair loss. The study's authors note that although postpartum hair loss is believed to be common, there is little reliable information, which is why this kind of data is useful.

The timeline

On average, among the women in the study:

• Hair loss started at about 2.9 months after birth
• It peaked at about 5.1 months
• It ended at about 8.1 months

These are averages, so your own experience may differ. But they show that this is typically a temporary phase of several months, not permanent hair loss.

Why does it happen?

The condition is known in the medical literature as postpartum telogen effluvium: a temporary period of increased shedding after a major physical change. You are not losing hair because of something you did wrong.

What was linked to more hair loss?

The 2023 study found that longer breastfeeding and preterm labour were independent predictors of postpartum hair loss. Women who ended breastfeeding 6–12 months postpartum, or after 12 months or more, were more likely to report hair loss than those who stopped within 6 months. These are statistical associations from a self-reported questionnaire, so they do not show that breastfeeding causes hair loss, and they are not a reason to change how you feed your baby. The authors also note possible sampling bias, because women with hair loss may have been more likely to respond.

What can you do?

These are general suggestions, not findings of the study:

• Be gentle: avoid tight hairstyles and rough brushing while hair is shedding.
• Eat and rest as well as you can, within the reality of a newborn.
• Check supplements and products with your pharmacist or midwife if you are breastfeeding, rather than starting new ones on your own.

Our rosemary oil article explains what the research does and does not show for hair loss in general. It studied pattern hair loss, not postpartum shedding, so it does not tell us whether rosemary oil helps after a baby.

When to see a doctor

Speak to your GP if shedding continues well beyond the timeline above, if you notice bald patches, if your scalp is sore or inflamed, or if you have other symptoms such as extreme tiredness. Your GP can look for other causes. Hair loss that does not follow the usual pattern deserves a proper check.

The bottom line

If your hair is falling out a few months after your baby is born, you are in very good company: over 90% of the women in this study had it, and on average it ended around eight months after birth. If it lasts much longer or looks patchy, ask your GP.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

1. Hirose A, et al. Investigation of exacerbating factors for postpartum hair loss: a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study. Int J Womens Dermatol, 2023. doi:10.1097/JW9.0000000000000084

This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have a skin or scalp condition, or you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking medication, speak to a doctor, pharmacist or dermatologist before changing your routine.