Britney Spears is NOT going bald
I am really so aggravated at how ignorant people are of what happens to a woman’s body during and after pregnancy. The latest is that Britney Spears is going bald! This ridiculous article that quotes the British rag, the Daily Star, says that Britney is losing her hair due to stress about her comeback, her n’er do well hubby, and caring for her baby Sean Preston. They even go so far as to say that she is losing "clumps of her luscious locks" and has taken to donning hats to mask the hair loss.
It may not be widely known by people who have never been pregnant, but it is extremely normal for a woman to lose hair after giving birth. You may have heard your mother mention that her hair thinned after she had you. In fact, it’s happening to me right now!
Here’s what happens. Anywhere from 1-6 months after giving birth, many new moms lose hair due to the natural growing cycle of hair. As Babycenter.com explains it, normally 85-95% of your hair grows while the other 5-15% rests and then falls out when you brush or shampoo your hair. During pregnancy, the growing stage is prolonged so you lose less hair but postpartum, falling estrogen levels cause a greater percentage of hair follicles to rest/fall out. Most women find that their hair goes back to normal after six months. (By the way, it is completely unrelated to breastfeeding. )
For more info, visit Kellymom.com, an excellent breastfeeding and parenting resource.
- Posted on Mar 8, 06 at 10:33PM
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- 4 Comments
March 9th, 2006 at 7:38 am
The hair loss is insane, isn’t it! It’s EVERYWHERE. Totally hormonal.
March 9th, 2006 at 10:45 am
Even though the rational part of me knew it was normal, I was starting to feel like I was going bald too. Thank goodness that stage is over!
March 9th, 2006 at 11:09 am
My mom’s a hairdresser and she said the one thing that makes people lose their hair is STRESS! And that can be from a hormonal change or even just normal everyday stresses in life. I have heard of hair loss after pregnancy but you certainly can’t take away that Stress could be a major factor. But if I was britney I too would have major stress.
March 10th, 2006 at 1:35 pm
it’s totally a postpartum thing. it’s happened to all my friends and it’s happened to me after my babies. 4-5 months postpartum, it just starts falling out – everywhere! annoying, but temporary. if brit is losing her hair, that’s for sure what it is. but if she’s preg again it will probably stop…