The Root Cause of Postpartum Hair Loss: It's Not Stress, It's Your Metabolism

You've probably heard that hair loss is normal when you're postpartum, right? Or it just happens when you're stressed a lot? Well, it doesn't have to be that way!

Hair growth takes an abundance of resources- mainly protein, minerals, and energy. When your body is undernourished, hair growth is one of the easiest things to cut back on so resources can be used for more important things like your vital organs and such.

The reason you experience hair loss postpartum is because the need for nutrients and calories increases even more than during pregnancy! (especially if you're breastfeeding.) No matter how you delivered your baby, you need a LOT of support to heal your tissues, support your hormones, and keep your energy high.

Meanwhile, many women are told to cut calories to "bounce back." It's a recipe for metabolic dysfunction- it's no wonder hair loss, thyroid issues, low energy, postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and mood swings are so common.

The reason you experience hair loss when you're chronically stressed is because you actually burn through more calories and minerals in a fight/flight/freeze state. Your body is using up all the nutrients it can to give you more energy and alertness to deal with the problem at hand. Ideally, the problem then resolves and you can get back into a rest & digest state to replenish those nutrients.

In both cases, hair loss is often one of the first signs that you're asking more of your body than you're giving it.

To help with hair loss, you need to focus on eating enough calories, getting enough protein, and replenishing minerals. Below I've listed some of my favorite resources and recipes to help you do just that, while focusing on a whole food-first approach.

In short, these are all designed to help give your body the energy and nutrients it needs to help you grow and keep long, strong, healthy hair, even postpartum.

One of my personal favorites right now is starting my day with the Beauty & Bliss Rosemary Cacao powder with raw milk and a scoop of collagen. It's delicious and abundantly rich in everything needed to support a healthy metabolism and hair and is by far one of my favorite drinks ever- which, if you know me, is really saying something!

If you end up trying these tips, I'd love to hear your success story! Try it out for a couple weeks and see the difference.

beauty & bliss cacao

This is by far my favorite hot chocolate ever (which is saying a lot). With a rich blend of herbs, medicinal mushrooms, and cacao, it's rich in nutrients specifically chosen to promote hair growth. Any woman would be spoiled to have this postpartum! The code CAROLINE gets you 10% every order

shilajit

Rich compounds like fulvic acid and humic acid, shilajit increases your absorption of nutrients to fuel metabolic health, energy, and hair growth. It contains a variety of trace minerals and is considered an adaptogen, meaning it helps your body better handle stress.

Made from pasture-raised beef, this has all the amino acids your body needs to fuel healthy, strong hair and nails. Easily add a scoop to your favorite hot OR cold drinks and recipes for a quick protein boost when you don't 1have the time or energy to make something. (The code FLOURISHNFLOW gets you an extra 10% off your entire order)

collagen

adrenal mocktail (original)

Rich in Vitamin C, sodium, potassium, and magnesium to fuel your andrenals- aka your stress response system. Drinking some version of this daily will help you better handle stress and feel more resilient.

8 oz orange juice (not from concentrate)

8 oz pure coconut water

1/4 tsp quality salt (Redmonds or unrefined sea salt)

opt: 1/2 tsp cream of tartar 

opt: 1 scoop of collagen (the code FLOURISHNFLOW gets you an extra 10% off)

adrenal mocktail (lemonade)

Rich in Vitamin C, sodium, potassium, and magnesium to fuel your andrenals- aka your stress response system. Drinking some version of this daily will help you better handle stress and feel more resilient.

12 oz coconut water

12 oz water

1 lemonade packet

1/4 tsp quality salt (Redmonds)

1/2 tsp cream of tartar

1/2 lemon, juiced

opt: 1/4 tsp Acerola Cherry Powder (code FLOURISHNFLOW gets you an extra 10% off)

f you've looked up what to eat to boost hair growth, you'll find advice to increase iron, biotin, and a general "healthy diet." In reality, you want to create a foundation of vibrant metabolic health. In other words, optimizing your body's ability to digest, produce, and utilize energy.

→ Eat enough protein. Strive for 100g a day from animal sources. A full amino acid profile is essential- but especially the protein Lysine!

→ B6 rich foods like liver, chicken breast, egg yolk, potatoes, fresh milled flour, bananas, avocado

nutrition