When I had my first child, I lost so much hair afterward. I didn’t give myself enough time for full hair growth after pregnancy because I got pregnant again when my son was 9 months. After I had my daughter, my hair was terrible. I wanted to keep it long, but I felt compelled to cut it really short (here’s a snap of me when she was 3 months old) because I had lost so much hair with the two pregnancies back-to-back.

Now that my daughter is 3 years old, my hair is finally long again. It took a really long time for it to come in like it was before I had kids, and I don’t want you to go through the same thing. I’ve done a bunch of research, and these are 11 tips for hair growth after pregnancy. I wish I had done more research on my own to do these back when I was pregnant and had my kids, but I’m definitely adding these to my hair care routine.

1. Avoid Hot Showers

Try not to take super hot showers because hot water strips your hair of its natural oils, which is drying and makes hair brittle.

2. Use a Repairing Shampoo and Conditioner

To prevent future damage and strengthen existing hair, you should use a repairing shampoo and conditioner, like Dove Intensive Repair.  It works to repair hair and stop 90% of hair damage before it happens. With a patented nourishment system that includes silicone polymers, keratin repair actives, and micro sheet structured conditioners, they work together to make hair more resilient to damage after every wash.

3. Do Not Brush Wet Hair

Wet hair is three times weaker and thus more likely to break – says Dr. Suttar. He recommends, towel dry your hair first and then gently detangle your hair using a wide tooth comb.

4. Let Your Hair Air- Dry

Allow your hair to dry by itself instead of using a blow-dryer or hot rollers. Using this artificial mode of drying technique will make your hair more brittle and dry. If you have no time to let your hair air dry, then use blow-dryer sparingly and make sure you use a warm setting instead of a hot setting.

5. Use the Proper Brushing Technique

Don’t use a comb or brush with plastic bristles because static electricity creates more breakage. When you brush your hair, use a natural bristled brush and start by brushing the ends to get the tangles out. Then take long strokes from the roots which help spread the natural oils and prevent breakage.

6. Don’t Tie Your Hair too Tight

When you wear your hair in a ponytail, don’t tie it too tight. Also, use hair ties that won’t snag your hair. Also, don’t put your hair up until it’s dry because hair is weakest when it is wet. 

7. Trim Your Hair Regularly

When you’re trying to grow out your hair, it seems counterintuitive to get it cut, but it’s imperative to get trims every 6-8 weeks. Regular trims help prevent and eliminate split ends.

8. Consume Enough Protein

Protein is very important for hair growth. Complete sources like meat, fish, eggs, and bone broths are the most beneficial because they provide everything your body needs to build strong hair. Many protein sources also contain iron which is essential for hair growth.

9. Get Your Vitamins

Biotin and Vitamin C both help with hair growth. I like to take a hair and nail supplement to help with my hair growth. You can also include foods like citrus, broccoli, and spinach to get enough vitamin c. Eggs, nuts, berries, and fish contain small amounts of biotin, which helps you reach your daily needs.

10. Add Some Gelatin

I know it might seem odd, but gelatin is awesome for hair growth because it contains the amino acids glycine and proline, which most people don’t eat enough of. These amino acids are found in the bones and organs of animals which help for skin, hair and nail growth as well as immune function. Here are some ways to add more gelatin to your diet.

11. Eat a Healthy Diet

Its very important to eat protein and get your vitamins, but you also need to drink a lot of water and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Diet affects your health and it also affects your hair health.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.