From sleepless nights to navigating changing identities, motherhood reshapes nearly every aspect of a woman’s life—including her hair. For many women, postpartum hair loss adds another layer of vulnerability to an already overwhelming time. In a recent NewBeauty survey of more than 1,300 participants, real women shared their honest experiences with postpartum hair loss, and their stories speak volumes.
A 38-year-old mother described the intensity of her hair loss: “After my second baby, the postpartum hair loss was intense. My hair had always been very long and so healthy but pregnancy had changed that. I lost so much hair that I ended up having to chop my hair off up to my shoulders in order to even out all the regrowth 2 years postpartum… I didn’t feel like ‘me’ anymore without it.”
“I am still dealing with postpartum hair loss,” says another 35-year-old mom. “And with the color I use for my hair I have to lighten it first. The lightening makes my hair look even thinner when it starts to grow back and it makes me very self conscious.”
For some, the emotional toll lingers years after giving birth. “It’s really taken a chunk out of me emotionally,” a 41-year-old mother shares. “I’m constantly in fear I’m going to go bald, I’m losing so much hair.”
Others echo this fragile mix of frustration and acceptance. “Postpartum hair loss and stress caused lots of hair loss,” says a 36-year-old.
Even those with a positive perspective feel the burden. “Hair thinning due to postpartum shows what I’ve been through,” one 35-year-old writes. “Pregnancy was a wonderful experience and hair thinning is a reminder of that. But my self-care routine is longer and bothersome with baby hairs.”
Some days, the loss becomes a quiet battle with the mirror. “Judging myself in the mirror and pictures for the postpartum hair thinning at my forehead,” shares a 33-year-old. “[It] doesn’t deter me from social settings, but I do want to improve it.”
From self-consciousness about hairlines and temples to the unexpected grays, the emotional weight is real. “Since I had a baby my hair has been significantly thinner,” shares a 40-year-old. “I feel less confident about my look. I wish my hair could grow more and be less grey.”
For many moms, postpartum hair loss isn’t just about appearance; it’s about identity, confidence and finding the strength to show up fully, even when they don’t feel like themselves. Or as one 30-year-old mom of two puts it: “Both [pregnancies] I’ve felt extremely self-conscious of my hairline and defeated because nothing would work quickly enough to gain my confidence back.”
Motherhood changes everything. And for many, that includes their relationship with their reflection.
*Source: BeautyEngine Advanced Research, 2025
