This article was reviewed by Sara Harcharik Perkins, MD.
Key Takeaways:
- It’s possible to lose hair when you’re pregnant, but it’s far less common than postpartum shedding — most women actually notice fuller hair due to higher estrogen levels.
- When hair thinning does occur in pregnancy, it’s often linked to telogen effluvium, hormonal shifts, nutritional deficiencies, thyroid problems, as a side effect of certain medications, or tight hairstyles.
- Pregnancy-related hair loss is usually temporary. Identifying the underlying cause — whether stress, diet, or a medical condition — can help support healthy regrowth.
- While most hair loss treatments are reserved for after delivery, eating a nutrient-rich diet, being gentle with your hair, and managing stress may help protect your strands during pregnancy.
You’ve heard about postpartum hair loss, but is hair loss during pregnancy also common?
Like morning sickness and constant urination, hair loss may be a concern when you’re expecting. And while it’s rare during this time, it does sometimes happen.
Let’s dive into what causes hair loss during pregnancy and some treatment strategies if it happens to you.
Is Hair Loss During Pregnancy Common?
Hair loss during pregnancy is no more common than hair loss among women in general.
A 2023 study of 200 women receiving care at an Indian hospital showed that just five (2.5 percent) experienced hair loss. And in an older 2014 study, out of 400 pregnant women, 92 experienced hair loss at some point during pregnancy.
As a matter of fact, it’s more likely that pregnancy will make your hair fuller, not thinner. This is because high levels of estrogen prolong the growth phase of the hair growth cycle (known as the anagen phase), so you shed fewer hairs.
But there could be a few reasons for hair loss during pregnancy. Let’s dive into some of the more common ones.
Hormonal Changes
Many rapid hormonal changes happen during pregnancy, which may cause telogen effluvium. This is sudden, excessive hair shedding caused by a disrupted hair growth cycle.
Telogen effluvium happens about 3 months after a triggering event, like surgery, a major illness, or – potentially – pregnancy. It usually lasts for up to 6 months, then stops on its own. If you’re shedding lots of white bulb hairs, it could be a sign of telogen effluvium.
It’s more common to lose your hair after giving birth, though it’s possible to start shedding before.
Nutritional Deficiencies and Thyroid Issues
Some nutritional deficiencies and thyroid problems may lead to hair loss.
Your healthcare provider will order blood tests to ensure you are meeting the necessary levels for all the essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals during your pregnancy.
Iron Deficiency
Iron deficiency can be a major factor in your hair health and can influence both hair growth and hair structure.
And when you’re pregnant, there can be some really odd cravings or intense nausea that may prevent you from eating a balanced diet. About 1 in 4 American women experience iron deficiency during pregnancy.
Untreated iron deficiency can lead to iron deficiency anemia, a condition where low iron levels are severe enough to reduce hemoglobin production, leading to symptoms like:
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Pale skin
- Hair loss
Biotin (B vitamin) Deficiency
Biotin (also called vitamin B7) helps your body convert food into energy. It plays an important role in keratin production, which supports healthy hair.
A biotin deficiency may contribute to thinning or brittle hair.
Thyroid Problems
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and estrogen are two pregnancy-related hormones that can affect thyroid hormone levels. HCG may weakly stimulate the thyroid, and estrogen may increase total thyroid hormone levels, though the free, or active, level stays the same.
This may sometimes make it difficult for a medical provider to diagnose a thyroid disorder, but it’s important to speak with your provider if you’re noticing hair loss.
It could be a symptom of a thyroid issue. According to a small 2025 study on people with alopecia areata, 25 percent of participants were found to have hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, while autoimmune thyroid dysfunction was found in about 19 percent of participants. This means thyroid disease may affect hair growth.
Medication
Hair loss can sometimes also be caused by certain medications. If you’ve started any new medications, it’s possible that they may trigger telogen effluvium hair loss.
It’s best to discuss your symptoms and side effects with your healthcare provider.
Hair Styling
If you haven’t been feeling your best during pregnancy, you may be tying your hair back more than normal. Tight braids, buns, or ponytails may potentially be what’s causing your thinning.
These tight hairstyles can lead to a type of hair loss known as traction alopecia due to the constant pulling force and tension on the hair follicles.
Switching to looser styles might help reverse this type of hair loss.
Stress
Stress can lead to hair shedding, as it’s a trigger for telogen effluvium. Pregnancy can be stressful, so it’s not far-fetched to think your new situation could lead to telogen effluvium.
Learn more about stress and hair loss in our comprehensive guide.
Will Hair Lost During Pregnancy Grow Back?
Hair loss during pregnancy is often temporary and will regrow eventually. This depends on the underlying cause.
By your baby’s first birthday, excessive hair shedding may be a distant memory.
Read our guide on hair loss in women for more information.
How to Treat and Prevent Hair Loss in Pregnancy
Your body undergoes lots of changes during pregnancy, but most of these side effects will eventually go away.
Until then, there are some things you can try to help. But medical treatments will need to wait until your baby is born, and in some cases, until you’re no longer breastfeeding.
Consider the following:
Eat Healthy for Two
Try to maintain a healthy diet. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables rich in flavonoids and antioxidants. These natural plant compounds help protect the hair follicle and encourage healthy hair growth.
Take Your Vitamins
Supplementing with a hair vitamin may be a good bet, but speak with your healthcare provider to make sure it doesn’t overlap with your prenatal vitamin, which takes priority.
See our guide for more tips on how to get thicker hair.
Give Your Strands a Little TLC
Take it easy on heat tools, aggressive styling, and chemical treatments. Being gentle will help keep your hair healthy and strong.
Destress
Growing a human comes with stress, and that’s okay. Finding ways to lower stress is key, whether it’s yoga, exercise, a mid-day dance party, or talking to a therapist.
If you’ve been experiencing stress-related hair loss, practicing meditation may help you during stressful moments.
If life feels hard to manage, our online mental health services can help you get a better handle on things. One benefit of online therapy is that you don’t have to deal with any waiting rooms.
Feel like your hair loss took an unexpected nosedive? Learn more about sudden hair loss in our blog.
The Bottom Line
Since hair loss during pregnancy can sometimes point to issues like nutritional deficiencies or thyroid problems, it’s best to speak with your healthcare provider.
If thinning continues after giving birth, there are evidence-based treatments that may help encourage regrowth. And because stress can play a role, finding simple ways to unwind can make a meaningful difference now — and as you navigate parenthood.
FAQs
What causes hair loss during pregnancy?
Hair loss in pregnancy can stem from hormonal shifts, stress, nutritional deficiencies, thyroid issues, or as side effects of certain medications. Tight hairstyles may also contribute by putting extra tension on the hair follicles, though that’s not specific to pregnancy.
Is it typical to lose hair while pregnant?
It’s possible, but not very common. Most women experience fuller hair during pregnancy, though some may notice shedding from telogen effluvium or an underlying health issue.
Will my hair grow back after pregnancy?
In most cases, yes — pregnancy-related shedding is temporary. Once the triggering factor resolves, your hair typically returns to its usual growth pattern within several months.
Can I treat hair loss while pregnant?
Most medical hair loss treatments aren’t recommended until after delivery (and sometimes after breastfeeding). Focusing on nutrition, gentle styling, and stress reduction can help in the meantime.
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This article originally appeared on ForHers.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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