Reference guide · RENASCOR Laboratory

Get back the hair you had before.

A few months after giving birth, losing hair in handfuls is as unsettling as it is common. The good news: it grows back. The real question is how fast, and in what condition — and that is where you can take action.

Eurostat data & dermatological literature · Updated 11 June 2026
50 to 80% of new mothers experience hair loss after childbirth Dermatological literature
2 to 4 months after childbirth: usual onset of shedding, peak around month 4 American Academy of Dermatology
~12 months usual time to regain hair volume Dermatological literature
Understand

It is not hair loss. It is a catch-up.

During pregnancy, oestrogen levels are at their highest. They prolong the hair growth phase: you lost less hair than usual, and your hair seemed fuller. That was not an illusion.

After childbirth, oestrogen drops sharply. All the hair “held back” for nine months enters the shedding phase at once — this is telogen effluvium. The loss feels massive because it is synchronized, not because your hair is diseased. It is a catch-up of the natural cycle, and it is reversible.

In what condition will your hair return? Spontaneous regrowth often starts with fine hair, sometimes short “baby hairs” at the front and temples, and volume that takes months to rebuild. Supporting regrowth means aiming for a faster, denser return — not passively waiting to see what nature gives back.

What the data shows

Your hair will come back. You decide how.

Every year in the European Union, 3.55 million babies are born (Eurostat estimate 2024). Behind that figure are millions of women who, a few months later, go through exactly what you are experiencing. Postpartum shedding is one of the best-documented hair phenomena — and one of the most reassuring once understood.

50 to 80%

of new mothers experience hair loss after childbirth. It is the rule, not the exception.

Dermatological literature
Around month 4

the peak of shedding usually occurs two to four months after birth, when hormones return to baseline.

American Academy of Dermatology
Supported

regrowth returns on its own, but supported regrowth can be faster, denser and healthier than regrowth left alone.

Principle of hair reactivation

Understanding that it is normal does not make it easier to live with. But it helps you take the right action: not endure the wait passively, but actively support regrowth rather than watching hair return at random. It is the difference between letting nature take its course and taking back control of your recovery.

Frequently asked questions

Why do we lose hair after childbirth?

During pregnancy, high oestrogen prolongs the hair growth phase — less hair is shed. After childbirth, levels drop sharply and retained hairs all enter the shedding phase together. This phenomenon, telogen effluvium, is normal and temporary.

It is not abnormal loss; it is a cycle resynchronising.

When does it start and how long does it last?

Shedding usually begins 2 to 4 months after childbirth, peaks around month 4, and most often lasts 3 to 6 months. Hair usually regains its volume around the child's first birthday. With breastfeeding, the phenomenon may start later.

Is it really normal?

Yes. Between 50 and 80% of new mothers notice hair loss after childbirth. It is a physiological phenomenon linked to hormones returning to pre-pregnancy levels — not a hair disease. It is reversible in the vast majority of cases.

How can I get my hair back faster?

Since regrowth is already underway, the goal is not to stop shedding but to support thickening and quality of new hair: support microcirculation and follicle anchoring, with gentle care. An optimisation treatment used as soon as regrowth is visible aims for a faster, denser return than regrowth left alone.

We support the return so it is faster and denser — we do not force shedding to stop.

When should I see a doctor?

If shedding remains excessive beyond 12 months, volume does not return, or it is accompanied by other symptoms (intense fatigue, thyroid signs), speak to a doctor. Iron deficiency or thyroid disorder, common postpartum, can prolong shedding.

The timeline, in order

From birth to volume restored.

0 to 2 months
After birth

The calm before

Hair still holds — the “pregnancy hair” effect lasts a few weeks after birth while hormones begin to drop.

2 to 4 months
The trigger

Shedding begins

Retained hairs enter the shedding phase. This is the most striking moment — handfuls in the brush, in the shower. Normal, and synchronized.

4 to 6 months
The peak, then relief

Support regrowth

Shedding peaks then slows. Regrowth begins — the right time to support density and quality of new hair.

~12 months
The return

Volume returns

Hair usually regains density around the first birthday. If not, medical advice can rule out deficiency or thyroid disorder.

The RENASCOR protocol

Recovery, supported.

REDACTIV® 2 is our optimisation treatment, 98% naturally derived. As soon as postpartum regrowth is visible, it supports density, diameter and hair strength by supporting follicle biology — aiming for a faster, denser return than regrowth left alone. No minoxidil, no hormonal active, no known rebound on stopping. It fits into a gentle routine, paired with a suitable shampoo.

Not sure which treatment suits your situation?

Sources & references

  • Eurostat — fertility statistics, 2024 estimate: 3.55 million births in the European Union (3.67 million in 2023).
  • American Academy of Dermatology (AAD): postpartum telogen effluvium, onset 2 to 4 months after childbirth, spontaneous resolution within a few months.
  • Dermatological literature: estimated prevalence between 50 and 80% of new mothers; volume usually returns around 12 months.

This guide is for information only and does not replace advice from a healthcare professional. Postpartum hair loss is benign and reversible in the vast majority of cases. If in doubt, if shedding continues beyond one year, or if you have associated symptoms, speak to your doctor or a dermatologist.