I thought it would never stop.
I just didn't expect to lose
SO MUCH hair.

At first, I didn’t even notice it. A few extra strands in the shower, nothing too alarming. But by the time my baby hit four months, it was like my hair had given up.

Every morning, handfuls of hair covered my pillow. The shower drain? Clogged. My part looked wider, my temples felt bare, and when I pulled my hair back, all I saw were thin spots that weren’t there before.

I panicked.

Was this normal? How long would it last? Would I go bald? I spent hours searching, scrolling through forums and Reddit threads, trying to find answers.

When does postpartum hair loss start?

If you’re in the same boat, here’s what I wish I had known sooner:
postpartum hair loss usually starts around 3 to 4 months after birth.

During pregnancy, high estrogen levels keep hair from shedding. But after birth, estrogen levels drop, and all that hair falls out at once - which is why it can feel so goddamn extreme.

For some of us, it’s a gradual thinning. For others (like me), it’s dramatic shedding that seems to happen overnight.

How long does postpartum hair loss last?

The hardest part for me? Not knowing when it would stop.

In my case the shedding finally slowed around 9 months and eased up fully by 12 months postpartum.

Some of us see regrowth sooner, while others deal with thinning for over a year.

For many, hair begins to feel more balanced again by the time their baby turns one.

Postpartum hair loss timeline: What to expect month by month

0-3 Months Postpartum:
Hair still feels thick from pregnancy. No major shedding yet.

3-6 Months Postpartum:
The worst shedding hits. You might notice thinning at your temples or hairline.

6-9 Months Postpartum:
Shedding slows down, but baby hairs start to grow back (aka the “halo” phase).

9-12 Months Postpartum:
Your hair may start to feel fuller again as regrowth continues.

12+ Months Postpartum:
Most hair is back to its normal cycle, but some new growth may still be filling in.