Many women report that their hair looks better than ever during pregnancy, while others find that their hair is drier and brittler than usual.

Pregnancy can affect your hair in many different ways. Many women report that their hair looks better than ever during pregnancy, while others find that their hair is drier and brittler than usual. Still others do not report any change at all.

In general, while you are pregnant, you are likely to shed fewer strands than usual. This is because during pregnancy you have higher levels of oestrogen in your body. Oestrogen is a hair-friendly hormone: it keeps hairs in their anagen (growth) phase for longer, and delays them from moving into their telogen (shedding) phase. Hence why many women find that their hair is fuller, thicker and shinier during pregnancy. This effect may be most noticeable in the third trimester.

Occasionally, however, some women experience increased hair shedding during pregnancy. This may be caused by factors such as severe and prolonged morning sickness, and gestational diabetes.

Please do not worry if your hair during pregnancy is not what you might have expected. What is normal for one person may not be normal for another. Hormonal changes vary in each individual, and also during different pregnancies. The sensitivity of different people’s hair follicles to these changes is also different.

It is important to know that no matter how your hair may change during pregnancy, it should return to its former state once your baby is born.