Instagram Fashion's Eva Chen Gives Postpartum Hair Loss Advice

Director of Fashion partnerships for Instagram and children's author, Eva Chen is a popular figure on the image-sharing app, frequently sharing style tips and stories from her life as a busy mum-of-two in New York City.

Her regular Ask Me Anything (AMA) Instagram story sessions give her 1.2 million followers the chance to have their questions answered.

In her latest AMA, she offered some unique advice on how to cope with hair loss after having a baby, a condition known as Postpartum Alopecia.

On-trend hair loss solution for new mums

"Oh boy, that is the absolute worse!!!" Chen, 39, wrote in response to someone asking how she coped with postpartum hairloss - the shedding that starts shortly after giving birth.

During pregnancy the hair growth cycle stays in its active 'Anagen' phase for longer than usual, resulting in the less shedding than normal during this time.

People - including those without any form of hair loss condition - tend lose around 100 or more hairs per day, However, during pregnancy more of these hairs which would normally be shed as a normal part of hair cycling are 'hoarded'. This is why it is often noted that pregnant women appear to have fuller hair.

Once the baby has been born, these additional hairs - which, having built up over a period of up to nine months, is a substantial amount - start to shed as the hair cycle returns to normal. The ensuing diffuse hairloss affects the entire scalp, but is temporary.

"Honestly, there isn't much to be done but wait it out," advises Eva Chen, who was previously the beauty and health director at Teen Vogue, adding: "I wore a lot of headbands! Lucky for you they're trending!"

Postpartum regrowth options

Whilst Chen's stylish suggestion may be a practical and fashion-forward quick fix for new mums wanting to hide their hair loss, there are a number of other options.

After having a baby it can take between 6 and 12 months for hair to naturally return to its pre-pregnancy state.

For those wishing to aid the hair regrowth process along, there are options available but it is important to note that these are for mothers who are not breastfeeding or expressing. Belgravia hair specialists advise those who are nursing not to try any of these solutions until they have finished, simply as a precaution.

Women who are not breastfeeding may explore pharmaceutical postpartum hair loss treatment options, as well as nutritional support from hair supplements designed to help maintain the normal functioning of the hair growth cycle.

Maintaining a balanced, healthy diet full of nutrients is always advised, but is not always the reality once a new baby comes along.

Belgravia offers an exclusive one-a-day food supplement called Hair Vitalics for Women which is suitable for those who are not nursing. These contain a highly-targeted blend of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and botanical extracts, including biotin, selenium, zinc, iron, vitamins C and D3, as well as phytoestrogens, but are not intended to replace a good diet. Hair Vitalics is available to both clients and non-clients, who can purchase via the dedicated hairvitalics.com website.

In addition, the use of low-level laser therapy hair growth supporting products may be beneficial.

The FDA-cleared HairMax LaserBand devices, for example, offer a quick way to stimulate the follicles, with medical-grade lasers and patented teeth to part the hair, being embedded in headband style wearable gadgets. These are worn three times per week for between 90 seconds and 3 minutes each time, depending on the model used.

For those concerned about on-going levels of excessive hair fall that does not appear to be subsiding a few months after giving birth, a consultation with a professional hair loss specialist is highly recommended, whether in-person, or online.

Firstly, for those with either existing Female Pattern Hair Loss, or an underlying genetic predisposition to this hereditary concern, Post-partum alopecia may exacerbate or trigger this type of shedding.

Whilst hair loss after having a baby affects the entire scalp diffusely on a temporary basis, Female Pattern Hair Loss is concentrated on the top of the scalp, presenting as thinning hair from the crown to the hairline and temples, and is a progressive, permanent condition.

Should this be diagnosed, there are a number of hair loss treatments which can be offered, as well as those outlined above, and a custom course can be tailored based on your condition(s), level and pattern of hairloss, as well as your medical profile.

Secondly, receiving an expert diagnosis and personalised advice about your hair loss can be a huge relief and one less thing to worry about.