Will Kate, Duchess of Cambridge Suffer Hair Loss Post-Pregnancy?

’s shiny, thick hair is the subject of envy across the world, even managing to look good after her son George’s birth. But after the birth of her second child later this month, the Duchess of Cambridge could be at greater risk of hair loss.

Post-Partum Alopecia

is very common. It occurs when the increased levels of oestrogen in pregnancy drop after birth. High levels of this hormone cause hairs to stay in the angagen, or growth, stage for longer than normal usually, women lose around 100 hairs a day but pregnant women can lose half this or even less.

After giving birth, hormone levels return to normal and hair enters the telogen, or resting, phase of the hair growth cycle. This means the retained excess hair will shed, which can be particularly noticeable in those with long hair, like Kate. The loss is usually diffuse, causing thinning hair across the scalp, but can be patchy.

Possible long-term effects

Usually hair density will recover between 6-12 months after giving birth, when a new mother lives a healthy lifestyle some sources suggest eating the placenta after birth as a way of recapturing iron and nutrients to ease recovery. However stress, hormonal or nutritional problems can compound the problem of thinned hair.

These factors can lead to longer-lasting conditions being triggered, such as Chronic Telogen Effluvium, a persistent form of Telogen Effluvium which lasts for six months or more and is also known as Diffuse Hair Loss. This causes fairly even shedding all over the scalp and makes hair look and feel thinner. This can also be caused by repeated hair loss after pregnancy, which results in reduced hair regrowth each time.

Post-Partum Alopecia may also coincide with the onset of an underlying genetic condition: Female Pattern Hair Loss. Shedding caused by this hereditary concern would not regrow by itself and would need specific treatment.

Successful treatment

Kate, and other expectant mothers, need not worry; if post-pregnancy hair shedding does not stabilise by the time your child reaches their first birthday, you can seek professional help to regrow your hair.

Minoxidil has provided promising regrowth when used to treat a number of women's hair loss conditions, including Post-Partum Alopecia. The topical preparation is applied directly to the scalp and has been medically-proven to treat Female Pattern Hair Loss. Minoxidil can be combined with additional hair growth boosters to help existing hair and regrowth to stay in strong, optimum condition.

Trinity Gardiner, one of Belgravia's Treatment Advisors, experienced visible hair loss after her second child was born. She undertook successful treatment to restore her hair to its usual thickness, and you can view her journey in Trinity's regrowth video diaries.

Trinity commented: “I have had great success with my treatment. I’m really happy  all my hairline has regrown, which was my biggest concern. I found the cream really easy to use. It’s once a day which is really convenient for me, having two children.”

For a professional diagnosis of your hair loss condition, and more information on the treatment options available for hair loss after having a baby, get in touch with a hair specialist.