Avoid heat styling and tight hairstyles

Minimize use of blow dryers, flat irons, and curling irons. Avoid tight ponytails, buns, and braids that pull on weakened hair. Let hair air-dry when possible and use loose clips or soft scrunchies.

Why It Works

Postpartum hair is already in a fragile resting phase. Heat weakens the hair shaft and tight styles apply traction force, both of which cause additional breakage and shedding on top of the hormonal loss. Reducing mechanical stress preserves the hair you have while regrowth catches up.

Tips

• If you must use heat, apply a heat protectant spray and use the lowest effective temperature
• Loose braids or a low, soft ponytail are gentler alternatives
• Satin scrunchies cause less friction than elastic bands