Why Kate’s locks have lost their lustre

Since she gave birth to Prince George in July, it seems that, like many new mums, Kate's hair has looked rather worse for wear.

Since she gave birth to Prince George in July, it seems that, like many new mums, Kate's hair has looked rather worse for wear.

Published Sep 23, 2013

Share

London - During her pregnancy, the Duchess of Cambridge’s lovely locks looked their lustrous best.

But since she gave birth to Prince George in July, it seems that, like many new mums, Kate’s hair has looked rather worse for wear. So, what is it about pregnancy and giving birth that wreaks such havoc on hair?

Why is hair less shiny after having a baby?

Often, women find their hair looks thicker and shinier during pregnancy but hormonal changes kick in after having a baby, as dermatologist Justine Hextall explains.

“Hair has three phases; growth, resting and shedding,” she says.

“Normally, hair grows at the same rate that it falls out. But under the influence of pregnancy hormones, more hairs remain in the growing phase, particularly during the second and third trimester, which is why women often notice hair becoming thicker as their pregnancy goes on. Usually, losing your hair after birth is just your hair going back to normal.”

Will the frizz last for ever?

“Pregnancy is thought to be a terrific time for hair,” says trichologist Philip Kingsley. “But that’s not true for everyone. Hair is likely to become progressively drier during pregnancy as hormones reduce the amount of oil your sebaceous glands produce.”

As your hormones return to normal, this dry frizz should subside. In the meantime, use anti-frizz products which boost levels of oil and moisture. Even fine hair can benefit from a light oil.

Can a special diet help hair recover?

“Just choose healthy foods,” says Kingsley. “And make sure that you include protein, which hair needs in order to grow, in every meal.

“Your body considers your hair to be non-essential tissue, so it’s the last to benefit from good nutrition.”

How can I give thin hair more oomph?

A clip-in hairpiece or ponytail gives instant volume, or rub Trevor Sorbie’s new Volume Big Hair Powder ( trevorsorbie.com) - which contains particles that puff up as they emerge from their container - into your roots.

Should new mums dye their hair?

It looks as if Kate has given up colouring her hair for the time being - possibly because there’s still some controversy over whether women should dye hair while pregnant or breastfeeding.

NHS guidelines say it’s “very unlikely that a significant amount of the chemicals used in hair dyes will be passed on through your breast milk... because very little enters your bloodstream”.

If you’d rather wait, try Color Wow ( victoriahealth.com) a brush-on, temporary powder for your roots, which comes in a slick compact in shades from platinum blonde to black. - Daily Mail

Related Topics: