Where are my edges?
An ode to my Postpartum (Hair) Journey
Riding the wave through all of the changes my body, mind and soul experienced postpartum has been a journey!
Words can’t describe how I felt when I was 4 months postpartum and my hair started falling out. Wash days would come few and far between, with each wash day feeling like a nightmare, as tennis sized balls of hair came out after combing conditioner through my dry hair.
Hair loss and thinning can be really hard to navigate, especially postpartum when so many things are happening simultaneously. In all honesty, taking care of my hair postpartum was the LAST thing on my to-do list. Especially with a newborn baby, who needed every single ounce of my attention and liquid gold on tap. At that time, I was so busy trying to learn how to mother my daughter and didn’t have time to think about hair care. Instead I kept my hair in a fro and rarely washed my hair to avoid the balls of hair I kept losing. It wasn’t long before my increase in hair loss started to peak my attention and I quickly dived down the rabbit hole googling ‘postpartum hair loss’ at 2AM, trying to figure out what I could do.
Where are my edges?
About a month later, my edges started to thin and I started praying it wasn’t to the point of no return. Admittedly, I was disappointed and unsure of if and when my hair would grow back. Once I noticed the severity of things, I reached out to my OG stylist, Daryce Tolliver founder of A Curl Can Dream and asked her what I could do to take better care of my hair as a new mom with minimal time. She reassured me that this was a part of the process, while reminding me to keep my hair care routine simple and protect my hair with low manipulation styles. For me that meant, keeping my thick and curly hair in flat twists or mini twists.
As a first time Mom and new South Florida resident, I was struggling with maintaining my hair. The hair that I once took so much pride in doing myself.
After a few weeks of searching for a natural hairstylist who could flat twist, I found Grecia, owner of Bless By Grace. Thankfully we connected and I knew I was in good hands after my first appointment in March 2021. Since then, I’ve gotten monthly hair care at Bless By Grace and kept my hair in mini twists for 2-3 weeks out of every month. Fast forward to a year later and my edges have started to fill in with baby hairs insert praise hands. Occasionally the shorter pieces in the front make an appearance every now and then lol 👋🏾
“Mamahood has truly taught me to embrace what I can control and accept what I can’t control. ”
As I’ve learned and evolved on my journey, I want to share tips and hacks that help bring ease to the beautiful chaos of Mamahood.
Sharing 6 practices that I incorporated into my postpartum hair care routine since 2021:
Staying hydrated and nourishing my body with colorful and whole foods has been imperative to restoring my body from the inside.
Maintaining monthly low manipulation, lightweight styles like mini twists and flat twists have given my hair a break from unnecessary tension, help keep my hair tangle free and retain moisture for longer. My favorite part about both protective styles is that they lead to a fabulous twist out!
Sticking to a consistent postpartum hair care routine that includes clarifying shampoos, moisture rich conditioners, conditioning masks, steaming, and rehydrating with hair foams and creams.
Taking my time while detangling. Finger detangling lessened the amount of hair I lost when it was in it’s most delicate state.
Trimming my hair as needed. Before becoming Mama Folasade, I was an avid quarterly trimmer, however things have changed for me during this season, so I’m maintaining 2 trims a year.
Reminding myself not to stress out about the changes my body and hair was experiencing was crucial!
“Riding the wave of all of the changes my body, mind and soul experienced postpartum has been a journey!”
For all my Mamas experiencing postpartum changes, I OVERSTAND! It’s not easy, but with time, knowledge and support things work out. I am keeping all the Mamas and Mamas to be uplifted during their Postpartum and beyond! I’m rooting for you and I’m here for you! <3
