Luscious locks or troublesome tresses? Hair, or more specifically hair loss, is a frequent conversation topic for mums in Dubai, especially those who are new to the region.

The punishing sun, air con, frequent trips to the pool, and even the water that runs through our taps are all thought to be culprits when it comes to the dreaded Dubai hair fall.

And for those who are pregnant, hair can bring a whole new set of weird and wonderful challenges.

The upside

While you may suffer morning sickness, swollen ankles and other unpleasant side effects of pregnancy, the good news is that a majority of expectant mums are gifted with thicker, shinier and more luxuriant locks.

Tresses transform in pregnancy due to a plethora of hormonal changes, namely increased oestrogen. This means not only shinier locks, thanks to increased sebum production, but hair goes into an extended growth cycle meaning less hair is shed than normal. Your hair should therefore appear gorgeously thicker, even if it is actually just falling out at a slower rate!

The downside

Although it is less common, Mother Nature bestows less pleasant gifts on some pregnant women. Hormonal changes can mean thinner hair and excessively oily tresses, as well as some women reporting that their hair becomes drier, straighter or curlier! Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, grey hairs can also become more apparent in pregnancy.

If you do find your pregnancy mane isn’t exactly your crowning glory, try these solutions:

Condition dry hair with a weekly treatment at home or in a salon.

Treat yourself to a regular scalp massage to feed nutrients into weaker hair. For oily hair, leave shampoo on your scalp for five minutes before rinsing to help remove oily deposits. Switch to a shampoo specifically designed for your pregnancy hair type.

Eat well! Pregnant women need extra nutrients to support both their own bodily changes and the needs of their developing child. Poor nutrition will also show in your hair

Dyeing for a change?

The good news is there’s no need to stop colouring your hair in pregnancy, though women decide to wait until after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy when the risk of chemical substances harming the baby is much lower.

Highlights reduce risk of chemical exposure (as the dye doesn’t reach the scalp) and there are many pure vegetable dyes that offer safe alternatives to full head colours, such as Kevin Murphy products and the services that are provided at the Aveda flagship store in Galleria. 

Chopping

When nothing fits and your ankles start to swell it’s tempting to compensate with a dramatic hair transformation, but pregnancy is probably not the best time to go for the chop, however tempting it may seem.

A short bob may suit your pregnancy hair but after the birth of your baby, your hormones will soon return to their pre-pregnancy levels. Your hair will return to its normal growth and rest cycle, which means you will notice shedding from the extra hair that is now ready to fall out. Hair may appear much thinner – and this is the best time to try out a new look to suit your post partum hair type – and your busy new lifestyle.

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