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Your hair during pregnancy

Congratulations - you're having a baby. This is a wonderful time in your life, but it's also a time when your hormones are raging. This can cause changes in your hair, but don't worry - they're only temporary. For example, you might notice that your hair is drier than usual. If this is a problem, just use a stronger conditioner and treat yourself to an occasional deep conditioning if necessary. Some women, however, find that their hair becomes luxuriously shiny and full when they're pregnant.

There's been a lot of debate about colouring and perming hair during pregnancy. Experts will tell you not to use chemical processes on your hair during the first trimester - there's no real evidence that it harms the foetus, but why gamble?

Whether or not you colour or perm your hair during the second and third trimesters is up to you and your doctor. If you decide to go ahead with a process, be sure to keep the product away from your scalp and skin. Also, consult your hairdresser, as he or she should be up-to-date on which processes are safe for pregnant women.

After giving birth or when you stop nursing, many women suddenly lose a lot more hair than usual (this can also happen to women who stop using the contraceptive pill). Relax, though, you're not going bald. All those hormones were just preventing your normal amount of hair from falling out, so the clumps coming out when you brush your hair or when you take a shower are just the backlog.

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