Having more body hair during pregnancy is more common than you might think but probably the least talked about because people feel weird about it. The most common cause of excess hair growth in pregnancy is the extra hormones surging through the body. The hormones that cause this excess body hair are called Androgens.
The Hair on Your Body
Although annoying, removing this excess hair with shaving, tweezing, and waxing is safe. Depending on the skin's sensitivity, waxing can be rough on some. Permanent hair removal options are not recommended until after pregnancy, especially because, in most cases, unwanted hair is gone within three to six months postpartum.
A fun wife’s tale is that if you have a boy, your leg hair will grow faster during pregnancy than a girl's. Obviously, in many cases, these wife’s tales are just that, but it is fun to hear them and see how true they are for you.
The Hair on Your Head
You may not notice the excess hair on your body, but it can feel like the hair on your head has gotten thicker and healthier. This feeling is not more hair growth. It is just the extension of the growth phase of the hair cycle caused by increased estrogen. Conversely, some find that their hair gets thinner during pregnancy. Usually, this only happens if there is a miscarriage or loss or if the individual has an imbalance of hormones during pregnancy.
When it comes to dying your hair during pregnancy, there are safety concerns, like the amount of chemicals in the hair dye. Still, there are concerns about how it will impact your hair since everything is more fragile and sensitive right now. Because of these risks, avoiding dying your hair while pregnant or simply going to a professional who knows what they are doing rather than doing the at-home box method can be helpful.
One of the least commonly known things that can happen to hair is that it can go straighter or curlier after pregnancy and childbirth. There are individuals who had springy curly hair whose hair became wavy and straight after birthing their baby, and vice versa.
If you feel concerned about any pregnancy symptoms, bring it to your care provider. As mentioned above, excess hair growth is a harmless yet somewhat annoying pregnancy side effect in most cases, but we trust your gut, and you know when something just does not feel right.
