Babies' Hair: Part 1

A client of mine asked about her newborns hair, and I realized I hadn't touched on the subject. 

Let me tell you new moms, not all newborns are born bald some arrive on the scene with a shock of thick hair. While some of these babies come out with perfectly coiffed locks, the rest look like they’re having a bad hair day, with a punk-style Mohawk, or cluster of patches, or the scraggly comb-over of a little Homer Simpson.

I wouldn't worry too much about your baby's hairstyle or get too attached.

But here is what I have learned:

-Newborn hair loss. If you were surprised by your baby’s massive set of hair, just wait… all that hair may disappear. Newborns shed and some can go from beautiful locks to bald as a cue ball. That’s because all those pregnancy hormones (you know the ones that may have given you great hair, too!) drop after birth, so your baby’s hair stops growing. Then a phase called “telogen” kicks in, when lots of the hair falls out altogether.

But don't worry, your little one will have the beautiful hair grow back out sooner than you may think, but then again...

-Newborn hair growth. Luckily, the telogen phase is usually followed rather quickly by new hair growth. But the baby hair that grows in may be nothing like before. Color and texture often change... thick, dark hair could make its reappearance a lot sparser and lighter. Red can give way to blonde. Curly goes straight. You never know. Eventually your baby’s hair will grow in and she’ll look less like a punk rocker and more like the baby of your dreams. Exactly when that happens can be anyone’s guess (it’s different for every child). Some get a great new head of hair by six months, some not for two or three years.