Shedding after illness or childbirth

What it is

Sudden shedding 2–3 months after a stressor.

How it works

A shock pushes many hairs into the resting phase at once; they shed later.

Why it matters on darker skin

Same in all hair types; may be mistaken for breakage.

Causes and triggers

Fever, childbirth, surgery, crash diets, stress.

What helps — and why it works

Patience and good nutrition: follicles recover. Expected timeline: 6–9 months. Gentle styling: reduces extra loss. Expected timeline: ongoing.

More detail

Each hair follicle cycles through a growing phase (anagen, lasting years), a short transition and a resting phase (telogen, about three months) before the hair sheds and a new one starts. Normally about one in ten hairs is resting. A significant shock — high fever (including malaria or COVID-19), childbirth, major surgery, severe stress, crash dieting, iron deficiency, thyroid disease or starting or stopping some medicines — can push many more follicles into the resting phase at once. About two to three months later those hairs shed together, often in alarming handfuls. The hair is not lost permanently: the follicles restart, and new short hairs can usually be seen along the hairline within a few months. A doctor may check iron, thyroid and other blood tests. Recovery to the previous volume can take six to twelve months, and gentle styling avoids adding breakage during this time.

What to avoid and why

Avoid tight styles during recovery.

Common mistakes

• Panic-buying treatments.

Handling textured hair gently

Coily and curly hair is naturally the most fragile hair type because each bend in the strand is a weak point and natural oils travel down it slowly. That makes handling — how often and how firmly hair is combed, styled and pulled — as important as which products you buy. Detangle only when hair is wet and coated in conditioner, working in sections from the ends towards the roots with fingers or a wide-tooth comb. Keep heat to the lowest effective setting and always use a heat protectant. Sleep on satin or silk, or wear a satin bonnet, to reduce friction. Between wash days, a water-based leave-in followed by a light oil or cream helps hold moisture. Give the scalp attention too: it is skin, and needs regular cleansing, especially under wigs, weaves and braids, to prevent build-up, itch and infection. Any style that hurts, causes bumps or leaves the scalp tender is too tight and should be loosened. Hair grows about one centimetre a month, so changes in care take two to three months to show in length and thickness.

Scalp health and product choice

Choose a shampoo that suits the scalp and a conditioner that suits the lengths: the scalp may need cleansing or a medicated shampoo while the ends need moisture. Fragrance, essential oils and heavy waxes can irritate a sensitive scalp or cause build-up, and heavy oils on the scalp may worsen dandruff. Look for a clear ingredient list and a NAFDAC number, and patch-test new dyes and relaxers 48 hours before every use. Products that promise dramatic growth are usually untested; the treatments with the best evidence for pattern hair loss are medicines such as minoxidil, which should be started only after speaking to a pharmacist or doctor. Signs that you need medical advice rather than a new product include patches of hair loss, scarring or shiny skin, pain, pus, or shedding that continues for more than six months.

Questions to ask your doctor or pharmacist

Useful questions include: What do you think is causing this? Is it likely to come back, and how can I prevent it? Which products should I stop? How long before I should expect improvement, and when should I come back if it isn't better? Are there side effects to watch for? Is this treatment safe if I am pregnant, breastfeeding or for my child? Writing your questions down, bringing your products (or photos of their labels) and taking dated photos of the problem make an appointment much more useful.