Hair & scalp · 12-week guide
Sudden Shedding (incl. after childbirth)
Lots of hair coming out all over, 2–4 months after childbirth, malaria or another fever, surgery, a crash diet or a big stress? This is usually telogen effluvium, which recovers on its own. Here is what to check and how to protect your hair meanwhile.
- Length
- 12-week guide
- For
- Women, Men
- Evidence C
- Expert consensus: sensible care, fewer trials
- What to expect
- Shedding peaks, then settles over 6–9 months; regrowth shows as short new hairs at the hairline and parting.
The goal: Reassurance, the right blood tests if needed, and less breakage while it recovers.
Telogen effluvium advice is expert consensus (DermNet, NHS). It usually recovers on its own; the key steps are finding the trigger and testing for deficiencies.
Start this program
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The plan
Weeks 1–2
Find the trigger
Count back 2–4 months; decide on tests.
Telogen effluvium follows a shock to the system by 2–4 months.
Morning
Find the trigger
Count back 2–4 months: childbirth, fever (malaria, typhoid, COVID), surgery, weight loss, new medicines, stopping the pill, major stress.
Why: Knowing the trigger usually means the shedding will settle on its own.
Evening
Gentle wash & condition
Wash every 1–3 weeks (more often if a daily scalp treatment makes the scalp oily). Condition every wash. Detangle wet, with fingers or a wide-tooth comb, from the ends upwards. Fingertips on the scalp, never nails.
Why: Coily hair breaks most when dry-combed; BAD advises washing Afro-textured hair every 1–3 weeks.
BAD patient information leaflet: Caring for Afro-textured hair (July 2023)
Habits
When to get testedDoctor or pharmacist
Ask a doctor about blood tests for iron (ferritin), thyroid, vitamin B12 and folate — especially with heavy periods, tiredness, a vegetarian diet, after childbirth, or shedding beyond 6 months.
Why: Correcting a deficiency or thyroid problem helps recovery; untreated, shedding can become long-term.
After childbirth
Shedding 2–4 months after birth is normal and temporary. Ask at your postnatal clinic for a blood count or ferritin check — anaemia after birth is common.
Why: Postpartum shedding recovers; low iron slows it.
Food
Enough protein and iron
Protein at each meal; iron foods (beans, leafy greens, liver, fish); no crash diets.
Why: Nutrition supports regrowth.
Weeks 3–8
Handle gently
Gentle washing and styling; no new chemicals.
Avoiding breakage on top of shedding keeps more hair while it recovers.
Morning
Gentle handling
Wash and condition as usual — washing does not cause more loss, it releases hairs already shed. Wide-tooth comb; loose styles; no new relaxer or colour for now.
Why: Less breakage while shedding settles.
Evening
Protect for sleep
Loose plaits, twists or a pineapple; satin bonnet or satin pillowcase. Wash the bonnet weekly.
Why: Less friction breakage, which makes thinning look worse.
BAD patient information leaflet: Caring for Afro-textured hair (July 2023)
Habits
About hair supplements
Biotin and "hair vitamin" gummies have no proven benefit unless you are deficient, and biotin can distort blood tests (thyroid, heart) — stop it 3 days before any test. Iron tablets only if a blood test shows you are low.
Why: Reviews find no hair benefit from biotin in people with normal levels; too much iron is harmful.
Track the shedding
Once a week, note: more, same or less. Photos of the parting monthly.
Why: Seeing the trend reassures and shows when to see a doctor.
Food
Protein & iron foods
Beans, eggs, fish, meat, groundnuts and leafy greens (ugu, efo) every day. No crash diets.
Why: Low protein and iron deficiency worsen shedding; a doctor can test ferritin.
Weeks 9–12
Regrowth & review
Look for new short hairs; doctor review if still shedding.
Most recover by 6–9 months; ongoing shedding needs a medical look.
Morning
Look for regrowth
Short new hairs at the hairline and parting are a good sign. Compare photos.
Why: Regrowth follows the shedding phase.
Evening
Protect for sleep
Loose plaits, twists or a pineapple; satin bonnet or satin pillowcase. Wash the bonnet weekly.
Why: Less friction breakage, which makes thinning look worse.
BAD patient information leaflet: Caring for Afro-textured hair (July 2023)
Habits
Doctor review if still sheddingDoctor or pharmacist
Shedding beyond 6–9 months, patches, crown-only thinning, or other symptoms: see a doctor. Your doctor will advise.
Why: Long-term shedding or pattern thinning can be unmasked by telogen effluvium.
Food
Protein & iron foods
Beans, eggs, fish, meat, groundnuts and leafy greens (ugu, efo) every day. No crash diets.
Why: Low protein and iron deficiency worsen shedding; a doctor can test ferritin.
Milestones
Your weekly check-in
Ask yourself these once a week. If an answer worries you, stop and see a doctor or pharmacist.
Stop and see a doctor if
- Round bald patches (possible alopecia areata): see a doctor
- Crown itch, burning or shiny skin (possible scarring CCCA): see a dermatologist
- Shedding beyond 6–9 months
- Shedding with weight loss, palpitations, heavy periods or severe tiredness: see a doctor
- Breastfeeding: do not start hair-growth medicines without a doctor
In an emergency, call 112112999911911.
Sources
- DermNet: Telogen effluvium
- NHS: Hair loss
- Almohanna et al. The role of vitamins and minerals in hair loss: a review (Dermatol Ther (Heidelb), 2019)
- Vitamins for nail disease: literature review (2024), incl. biotin lab-test interference
Education, not diagnosis. This plan cannot examine you; pending physician review where marked.
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