Postpartum Hair Fall: An Ayurvedic Perspective on Why It Happens & What Truly Helps
By Shilpa Patil, Certified Ayurvedic Health Councillor & Pre-Post Natal Yoga Teacher
Postpartum hair fall can feel alarming. One day your hair feels thick and abundant, and a few months after birth, it seems to be shedding everywhere — the shower, pillow, brush, and floor.
While modern medicine explains this as a “hormonal shift,” Ayurveda offers a deeper, more reassuring perspective:
postpartum hair fall is not a failure of nourishment — it is a timing and healing issue.
Understanding this distinction can change how you approach recovery, hair care, and self-trust during the postpartum period.
Is Postpartum Hair Fall Normal?
Yes. Postpartum hair fall — medically known as telogen effluvium — affects the majority of women after childbirth. It usually begins between 2–4 months postpartum and can last several months.
From an Ayurvedic lens, this shedding is expected when the body is recalibrating after pregnancy, birth, blood loss, and nervous system depletion.
Hair loss during this time is not a sign that your body is failing you — it’s a sign that your body is prioritizing survival and repair.
The Ayurvedic Understanding of Hair & Tissue Nourishment
Ayurveda explains the body through seven dhatus (tissues), which are nourished sequentially:
Rasa – plasma, fluids, lymph
Rakta – blood
Mamsa – muscle
Meda – fat
Asthi – bone, hair, nails
Majja – nervous system
Shukra/Artava – reproductive essence
Hair is considered a by-product of Asthi dhatu, meaning it is not the first tissue to receive nourishment.
This is crucial.
Why Hair Falls After Pregnancy (Ayurvedic Explanation)
During pregnancy:
Rasa and Rakta dhatu are heavily used to nourish the baby
Hormones keep hair in the growth phase
The mother’s reserves are quietly redirected
After birth:
Blood, fluids, and nervous system (Majja) are depleted
Vata dosha naturally increases due to loss, movement, and emptiness
The body prioritizes restoring digestion, blood, and emotional stability
In simple terms:
The body says, “Let me rebuild your foundation first. Hair can wait.”
This delay in nourishment reaching Asthi dhatu shows up as hair shedding.
Why Postpartum Hair Fall Is a Timing Issue — Not a Deficiency
Many women are told to “just take biotin” or “eat more protein.” While nutrition matters, Ayurveda reminds us:
It’s not just what you eat — it’s what you digest and assimilate.
Even with a nutrient-rich diet:
Weak digestion (Agni)
High stress or poor sleep
Nervous system depletion
…can prevent nourishment from reaching hair tissue.
This is why hair regrowth often begins naturally once:
digestion stabilizes
blood volume replenishes
the nervous system feels safe again
The Role of Vata Dosha in Postpartum Hair Loss
Postpartum is a Vata-dominant phase of life.
Vata qualities:
Dry
Light
Mobile
Cold
When aggravated, Vata dries out Rasa dhatu, weakens Majja dhatu (nerves), and delays Asthi nourishment — leading to hair fall.
This explains why:
Stress worsens hair shedding
Cold, raw foods increase hair loss
Grounding routines improve regrowth
Hair follows stability and calm.
What Ayurveda Recommends for Postpartum Hair Regrowth
1. Prioritize Digestive Strength (Agni)
Strong digestion ensures nutrients actually reach the tissues.
Ayurvedic tips:
Eat warm, cooked meals
Avoid cold smoothies and raw salads
Use digestive spices: cumin, ginger, fennel, coriander
Eat at consistent times
2. Nourish Rasa & Rakta First
Hair improves once fluids and blood are restored.
Support with:
Soups, stews, and dals
Ghee (1–2 tsp daily)
Iron-rich foods paired with vitamin C
Adequate hydration (warm water, herbal teas)
3. Calm the Nervous System (Majja Dhatu)
Hair regrowth follows nervous system safety.
Support with:
Gentle yoga (checkout my postnatal yoga offerings) or walking
Meditation or breathwork
Abhyanga (warm oil self-massage)
Early bedtime and rest
4. Eat for Asthi Dhatu (Hair Tissue)
Once digestion and blood are supported, include foods that nourish hair directly:
Lentils and mung dal
Paneer or yogurt
Sesame seeds
Walnuts
Properly prepared flax and chia seeds
How Long Does It Take for Hair to Regrow?
From an Ayurvedic perspective:
Hair regrowth follows internal restoration
Most women see improvement by 6–9 months postpartum
Full regrowth can take up to 12 months
This is not slow — it is biological wisdom.
Final Reassurance
Postpartum hair fall is not your body failing you.
It is your body reorganizing priorities after creating life.
When digestion strengthens, blood replenishes, and the nervous system calms, nourishment naturally reaches hair tissue — and regrowth follows.
Hair is not lost forever.
It is simply waiting for the body to feel whole again.
