ARTICLE - AUGUST 2023

What Is Postpartum Hair Loss?

Postpartum hair loss is the excessive shedding that happens after giving birth, due to a shift in hormone levels. It’s normal, and thankfully, it’s usually temporary.

Why Is My Hair Shedding?

To understand postpartum hair loss, you first need to know that each hair on your head has a growth cycle, which cycle consists of: 

• The anagen or growing phase, which typically lasts 3–5 years for the hair on your head
• The catagen or transition phase, which lasts 10 days
• The telogen or resting phase, when hair has reached its final length, and which lasts around 3 months
• The exogen or shedding phase, which lasts 2–5 months

Each of the tens of thousands of hairs on your head is at a different point in this cycle at any given time, which is why it’s normal to shed around 100 hairs a day, but (hopefully) not all of them at once.

During pregnancy, this growth cycle shifts. When you’re pregnant, your hormone levels adjust to support your baby’s growth, and the increase in hormones such as estrogen also affects your hair. During this time, each hair remains in its growth phase for longer. This means you’re shedding fewer hairs than normal, which is why hair looks so lush and full during your pregnancy.

But once you deliver, your hormones begin to return to pre-pregnancy levels. The drop in estrogen triggers many strands of hair to enter their resting phase all at once…and this phase is followed by (you guessed it) the point when those hairs fall out. You’ll notice you’re shedding more hairs than normal during this time, and you may find larger clumps of hair on your brush, pillow, or shower drain. The term for this type of hair loss is telogen effluvium.

When Does Postpartum Hair Loss Start?

You might begin to notice postpartum hair loss around three months after giving birth, and it usually peaks around the four-month mark.

How Long Does It Last?

Excessive shedding should resolve by one year after you’ve given birth. If it doesn’t, you’ll want to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist. Find more information on postpartum hair loss here.

What Can I Do for Postpartum Hair Loss?

While postpartum shedding may not be avoidable, there are some ways to make your hair look healthier and fuller—and give you a confidence boost. 

1. Ditch the heat.
It’s no secret that heat styling can be damaging to hair, so while you’re experiencing postpartum hair loss, it’s a good idea to be as gentle with hair as possible. Instead, try air drying, braids, or styles that let you skip a wash.

2. Be gentle.
Rough drying with a towel or aggressively brushing your hair are never a good idea, but especially so during the fourth trimester. Make sure to brush hair gently, starting at the ends and working your way up to the roots, and use a microfiber towel for hair drying.

3. Don’t forget your vitamins.
Vitamins are just as important after you give birth as they are during your pregnancy. It is recommended to continue taking your prenatal vitamin after baby is born to supplement your diet, especially when breastfeeding. Nutrients are needed for the health of your whole body, including your hair. 

4. Use a thickening shampoo and conditioner.
These products are specifically formulated for those with fine and thinning hair, and use nourishing, volumizing ingredients help hair appear fuller-bodied. We created our Thickening Shampoo and Thickening Conditioner with ingredients to optimize scalp health and strengthen hair while protecting strands from environmental stressors. When used together, these phyto-infused formulas fortify the cuticle and work to improve hair shaft thickness.

5. Try a volume enhancer. 
When dealing with thinning hair, it’s important to look for products that are physician formulated, clinically tested, and color safe. This ensures you’re using a product that is created with the best ingredients, has been tested to ensure results, and is safe for even damaged hair.

Our Volume Enhancing Foam checks all those boxes, and then some. This transforming product features our proprietary BioPeptin Complex® to boost the vitality of hair and intensify natural volume. Its clean, lightweight formula adds shine and body and improves elasticity to help combat breakage and aid in conditioning of the scalp. In a 4-week consumer study with 33 participants, 97% said their fine hair looked and felt fuller and more voluminous, while 94% said thinning hair looked thicker, healthier, and nourished.

When used together, the products in our Volumizing Hair Collection are the perfect regimen for postpartum thinning hair, and will help you get back to the look of lush, flowing locks in no time.

 

 There are a host of factors that contribute to the way our skin ages. Of course, taking care of our skin is crucial—but did you know that up to 50% of visible signs of skin aging can also come not from genetics, but from our environment? Factors like climate, UV exposure, pollution, sleep, diet, and stress can all accelerate skin aging.

Read on to find out more about the causes and visible results of skin aging – and what you can do to help skin fight back.

As noted above, skin aging can be heavily influenced by our environment and lifestyle. The effects of these factors can manifest in a number of ways that accelerate skin aging, including:

• Skin’s oxygen levels can become depleted, which leads to a dull, tired appearance
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Sagging skin

It sounds simple, but the easiest way to do this is to protect your skin from negative environmental factors. This means no more dehydrated days or late nights! It’s important to treat your entire body right, from the inside out, to help minimize the effects of

skin aging over time. Some ways to do this are:

• Get enough sleep (7-8 hours per night).
• Drink more Yes, the 8 glasses a day recommendation is imperative!
• Minimize overprocessed food, which can lead to dull skin.
• Use SPF daily – even when it’s cloudy. Sunscreen use is key in protecting skin from exposure to environmental pollution and harmful UV rays, which can lead to hyperpigmentation, dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles. 

The right skin care products can go a long way in turning back the clock on skin aging. Phyto Nature formulas combat the negative effects of our environment and lifestyle by addressing the damage that leads to premature skin aging. These innovative firming and lifting formulas utilize rare and premium actives to reawaken the nature of younger- looking skin, reduce visible signs of skin aging, and defend against future damage.

Phyto Nature Firming Serum is clinically proven to give 4 years back by reducing the appearance of premature wrinkles. This combination of two serums in one works quickly and over time to flash-firm, lift, and revitalize skin while also reinforcing its defenses against the damage that drives premature skin aging. It’s clinically proven to double skin’s luminosity and minimize the appearance of fine lines after just 1 application and reduce visible wrinkles in 4 weeks.

• Sapphire-bound biomimetic peptides help firm skin and reinforce skin’s defenses.
• Sustainably sourced Amazonian Camu Camu from Peru helps prolong radiance.
• Caffeic Acid from Madagascar Green Coffee Bean is a phyto-active that works with skin’s microbiome to help revitalize skin and decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Phyto Nature Oxygen Cream breathes new life into aging skin. It’s clinically proven to give 4 years back by reducing the appearance of premature wrinkles – and skin looks firmer and more lifted after 1 week of use. This firming and lifting liquid moisturizer is formulated with hydrating, oxygen-optimizing phytoactives to help skin better absorb and utilize oxygen—firming, revitalizing, and plumping as it oxygenates to leave skin looking smooth and strong.

 Summer is almost over and many school systems are getting back to a school year unlike anything we can remember. Most are opting for a mixed live and online, or all online schedule. Some parents are homeschooling regardless. So, with teachers teaching in all new conditions, and parents picking up more of the burdens of teaching and childcare, how can parents, teachers, and students prepare for the school year and take care of themselves? 

 Be Positive It’s important to think of the start of the new school year as a good thing, whether you’re the child or a parent or a teacher. If you have kids entering school, encourage them by talking about new beginnings, new experiences, and new ways of learningg. Talk to them about the new ways they’ve found to connect with friends and how they plan to continue through the school year. 

Tell the Story Remind your kids that they are living through unprecedented times and to soak it all up so that they can tell the stories to their children. You would be surprised how much easier it makes things if you are saving up memories to tell a story about it later. 

Be Proactive Moms, plan ahead for me-time if the thought of having your kids home most of the year makes you feel even more frazzled! Book the spa day you’ve been planning; get the massage or facial treatment you’ve been putting off. You might not have more time now than you did over the summer, but it’s all the more reason to make time in your schedule to take care of you! If not now, when? Teachers probably need to fill up on self-care before the lessons begin and throughout the school year. Making sure you get enough sleep and take care of your wellbeing will set you up for a more positive school year. 

Get Outside Summer isn’t over just because classes have started! Make the most of what’s left of the good weather and get out in the sunshine (with plenty of sunscreen of course; the sun is still strong in August and September). If you can, walk with the kids to school if/when they have live class, ditch the car, avoid the bus, and get some exercise. Get out and about on the weekends so that the summer vibes are carried on as long as possible and combine the fresh air with fitness too. Walking to school works just as well for teachers. If you’re cooped up all day indoors, getting that burst of energy first thing will set you up for the day and stop you from feeling depleted of energy by lunchtime. After summer is gone, keep on going through the Fall! It is a gorgeous time of year to be outside and the health benefits are many. Just make sure to wrap up good if it’s chilly and moisturize if it’s windy.

Take Care of your Mental Health Students going back for important years at school can start to feel the stress build, as can parents and teachers. Try to encourage teens out of their bedrooms and get them off social media to get a break from bad news, improve energy levels, and reduce stress, especially when they have tests coming up. Tempt your teens outside with a walk to go shopping or for ice cream. Book a relaxing massage for you both to de-stress. Try a spa day at home if you’re exhausted or share a pamper day at your favorite salon with your teen. Teachers really need to look after their own mental health too – a stressed out teacher is no use to anyone. Now may be the time to introduce yoga or meditation sessions in school. Even simple mindfulness techniques can help to calm parents, teachers and kids dealing with difficult times at school. Remember it’s a new beginning. You might not be able to control everything that happens, but you can always control how you respond! Make the most of this academic year. Make memories now so that you can tell great stories later.  

 Brow trends wax and wane (skinny ‘90s brows, anyone?), but regardless of what’s hot this week on TikTok, your best brows are the ones that suit your facial features. Luckily, it’s easy to identify the best brow shape for your face using a few general guidelines, plus the right tools and products to help you achieve arch excellence. Your ‘good brows’ era starts now.

Brow Shaping 101 (for All Face Shapes)
When it comes to shaping your brows, a few basic rules apply no matter your facial geometry. Hold a pencil up to your face to make sure your brow boundaries line up:

• The inside of your brow should align with the bridge of your nose.
• Your arch should peak above the outside of your iris and lie on your brow bone.
• Imagine a diagonal line tracing from the outside of your nose to the outer corner of your eye. The tail of your brow should reach this spot.

Best for a Round Face Shape: Arched Brows
A higher arch can help elongate a round face and add a bit of sharpness that complements the soft lines of your face shape.

To get the look, use Hi-Def Brow Pencil to create hairlike strokes, defining your brows with a slight peak at the brow bone. Brush brow hairs upward with Hi-Def Brow Gel to further sculpt your arch.

Best for a Long Face Shape: Straight Brows
Straight brows help to balance a long face shape by creating the look of horizontal width. Fill in brows with Hi-Def Brow Pencil using quick, short strokes to mimic the look of brow hairs; you can choose to extend your brows a bit longer at the ends if you like.

Best for a Square Face Shape: Soft Brows
Soft, feathery brows without sharp angles beautifully offset a square jawline. Instead of a pencil, use tinted Hi-Def Brow Gel to softly define brows and fill in sparse patches. Apply using upward strokes, moving from the inner to the outer corners.  

Best for a Heart Face Shape: Rounded Arch
A heart-shaped face is wider at the forehead and comes to a point at your chin. Softly rounded arches counter this face shape’s angularity. Use our Precision Tweezer to remove stray hairs, perfecting your brows’ gentle arc. 

 Bonus Trend for Any Face Shape: Invisible Brows

Have you seen celebrities’ brows recently? Maybe not…because many are bleaching their eyebrows to embrace the ‘invisible brow’ trend. It’s a fun look to experiment with…if you dare.

To get the invisible brow look, you have two options: 1) Bleach the hairs of your brows (best done by a professional!) and groom them with Hi-Def Brow Gel in Clear. 2) Go the less permanent route and use concealer to cover your brows.