Why Did My Hair Turn Curly After Pregnancy?

Straight to suddenly curly? Formerly the queen of curls and now left with a limp wave? Hair texture change can happen during or after pregnancy - and tbh no one is really talking about it so, what gives?

For all of my life I had straight hair. I embraced it, I loved it actually. When pin straight locks hit the runways when I was in high school I felt right on trend.

Sure I still owned a straightener, and if it rained I would get a slight wave going - but by all accounts my hair was straight.

Fast forward to my first pregnancy, and my hair thickened due to pregnancy hormones. I was on the pregnancy “good hair ride”. Thick + shiny hair, and I was loving it.

Then, towards the end - maybe month 8 I noticed my hair was becoming harder to manage.

Soon after delivery my hair became increasingly dry with a distinct wave to it. I thought it was weird, but honestly didn’t give it too much thought as it wasn’t too drastic a difference.

When my sister called me this past year asking if straight hair to curly after pregnancy was a thing (not asking for a friend), I started to wonder… was it a thing?

Hormonal Changes and Hair Texture

Hormonal fluctuations can significantly impact hair texture, leading to changes in curl pattern, thickness, and overall hair health. During pregnancy, the surge in estrogen and progesterone levels can cause hair to become thicker and more voluminous. However, after delivery, the drop in hormone levels can lead to increased hair loss and changes in hair texture. Similarly, hormonal changes during puberty, menopause, and chemotherapy can also affect hair texture. Understanding the role of hormones in hair texture can help individuals prepare for and manage changes in their hair.

The Science of Hair Growth

Hair growth is a complex process influenced by genetics, hormones, and lifestyle factors. Hair follicles, which are embedded in the skin, produce hair strands that grow in cycles. The growth phase, also known as the anagen phase, can last from two to six years, during which the hair strand grows about one centimeter per month. The transitional phase, or catagen phase, lasts about two weeks, and the resting phase, or telogen phase, can last up to three months. At the end of the resting phase, the hair follicle releases the hair strand, and a new growth cycle begins. Hormonal changes can affect the length of the growth phase, leading to changes in hair texture and growth patterns.

Why does hair change from straight to curly?

Hair texture is determined by the shape of the hair follicle, which is influenced by genetics and hormonal changes. Straight hair follicles are round and symmetrical, while curly hair follicles are asymmetrical and curved. Hormonal fluctuations can activate dormant genes that cause hair follicles to change shape, leading to changes in hair texture. For example, the curly hair gene can become more active during pregnancy, causing straight hair to become curly. Additionally, hormonal changes during puberty and menopause can also affect the function of genes, leading to changes in hair texture.

Why do hair follicles change from straight to curly?

An interesting piece of information about curly hair, is that the gene for straight hair is recessive- but curly hair isn’t completely dominant.

Meaning: you could have the curly gene, but until its activated your waves and curls would be dormant too.

Ok.. so my sister could have been living with a curly hair gene and it just hadn’t activated for 30+ years… so what activated it?

The most likely reasons why hair changes and a gene suddenly stops being dormant: Hormones. Along with hormones: stress and aging are culprits of texture and quality change.

Hormones can affect not only the strands, but muscles- that includes the scalp (the occipitofrontalis muscle moves up the scalp and eyebrows). Hormonal changes can also influence the development of grey hairs, which often require unique care compared to other hair types.

As muscle tone changes it can affect the shape of your hair follicles and their direction of growth. Wild, I know! Straight hair follicles grow straight out but curly hair follicles have a hook shape.

With hormones as the culprit hair changes often occur in women at several points in their life: puberty, pregnancy/post pregnancy, and menopause.

My hair type changed, so now what?

So is the change permanent? Yes, possibly.  You may find yourself embracing a new hair type long term. Should you switch out your smoothing shampoo for curl control?  You may want to have a chat with your stylist.

That said, many of the texture changes that occur postpartum are temporary.

Oily scalp? Ultra dry, breaking, and thin locks? Those are more likely from nutritional deficiencies, stress,  and sudden drop of estrogen/hormones.

In fact, many moms who reported their curls had relaxed and hair had dried out were able to restore their strands significantly, maintaining defined curls by ensuring they were getting the right vitamins for hair and restoring hydration.

Managing Hair Health

Maintaining healthy hair requires a combination of good hair care habits, a balanced diet, and stress management. Ensuring adequate vitamins and hydration can help promote hair growth and prevent dryness and breakage. Using gentle hair care products and minimizing heat styling can also help preserve hair health. Additionally, managing stress through relaxation techniques such as meditation and yoga can help reduce the impact of hormonal changes on hair texture. By understanding the factors that influence hair health, individuals can take steps to promote healthy hair growth and manage changes in hair texture.

Give it some time: your curl pattern may change

Postpartum hair loss along with texture changes and new growth can take some time to resolve.

When moms continue taking their baby blues vitamins and make healthy lifestyle choices that reflect maintaining/increasing iron levels in foods and limiting stress as much as possible; many moms experience the regrowth phenomenon where lots of hair grows back at the same time.

In fact with so many hairs sticking up, your hair may appear frizzy.

As you support your hair growth, this typically resolves itself by a year postpartum; but for plenty of women it can take longer.

If your new hair texture, be it curly, wavy hair, or straight, persists beyond a year postpartum, it's likely here to stay and embracing the result of dormant genes would be the way to go to keep it at its healthiest.

We would love to hear in the comments if any hair texture change has occurred with you!