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What to know about pregnancy hair and nail growth

You're not imagining it: During pregnancy, your hair may be thicker and fuller. You might love the extra volume, or be annoyed by unwanted hair showing up in new places. Your nails may be different, too. Here's what to expect.

Black, pregnant woman with long hair leaning against a fence.
Photo credit: Katie Rain

Is it common for your hair to get thicker when you're pregnant?

You may find that your hair feels fuller when you're pregnant. But you're not actually growing more hair (and the strands themselves aren't any thicker) – you're just losing it more slowly than you usually do.

Here's what's going on: Normally, 85 to 95 percent of the hair on your head is growing and the other 5 to 15 percent is in a resting stage. After the resting period, this hair naturally falls out (often while you're brushing or shampooing your hair) and is replaced by new growth. The average woman sheds anywhere from 50 to 100 strands of hair a day.

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During pregnancy, higher levels of estrogen prolong the growth phase, resulting in less shedding of hair and thicker tresses. Some women also notice that their hair becomes shinier during pregnancy or that it changes in texture (curly hair might become straighter, for example).

Your post-pregnancy locks probably won't be as luxurious. After giving birth, the growth/rest cycle goes back to its previous pattern, so you may have postpartum hair loss about 1 to 5 months after delivery.

Not all pregnant women notice dramatic changes in their hair before and after giving birth, though. Among those who do, the changes tend to be more obvious in women with longer hair.

Is it normal to have more facial or body hair?

Yes, your facial and body hair may grow faster when you're pregnant, possibly because of an increase in hormones called androgens.

You can safely tweeze, wax, or shave during pregnancy to remove unwanted hair. Avoid chemicals such as bleaches or depilatories, which could be absorbed into your bloodstream.

Permanent hair-removal techniques, such as laser and electrolysis, are thought to be safe, but it's best to wait on these until after pregnancy. The hormones that cause excess pigmentation during pregnancy (resulting in chloasma or the mask of pregnancy) can also cause darkening of the skin after these cosmetic procedures, especially if you have darker skin. Besides, laser and electrolysis can be painful, and you may already have plenty of discomfort during pregnancy.

In any case, most of this unwanted hair should be gone three to six months after you deliver your baby.

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Is it common for your nails to grow faster?

Yes, although you might not notice the difference. Some pregnant women also develop harder nails, but others find that their nails are softer or more brittle. These changes are temporary, and your nails should return to normal sometime after you give birth. If you get all the nutrients your body needs, your fingernails should be in good shape three to six months after your baby arrives. (Your toenails could take nine months to a year.)

In the meantime, you can protect your fingernails by wearing rubber gloves when you're doing the dishes or cleaning, and by using moisturizer on your hands, especially on the skin that surrounds the nail and on the nails, particularly if they're brittle.

Skin changes are also common during pregnancy. Here are 6 common pregnancy skin problems to look out for.

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Sources

BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. When creating and updating content, we rely on credible sources: respected health organizations, professional groups of doctors and other experts, and published studies in peer-reviewed journals. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're seeing. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.

ACOG. 2022. Skin conditions during pregnancy. https://www.acog.org/patient-resources/faqs/pregnancy/skin-conditions-during-pregnancy Opens a new window[Accessed June 2023]

MedlinePlus. 2022. Skin and hair changes during pregnancy. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000611.htmOpens a new window [Accessed June 2023]

Melissa Mills

Melissa Mills is an editor and writer specializing in parenting, health, lifestyle, and entertainment content. Formerly the associate editorial director of Parents, Mills is passionate about filling her days with the news and trends that will empower families at all stages of their parenting journeys. Mills lives in New Jersey with her husband, two insanely energetic sons, and a very cute mini goldendoodle.

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