Trichologists Doncaster: Hair Changes During Pregnancy

Hair that suddenly feels thicker, glossier or simply different is one of the most talked-about changes of pregnancy.

Why does hair often feel thicker during pregnancy?

Hair often feels thicker during pregnancy because rising hormone levels hold more follicles in the anagen, or growing, phase for longer than usual, so fewer hairs move into the resting phase and fall out, and the everyday shedding you are used to seeing in your brush and the shower quietly drops.

Every hair on your head follows a cycle. The British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) explains that around 85% of scalp follicles are actively growing at any time and around 15% are resting. A resting follicle stops growing for two to four months, then a new hair starts and pushes the old one out. The NHS says losing 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal, often without noticing, and most of those are hairs reaching the end of that resting spell.

Pregnancy tips the balance. DermNet, the dermatology reference site, says many women notice their hair becomes thicker during pregnancy and that in the third trimester the proportion of follicles retained in the growing phase increases. A 2025 review in Primary Care links the skin and hair changes of pregnancy to higher levels of oestrogens and progesterone. Fewer hairs resting means fewer hairs shedding, so the ponytail you gather in the morning can feel noticeably fuller.

The effect is real but usually modest. In a 2014 study in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, Gizlenti and Ekmekci measured the growing and resting ratios of 116 women at the 24th week of pregnancy, at term, and at two points after delivery. Growing-phase rates were higher in pregnancy and resting rates rose after delivery, but the authors concluded that for most women these shifts were not exaggerated. Researchers have been looking at this since at least 1960, when the Journal of Investigative Dermatology published a paper on the effect of pregnancy on the human hair cycle. Our guide to the stages of the hair growth cycle explains each phase in more detail.

Not everyone notices a difference, and some people notice the opposite. The BAD lists severe illness, especially with a high fever, stressful events and marked weight loss among the triggers for extra shedding, and any of those can happen during a pregnancy too. If your hair feels thinner rather than thicker, that is worth mentioning to your midwife rather than putting down to pregnancy alone.

How do you tell hair loss, shedding and breakage apart in pregnancy?

Hair shedding in pregnancy means whole hairs falling out at the end of their cycle, hair breakage means strands snapping part-way along their length, and hair loss means the follicle itself is affected, showing as patches, a widening parting or a thinning hairline, and each of the three points to a different next step.

• Hair shedding. Full-length hairs with a small, pale bulb at the root. Shedding usually falls during pregnancy and rises for a while after the birth.
• Hair breakage. Short, uneven pieces with no bulb, often from rough detangling, heat, tight elastics or bleach. The follicle is untouched.
• Hair loss. A change in the scalp itself: a smooth patch, a parting that keeps widening or a hairline that recedes. Speak to your GP or midwife about any of these.

A simple paper test helps. Save the hairs from your brush for a few days, lay them on a sheet of white paper, and sort them into full-length hairs with a bulb and short pieces without one. Mostly short pieces point to how the hair is being handled; plenty of full-length hairs point to shedding, which is worth raising at your next midwife check if it seems heavy. Bringing that sorted pile, or a photo of it, also makes any later conversation with your GP or one of the trichologists Doncaster searches list far quicker.

Why can hair texture change while you are pregnant?

Hair texture can change during pregnancy because the same hormonal shifts that alter the growth cycle also affect the skin and its oil glands, and many people report hair that feels smoother, coarser, curlier, straighter or simply less predictable, although research measuring texture itself is thin and mostly based on what women report.

Hair changes are common. In a 2020 study in the Journal of Pregnancy, Hoefel and colleagues questioned 1,284 women in a Brazilian hospital shortly after they had given birth: 44.5% said their hair had changed during pregnancy, and the changes were more often reported by women in their first pregnancy. The 2025 Primary Care review lists vascular and glandular changes and shifts in hair growth among the common skin changes of pregnancy, and notes that most are benign and settle after the birth.

What we could not find is good research measuring curl pattern or strand thickness through pregnancy, so read confident claims that curls always loosen, or that straight hair always turns wavy, as anecdote. The NHS does make one practical point here: in the second and third trimesters pregnancy can affect your hair's normal condition, so it may react differently to colouring than it usually does. For texture changes that have nothing to do with pregnancy, such as greying, heat damage or hard water, our Darlington guide to why hair texture suddenly changes covers the rest.

The sensible response is to care for the hair you have now rather than the hair you had last year:

• If lengths feel drier or rougher, condition the mid-lengths and ends more generously and comb through with conditioner still in.
• If hair feels heavier or frizzier, lower the heat on your straighteners and dryer and let hair air-dry partly first.
• If waves or curls appear, try detangling in the shower and scrunching rather than brushing when dry.
• If you are planning a colour or perm, do a strand test first, because the result may not match what you are used to.

Why might your scalp feel greasier or drier during pregnancy?

A scalp can feel greasier or drier during pregnancy because hormone changes alter how the skin's oil glands behave, and the 2020 survey of 1,284 women that recorded hair changes also found 35.7% reported new or worse acne, a reminder that the skin's oil balance often shifts, while other people find their skin and scalp feel drier and itchier.

For roots that turn greasy faster than before, the answer is usually to wash more often, not to scrub harder. Lather shampoo at the scalp, rinse well with lukewarm water, and keep conditioner on the lengths so it does not weigh the roots down. If you have been stretching washes out to protect colour, it is fine to wash daily while your scalp needs it.

For a scalp that feels dry, tight or itchy, the NHS advice on itching in pregnancy is a good template, even though it is written for skin in general. It says itching in pregnancy is common and can be caused by changes to hormone levels and your skin stretching, and suggests cool or warm, not hot, baths and showers, spending no longer than 20 minutes in them, and avoiding perfumed soaps and moisturisers. On the scalp that means lukewarm rinses, shorter showers and unperfumed products where you can.

Be careful with anything medicated. The NHS says that before taking any medicine when you are pregnant, including ones you buy from a pharmacy or shop, you should check with your pharmacist, midwife or GP that it is suitable. That includes medicated anti-dandruff shampoos and scalp lotions, so ask the pharmacist before you buy one.

Grow Me® Shampoo

A sulfate-free 250ml shampoo with biotin, caffeine, rosemary and niacinamide, £14.95 in September 2026. If your roots feel oilier than usual, it gives a gentle clean you can use as often as they need. Read the full ingredient list on the product page and skin test it first, as with anything new in pregnancy.

Is it safe to colour or bleach your hair while pregnant?

The NHS says most research shows it is safe to dye or colour your hair while pregnant, because your scalp absorbs little of the dye and the chemicals involved are only harmful in very high doses, but it recommends a strand test first, gloves, the shortest application time and a well-ventilated room.

The NHS Best Start in Life page on hair dye adds a few details worth knowing. You might decide to wait until after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, when it says the risk from chemical substances is lower. If a hairdresser is colouring your hair, tell them you are pregnant and ask for a patch test, even with a dye they have used on you before. Highlights, where dye goes only onto strands of hair, reduce any risk because the chemicals are absorbed by the hair and not by the scalp. And a semi-permanent pure vegetable dye such as henna is suggested as a gentler alternative. If you are unsure or worried, the NHS says to speak to your midwife or doctor.

Sources do not all read the evidence the same way, and it is fair to say so. A 2026 systematic review in the Journal of Pregnancy pooled 20 observational studies and reported some possible associations between hair dye exposure around conception or during pregnancy and certain adverse outcomes. The same authors rated the certainty of that evidence as low or very low, said most studies were retrospective, and concluded the findings could not show cause and effect. The NHS position that most research shows colouring is safe still stands; the review is a reason to keep exposure low, for example by choosing highlights or waiting until after 12 weeks, rather than a reason to panic. We are a hair care company, not your maternity team, so if the question worries you, ask your midwife.

Allergy is a separate question from pregnancy. The NHS says many permanent and some semi-permanent dyes contain PPD (paraphenylenediamine), that reaction symptoms can take up to 72 hours to appear, and that you should test the dye on a strand of hair at least 48 hours before you use it. A past black henna tattoo raises your risk. Our York guide to scalp reactions after hair dye covers what to do if your scalp reacts.

Is chemical straightening or a keratin blow-dry safe in pregnancy?

Nobody can give a firm answer on chemical straightening in pregnancy, because we could not find NHS guidance that covers relaxers or keratin blow-dries specifically, and the published research on these products looks mainly at the chemicals they can release, especially formaldehyde, rather than at what happens when pregnant women use them.

The chemical findings are enough to make many people wait. A 2014 study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology tested every Brazilian keratin straightening brand then sold in South Africa: 6 of the 7 had formaldehyde levels between 0.96% and 1.4%, around five times the level of under 0.2% set as safe by the US Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel, and 5 of those 6 were labelled formaldehyde-free. A 2026 scoping review of 21 studies found keratin products more often contained formaldehyde or formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, while relaxers more often contained fragrance ingredients and chemicals that can interfere with hormones.

With no clear guidance either way, the cautious choices are simple:

1. Postpone straightening until after the birth if you can, and use a lower-heat blow-dry in the meantime.
2. If you go ahead, ask the salon for the product's full ingredient list and whether it releases formaldehyde when heated.
3. Choose a well-ventilated salon, and tell your stylist you are pregnant.
4. Ask for a strand test, because hair can take chemical services differently in pregnancy.
5. Raise it with your midwife if you are unsure.

What does a gentle hair routine look like during pregnancy?

A gentle hair routine during pregnancy keeps things simple: wash as often as your scalp needs with lukewarm water, condition the lengths, detangle from the ends upwards, keep heat low, wear loose styles and skin test anything new, because the NHS notes that skin can be more easily irritated while you are pregnant.

1. Wash to suit your scalp. Daily is fine for oily roots; every few days is fine for a drier scalp. Lukewarm water, not hot.
2. Condition the lengths. Mid-lengths to ends, with a wide-tooth comb run through while the conditioner is still in.
3. Dry gently. Blot with a towel rather than rubbing, and let hair partly air-dry before any heat.
4. Loosen your styles. A heavier, fuller head of hair pulls harder in a tight ponytail, so use soft ties and vary the position.
5. Skin test anything new. Apply a little of any new product behind the ear or on the inner arm and wait 48 hours.
6. Skip the supplement aisle for hair. Ask your midwife which vitamins you need in pregnancy rather than adding a hair product on top.

Whether you live in the town centre, Bessacarr, Bentley or Thorne, none of this needs a specialist. It needs a routine that fits how your hair behaves this month, which may not be how it behaved before.

Condition Me® Conditioner

A conditioner with cholesterol, shea butter, glycerin and hydrolysed lupine protein, £13.95 in September 2026. Keep it on mid-lengths and ends that feel drier than usual, where it adds slip for detangling and reduces breakage. Skin test it first, as with anything new.

When should you speak to your midwife or GP about hair or scalp changes?

Speak to your midwife or GP if hair falls out in patches, your parting or hairline thins, your scalp develops a new rash, or you feel unusually tired or breathless, because the NHS says iron deficiency anaemia is often caused by blood loss or pregnancy and lists more hair coming out when brushing among its less common symptoms.

The NHS lists tiredness and lack of energy, shortness of breath, noticeable heartbeats, paler than usual skin and headaches as the main symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia. Your midwife can arrange a blood test, and the NHS hair loss page also names iron deficiency among the causes of temporary hair loss. Do not start iron tablets or supplements on your own; the NHS medicines guidance is to check with your pharmacist, midwife or GP before taking anything in pregnancy.

Itching deserves its own mention. The NHS says itching in pregnancy is not usually serious, but it can be a sign of a liver condition called intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), which needs medical care. It advises seeing a GP if itchy skin affects your daily life, keeps coming back or comes with a new rash, and getting urgent help if the itching is severe.

What should you expect from your hair after the birth?

After the birth, many people find that the hairs held in the growing phase during pregnancy move into the resting phase together, so shedding rises for a while, usually starting a few months later, and DermNet says hair usually returns to its pre-pregnancy pattern within 6 to 12 months.

The Gizlenti and Ekmekci study describes follicles returning to the resting phase within 3 to 6 months of delivery as hormone levels drop, and the BAD lists childbirth among the most common triggers for this kind of shedding. It is a normal phase rather than a sign that something has gone wrong. Our Stoke-on-Trent guide to postpartum shedding covers the timeline, what is normal and when to ask for help, so it is worth reading nearer the time.

When are trichologists Doncaster worth contacting during pregnancy?

A registered trichologist is worth contacting during pregnancy mainly when a hair or scalp worry has already been checked by your midwife or GP and you want a closer look at the hair and scalp, a review of your routine, or help telling shedding from breakage as the months go on.

Order matters. The NHS advises seeing a GP to find out what is causing hair loss before thinking about a commercial hair clinic, and in pregnancy your midwife is part of that first step. Trichology is private and separate from your NHS maternity care. We should be clear about our own role too: Watermans makes cosmetic hair care in the UK, we do not run clinics and we offer no consultations.

If you do look at the trichologists Doncaster searches turn up, check professional membership first. The Institute of Trichologists says its register is accredited under the Accredited Registers scheme run by the Professional Standards Authority, that its training is a two and a half year Level 5 distance learning course, and that registrants renew each year and follow a code of professional practice. The Trichological Society is the other main UK body. Confirm a name on the body's own website rather than trusting a logo, and consider nearby Sheffield or Leeds if you want a wider choice.

Three questions are worth asking before you book anything:

1. Have you worked with pregnant clients, and will you send me back to my midwife or GP if something looks medical?
2. Are the products you suggest suitable in pregnancy, and can I keep using my own?
3. What does a first visit cost, and is anything compulsory to buy?

We sell hair care, so weigh our view accordingly. Watermans hair care is vegan apart from Condition Me conditioner and made in the UK, with over 6.5 million bottles sold since 2012. They are cosmetic: they help hair look and feel healthier and reduce breakage, but they cannot change how your hair cycle behaves in pregnancy, and none of them is designed for any pregnancy condition.

What are the most frequently asked questions about hair changes in pregnancy?

Do I need one of the trichologists Doncaster lists for hair changes in pregnancy?

Usually not. Thicker hair, a change in texture and a greasier or drier scalp are common in pregnancy and tend to settle on their own. Speak to your midwife or GP first about patches, a new rash, severe itching or tiredness. Trichologists Doncaster searches bring up are most useful afterwards, for a closer look at the hair and scalp or a routine review.

Why is my hair thicker now that I am pregnant?

Pregnancy hormones hold more hair follicles in the growing phase for longer, so fewer hairs rest and fall out. DermNet notes that the share of follicles kept in the growing phase rises in the third trimester, which is why many people shed less and find their hair feels fuller.

Can I dye my hair in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy?

The NHS says most research shows it is safe to dye your hair while pregnant, because the scalp absorbs little dye. It adds that you might decide to wait until after the first 12 weeks, when the risk from chemical substances is lower. Always do a strand test first and wear gloves at home.

Is a greasier scalp normal in pregnancy?

A change in how oily the scalp feels is common, because hormones alter how the skin's oil glands behave. Wash as often as your roots need, keep conditioner on the lengths and speak to a pharmacist, midwife or GP before using any medicated shampoo.

Is an itchy scalp in pregnancy something to worry about?

Mild itching is common in pregnancy. The NHS says to get urgent help from your maternity unit, or 111 if you cannot reach it, if you have very itchy skin, itching on the palms or soles, or itching that is worse at night, because these can be signs of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

Can low iron in pregnancy affect my hair?

It can. The NHS says iron deficiency anaemia is often caused by blood loss or pregnancy and lists noticing more hair coming out when you brush among its less common symptoms. Tiredness, breathlessness and noticeable heartbeats are more typical. Mention any of these to your midwife or GP.

Will my hair fall out after the birth?

Many people shed more for a while a few months after the birth, as the hairs held in the growing phase rest and fall together. DermNet says hair usually returns to its pre-pregnancy pattern within 6 to 12 months. Our Stoke-on-Trent guide covers that stage in depth. If the timing lines up with a new prescription rather than with pregnancy, it is worth checking whether a medicine could be behind hair shedding.

Sources & references

• NHS Best Start in Life, Using hair dye in pregnancy: is it safe?
• NHS, Itching in pregnancy
• NHS, Iron deficiency anaemia
• NHS, Hair loss
• NHS, Hair dye reactions
• NHS, Medicines in pregnancy
• British Association of Dermatologists, Telogen effluvium
• DermNet, Skin changes in pregnancy
• Gizlenti S, Ekmekci TR. The changes in the hair cycle during gestation and the post-partum period. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol, 2014
• Lynfield YL. Effect of pregnancy on the human hair cycle. J Invest Dermatol, 1960
• Hoefel IDR et al. Striae gravidarum, acne, facial spots, and hair disorders: risk factors in a study with 1284 puerperal women. J Pregnancy, 2020
• Wilson BH, Pendergraft B, Daniel K. Dermatologic conditions of pregnancy. Prim Care, 2025
• Uccella S et al. Hair dyes in pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Pregnancy, 2026
• Maneli MH, Smith P, Khumalo NP. Elevated formaldehyde concentration in Brazilian keratin type hair-straightening products. J Am Acad Dermatol, 2014
• Weaver E et al. Chemicals of concern in chemical hair straightening products: a scoping review. Curr Environ Health Rep, 2026
• The Institute of Trichologists
• The Institute of Trichologists, Find a Trichologist
• The Trichological Society

What is the bottom line on trichologists Doncaster?

Hair that feels thicker in pregnancy is the hair cycle at work: more follicles stay in the growing phase, so fewer hairs shed until a few months after the birth. Texture and scalp oiliness can change too, and the NHS says most research shows colouring is safe with a strand test, gloves and good ventilation. Keep your routine gentle, skin test anything new, and speak to your midwife or GP about patches, a new rash, severe itching or signs of low iron. Trichologists Doncaster residents turn to are most useful after those checks, not instead of them.

If your lengths feel drier or rougher than they used to, a gentle conditioner such as Condition Me adds slip with shea butter and glycerin, so detangling snaps fewer strands; skin test it first, as with anything new in pregnancy.

Watermans products are 100% cosmetic and do not treat medical hair loss. Individual results may vary.