When we talk about a newborn’s hair, each and single baby is different. Some will be born with thick hair, while others will be bald. There is no need to worry about it all. Both scenarios are totally normal. Still, if you can’t wait for your baby’s hair to grow long and thick, we have found some tricks to speed up the hair growth.
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The baby’s hair at birth
There is no chance to predict how much or how thick hair a baby will have at birth. As we said, the baby can be born bald or with a lot of hair. You probably know that even if your baby is born with lots of hair, there is a chance that that hair will fall out after delivery, but it will regrow later. Just keep in mind that there are no underlying health problems, it is all normal what we said above. The baby’s hair quantity and color are connected to the baby’s genetics. The baby’s hair usually starts growing in the 30th week of pregnancy. And if the baby starts growing hair in the womb, the chances that the baby will be born with hair are high.
Hormones will also play a major role in how much hair the baby will be born with. Hormone levels will be high in the womb, which should accelerate hair growth. After the baby is born, the hormone level will rapidly drop, thus making the hair grow slower. The baby’s hair will enter a new growth cycle soon after the birth. That can result in complete hair fall out, but soon new hair will come out. We are saying here that you shouldn’t be worried about your newborn losing his/her hair. Still, we bet you can’t wait for the hair to grow back. Below you will find few tricks to speed up the process.
1. Using coconut oil
Coconut oil is beneficial for the skin, and it also promotes hair growth because it improves the blood circulation on the scalp. Coconut oil will add shine to the hair and can prevent hair loss. Coconut oil is the most powerful to fight hair loss when combined with mineral and sunflower oil. You gently apply coconut oil to your newborn’s scalp few times a week to stimulate fuller and thicker hair. The coconut oil will moisturize the baby’s hair and will help eliminate the cradle cap. Use extra-virgin or organic coconut oil because it is unrefined, which means it has not been processed. After you have applied a little bit of coconut oil on your baby’s scalp, let it work its magic for 20 minutes. Use warm water to rinse it off.
2. Regularly brush the baby’s scalp
You can stimulate hair growth by brushing, combing, and massaging your baby’s scalp. With regular grooming, you will loosen the cradle cap and also remove dry skin. Also, brushing will boost blood circulation to the hair follicles and the scalp. You can also gently massage the baby’s scalp for few minutes using some oil. Not only will you promote hair growth by doing this, but also your baby will be more relaxed. So relaxed that the baby might fall asleep.
3. Shampoo your baby’s scalp regularly
Don’t be nervous about washing the baby’s hair because it will keep their scalp clean, and it will loosen the cradle cap. When the baby steps out of the newborn phase, you can wash his/her hair every 2-3 days. Bear in mind to use gentle baby shampoo and lukewarm water. If you let dirt accumulate on the baby’s scalp, it will cause dryness, and that will slow the hair’s growth.
4. Start using hair conditioner on the baby’s hair
Probably a hair conditioner is one of the products you use on your hair, and you use one on your baby’s hair as well. The conditioner has the job of returning the moisture that has been washed away by the shampoo. It can promote hair growth and reduce breakage by strengthening and protecting the hair. If your baby has curly or textured hair that is more prone to dryness, the hair conditioner will help with that. After shampooing the hair, apply the conditioner and use lukewarm water to rinse it off. Make sure the conditioner is appropriate for babies and is tear-free.
5. Make sure your baby towel is soft
After you shampooed and conditioned the baby’s hair, you will need to dry it as gently as possible. You must use a soft towel for the baby’s head. If you use a rough towel, you can potentially damage the baby’s hair follicles, which will slow the hair growth.
6. Detangle the baby’s hair
If your baby has curly or textured hair, it will tend to tangle and create knots. Now, those knots can break off, and the baby will lose hair. Therefore, use a brush to gently detangle the baby’s hair.
7. A healthy diet is important
A balanced and healthy diet will help your baby grow fuller and thicker hair. When your baby reaches 6 months, you can start feeding him/her solid food rich in vitamin A and B, iron, vitamin D, protein, and zinc. Foods rich in vitamin A: pumpkin, butternut squash, mango, carrots. Foods rich in vitamin B: meat, beans, eggs, potatoes, whole grains. Iron-rich foods are leafy greens. If you are still breastfeeding your baby, then you must maintain a healthy diet as well. What you eat is what your baby gets through your milk therefore, the foods you eat should encourage your baby’s hair growth.
8. You can apply gelatin to the baby’s scalp
Because gelatin is an amino acid, it can stimulate hair growth when you apply it to the baby’s scalp. You will need to mix 1 teaspoon of gelatin with some water. You can also add a little bit of honey and a little bit of apple cider vinegar to this mixture. The apple cider vinegar promotes hair growth, and the honey restores nutrients to the scalp and hair. Apply this mixture to the baby’s scalp and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Then rinse it as you would do when you wash your baby’s hair.
9. Try not to use hair ties too often
You might be tempted to pull your baby’s hair into a ponytail as soon as you see the strands of hair, but we encourage you to resist that need. When you tie the baby’s hair a bit too tight, it can damage the hair follicles, which can lead to hair loss. Instead, use silk headbands that are gentle on the baby’s hair.
10. Give the baby a haircut
A haircut will get rid of patchiness caused by bald spots and hair loss, and the hair will start growing evenly. There is this belief that haircuts jumpstart hair growth. Still, this is not scientifically proven. If you choose to give your baby a haircut, you will need to cut the longer strands first. Use a hair trimmer and stay away from the razor. After the haircut is done, apply moisturizer to the baby’s scalp to avoid dryness. Hair growth problems or hair loss soon after delivery is not uncommon for babies. Hair growth usually occurs within the 6th to 12th months. If you feel like something is not right and unusual with your baby’s hair, please ask your doctor for advice.
