New Mother Selma Blair Opens up About Postpartum Hair Loss
Celebrity Baby and Pregnancy
Obie Editorial Team
Selma Blair, 39, best known for her roles in 90’s classics like Cruel Intentions, is not holding anything back about her new role as a mother. The star and mother of 4-month old Arthur Saint, became an instant fan-favorite of mothers everywhere after candidly opening up about her postpartum hair loss. “Why do actresses never talk about that,” she told PEOPLE, referring to this not-so-glamorous side effect of the postpartum period.
It is not uncommon for women to begin shedding hair (even in clumps) around 3-6 months after childbirth. While this scares many women into thinking they are balding, in reality it is a natural effect of the body’s hormones returning to normal levels after pregnancy. This change is unlikely to create actual baldness, though if the loss seems abnormal you should consult your doctor.
Losing hairs (on average about 100 per day) is a normal experience for everyone, however, during pregnancy, hormones cause women’s bodies to hold on to this hair that is typically lost. Pregnant women frequently notice that their hair seems thicker and healthier and this is one of the reasons why. As hormone levels return to normal, the hair begins to fall out again (unfortunately sometimes all at once), usually taking place around the 3-6 month mark when many women stop breastfeeding. Have no fear, this process is completely natural and also temporary.
Selma Blair made light of her ‘problem’ with postpartum hair loss by calling attention to the experience. “It just started falling out at the 3-month mark,” she said. “And I’m not the girl who likes extensions so Selma’s going to be bald!” Fortunately for Selma we know she will not actually lose all of her hair. She went on to explain the way she deals with this excessive hair loss, stating to PEOPLE, “This is not so glamorous, but it’s true: I need to take longer showers so that I can collect the hair that falls out and throw it away so I don’t clog the drain. Why do actresses never talk about that?”
Selma also shared a bit about the joys and challenges of motherhood, including the struggle to find personal time. “He rolls over now,” she says, “and he got a bouncy toy! It’s like the biggest moment of your life: ‘Oh my gosh I get ten minutes free now!’” She continues, “Before, he had a playmat, Mommy or Daddy or now a nanny that comes for a few hours in the daytime, to hold him. But now, autonomy! He got a Fisher-Price Jumperoo — I wish I had one for every room!”
Thanks for sharing, Selma, and we wish you the best!