How did I deal with post-partum hair loss and what products do I use?
Oh, the dreaded post-partum hair loss. So unfortunate! My hair was super thick during pregnancy, which I loved because I normally have fine hair, but I noticed it started falling out in huge gobs around 3 months after I had Xavier. My body was finally getting back to normal and then, hello 20,000 strands of my hair clogging the shower drain and hanging on the shower wall in all sorts of fun shapes and patterns. I had gobs of it falling out every time I washed my hair. It also fell out onto my shirts all day long. My trash can at work was full of hair. It shed like this for about 2 months or so. I tried to brush my hair at night, which helped not make so much fall out in the morning. But, really the only way to fight it is to help it come out, by brushing hard once a day and comb it several times a day.
As far as hair products, my hair type is normal with all-over-color treatments to cover the gray. I really like Pantene shampoo and conditioner. It smells good and leaves my hair shiny without weighing it down. I've been using it for years, but lately have been trying out some different brands. I recently tried Herbal Essences (love the smell!), Aveda (loved the smell but didn't seem to clean as well), Garnier Fructis, and am now using this Joico shampoo and conditioner for color treated hair. I think I found a new favorite! It smells fruity, lathers well, and leaves my hair feeling very clean and shiny. But, I'm finding the stuff from the salon works just as well as drug store brands and I always have to do color touch ups once a month to cover the gray no matter what products I use!
I have naturally curly hair, which is great for styling. I just throw in some mousse or styling cream, scrunch it, and go. Right now I'm using this Aveda styling lotion mixed in with my Herbal Essences mousse. A little of the styling lotion goes a long way so I dilute with the mousse by mixing them together in my hand before applying to damp hair. I rarely blow dry it and I think that's why it always looks so healthy. When I occasionally go out, if I'm feeling motivated to do something different, I will dry my hair and straighten it or put loose curls in it with my flat iron.
Oh, the dreaded post-partum hair loss. So unfortunate! My hair was super thick during pregnancy, which I loved because I normally have fine hair, but I noticed it started falling out in huge gobs around 3 months after I had Xavier. My body was finally getting back to normal and then, hello 20,000 strands of my hair clogging the shower drain and hanging on the shower wall in all sorts of fun shapes and patterns. I had gobs of it falling out every time I washed my hair. It also fell out onto my shirts all day long. My trash can at work was full of hair. It shed like this for about 2 months or so. I tried to brush my hair at night, which helped not make so much fall out in the morning. But, really the only way to fight it is to help it come out, by brushing hard once a day and comb it several times a day.
As far as hair products, my hair type is normal with all-over-color treatments to cover the gray. I really like Pantene shampoo and conditioner. It smells good and leaves my hair shiny without weighing it down. I've been using it for years, but lately have been trying out some different brands. I recently tried Herbal Essences (love the smell!), Aveda (loved the smell but didn't seem to clean as well), Garnier Fructis, and am now using this Joico shampoo and conditioner for color treated hair. I think I found a new favorite! It smells fruity, lathers well, and leaves my hair feeling very clean and shiny. But, I'm finding the stuff from the salon works just as well as drug store brands and I always have to do color touch ups once a month to cover the gray no matter what products I use!
I have naturally curly hair, which is great for styling. I just throw in some mousse or styling cream, scrunch it, and go. Right now I'm using this Aveda styling lotion mixed in with my Herbal Essences mousse. A little of the styling lotion goes a long way so I dilute with the mousse by mixing them together in my hand before applying to damp hair. I rarely blow dry it and I think that's why it always looks so healthy. When I occasionally go out, if I'm feeling motivated to do something different, I will dry my hair and straighten it or put loose curls in it with my flat iron.
What do my husband and I do for a living & what do we do for fun?
I work for the State as an IT Auditor. My clients are all the State agencies. We audit their IT shops and help them with control weaknesses so they don't get hacked. The State agencies have a ton of secure data and if there ever was a leak, there would be big problems! I help ensure those leaks don't happen. My husband works for the Federal Government as a Social Security claims rep. He is an attorney, as well, which comes in handy when legal issues arise. We are both very lucky in our careers because we only work 40 hour weeks, giving us plenty of time to hang out with baby X.
For fun, we like to catch up on new shows (pre-recorded on the DVR!). Shows we are watching right now are Mad Men, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (the drama is hilarious), Modern Family, and House of Cards. We also like to go out for brunch on the weekends. There is a local tea house that we absolutely love and some other restaurants downtown that have wonderful brunch menus. See my brunch from last weekend - lavender infused blueberry pancakes. So wonderful!
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We also like to attend wine tasting events and recently did a wine club wine tasting in our home.
What's my style?
I work for the State as an IT Auditor. My clients are all the State agencies. We audit their IT shops and help them with control weaknesses so they don't get hacked. The State agencies have a ton of secure data and if there ever was a leak, there would be big problems! I help ensure those leaks don't happen. My husband works for the Federal Government as a Social Security claims rep. He is an attorney, as well, which comes in handy when legal issues arise. We are both very lucky in our careers because we only work 40 hour weeks, giving us plenty of time to hang out with baby X.
For fun, we like to catch up on new shows (pre-recorded on the DVR!). Shows we are watching right now are Mad Men, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (the drama is hilarious), Modern Family, and House of Cards. We also like to go out for brunch on the weekends. There is a local tea house that we absolutely love and some other restaurants downtown that have wonderful brunch menus. See my brunch from last weekend - lavender infused blueberry pancakes. So wonderful!
We also like to attend wine tasting events and recently did a wine club wine tasting in our home.
What's my style?
My style is comfortable! I live in my Victoria Secret yoga pants (that come in a long 36" inseam) on the weekends. GAP used to sell some wonderful maternity yoga pants (that came in a long 36" inseam), but I can no longer find them. However, these are similar. I prefer GAP leggings over any other brand because they are the absolute softest ever, but they don't always have them in the long length. I also really like Target's long and lean tanks, their boyfriend tee, and maxi dresses. I am also digging their maternity baseball shirts and wish I discovered them while I was pregnant. So cute!
How did I decide to go back to work full-time after having a baby?
Deciding whether to work full-time, part-time or not at all after having Xavier was a big decision. I thought about quitting my job. I did the SAHM routine my entire maternity leave, but it was not my thing. I didn't like being home all day, by myself, searching for meet-up groups to join to keep me entertained. I hated feeding/washing bottles all day. And, I started resenting the fact that Steve "got to get away" for the whole day and was so refreshed when he got home.
Working part-time wasn't really an option because they don't much of a daycare discount for part-time kids. It's almost the same price as a full-time kid. So I decided to keep my job and research the crap out of day cares. We found an awesome one right down the street and the girls are wonderful! They are upbeat, energetic, and do lots of fun activities with Xavier. I am getting to the point where I feel bad keeping him at home on my days off because he's missing out on time with his friends. And, I miss him sooo much near the end of the day that I should have gotten a speeding ticket by now on my way to the day care to pick him up. I never would have felt like I was missing him if I was around him all the time. So, I believe I made the right choice!
I work a 40 hr week job, never work overtime, and have a flexible schedule as far as missing time one day and making it up the next. I found a great meet-up group that consists mostly of other working moms in my area. We hang out quite a bit and I've met some wonderful people! If there wasn't this meet-up in my area, I would have started one for working moms. We have play dates on the weekends and it's nice to bond with other moms who have similar things in common as me.
How did I decide to go back to work full-time after having a baby?
Deciding whether to work full-time, part-time or not at all after having Xavier was a big decision. I thought about quitting my job. I did the SAHM routine my entire maternity leave, but it was not my thing. I didn't like being home all day, by myself, searching for meet-up groups to join to keep me entertained. I hated feeding/washing bottles all day. And, I started resenting the fact that Steve "got to get away" for the whole day and was so refreshed when he got home.
Working part-time wasn't really an option because they don't much of a daycare discount for part-time kids. It's almost the same price as a full-time kid. So I decided to keep my job and research the crap out of day cares. We found an awesome one right down the street and the girls are wonderful! They are upbeat, energetic, and do lots of fun activities with Xavier. I am getting to the point where I feel bad keeping him at home on my days off because he's missing out on time with his friends. And, I miss him sooo much near the end of the day that I should have gotten a speeding ticket by now on my way to the day care to pick him up. I never would have felt like I was missing him if I was around him all the time. So, I believe I made the right choice!
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| Xavier's buddies at day care. |
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