Pregnancy Beauty Tips
Horrific hair
Unfortunately, you’ll have to just put up with whatever shenanigans your hair gets up to, but be reassured that in most cases everything goes back to normal eventually. If the hair on your head thins, it should thicken right back up postpartum. Ditto with any body hair that grows where you don’t want it—it should just fall out eventually (Dr. Barankin recommends waiting six months before considering laser hair removal for this reason).
However, if your hair becomes too unmanageable to bear when you are pregnant, talk to your stylist, because sometimes a new ’do can really help. “Getting a more textured cut will help to control thickness and sometimes the right cut will help to hide any hair loss you might experience,” says Jay Wells, owner of Jay Wells Salon in Halifax.
suffering smiles
Thanks to increased hormones and blood flow, pregnant women are at higher risk of developing gingivitis, which can lead to swollen and bleeding gums. More seriously, “Scientific research has shown that there may be a link between periodontal disease and preterm, low birth-weight babies,” says Dr. Deborah Stymiest, president of the Canadian Dental Association. During pregnancy is a critical time to observe good oral hygiene, says Dr. Stymiest. “A lot can be done to prevent gingivitis through regular flossing and brushing at home, but regular visits to the dentist before and throughout pregnancy can reduce the risks associated with gum disease,” she says.
on the bright side
As terrible as this list of complaints seems, not everyone’s pregnancy sabotages their good looks. “Some conditions, such as psoriasis or eczema, may see improvement, and thick glossy hair is a common side effect of all those pregnancy hormones,” says Dr. Barankin. “You’ll go through peaks and troughs throughout your pregnancy, and what bothers you at one point may well have disappeared by the next trimester.”
Writer Lola Augustine Brown felt beautiful when she was pregnant, but her killer pregnancy farts diminished the glamorous feeling.
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