Aside from a scattering of high-profile women who deign to admit the reality of the post-pregnancy life, Hollywood would have you believe that A-list stars sail through pregnancy, labour and the months which follow experiencing little more than a subtle stretchmark and a mild case of indigestion.
With that in mind, it's refreshing to hear that one of the entertainment industry's biggest stars is keen to shed light on the various side effects experienced by women after becoming mothers.
Speaking candidly to Elle magazine, Glee star, Naya Rivera, admits that following the birth of her son, Josey, in 2015, she began losing her hair.
"There's a real post-partum hair-thinning issue, and nobody talks about it because women are so embarrassed to admit they're losing their hair. But it's a real problem," the actress told the publication.
In an industry which prioritises appearance over much else, Naya was initially disappointed she didn't experience hair thickening during her pregnancy and then panicked by the sudden hair loss following her son's birth.
"I didn't get crazy thick amazing hair at any point during my pregnancy. I was expecting it, and waiting for it, and it never happened. I was like, "Where is my awesome part of the pregnancy bargain?" I didn't grow some amazing mane," she said.
"On top of that, with the dramatic drop in hormones that comes with breastfeeding, and then not breastfeeding, and the whole birth process, the parts around my scalp were thinning and breaking, and nothing seemed to repair them."
The star, who filed for divorce from Ryan Dorsey in November of last year, sought the help of the Glee crew, but admits there was little they could do for her.
"I would be working 16 hour days, which is normal for TV, and my hair would be in a tight ponytail that whole time. They kept spraying it with hairspray, and when I got home, it looked and felt like dried lasagna."
"Above my ears, it looked like it had been burned off with a hair iron or something. And my scalp was so dry from heat styling," she added.
Nowadays, Naya preempts any damage with a strict routine, saying: "I got to the point where, if I knew I was doing a ponytail day, I would basically coat my hair in coconut oil the night before. And to this day, I'll do that before a ponytail day. Seriously. It requires a lot of prep."
It's pretty refreshing to hear a celeb get real about these issues.
Oh, and while we have you; don't forget to have your say in the inaugural SHEmazing Awards this May! It's time to vote, and you can do it right here!
