“Married at First Sight” Star Jamie Otis Reveals Her “Bald Spots” Due to Postpartum Hair Loss

Nicol Natale
·3 min read
Photo credit: Instagram
Photo credit: Instagram
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

From Prevention

  • Jamie Otis, 34, opened up about her postpartum experience.

  • The Married at First Sight star said she has been experiencing hair loss and revealed her “bald spots” in an Instagram video.

  • Otis welcomed her son Hendrix in May.

In a vulnerable post shared to Instagram, Jamie Otis opened up about a struggle too many women relate to: postpartum hair loss. The Bachelor alum explained that her “bald spots” used to get her “all sorts of depressed.” She hopes that sharing her experience will help normalize the changes that new moms go through.

“Postpartum has rocked me to my core, affecting me physically, mentally, and emotionally,” Otis wrote in the caption.

Hair loss in new moms is common due to decreasing estrogen levels, according the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD). Excessive shedding usually occurs days or weeks after giving birth and can last for months. This is temporary, the AAD says, and many women eventually grow their hair back to its previous fullness.

View this post on Instagram

Here I am completely raw & bare— & balding.👀 I have no makeup, no filter & you can totally see my BALD spots. I have so much hair loss.😱Postpartum has rocked me to my core, affecting me physically, mentally, & emotionally. BUT, every day I am working towards healing my whole body from the inside, out.🙏🏻💗⁣ ⁣ I feel like I’m a different person than I was before I had my son. I’ve had days where I’ve been bed-ridden, too depressed to get up. My daughter says, “mommy woke up!” when I crawl out of bed in the afternoon.😳⁣ ⁣ I haven’t talked too much about it bc if I mention it I fear people will think I’m just looking for pity or worse, that I’m not thankful for the amazing babies I have.⁣ ⁣ I know I’m so lucky to be a mommy! We tried and tried and tried for SO long to get these beautiful babies & I’m so thankful!⁣ ⁣ But that’s the thing about depression — you can’t talk yourself out of it, you can’t put makeup on and instantly feel better, you can’t even spray dry shampoo on your bald spots and expect the sadness that you buried to stay down.🤦🏼♀️😂⁣ ⁣ It’s weird because it’s not necessarily my appearance or my job or my marriage or *anything that I can pinpoint* as to why I’m “depressed.” I am so blessed in every way in life!⁣ ⁣ So why do I feel so lethargic, overwhelmed, & stressed?!?⁣ ⁣ I don’t know.🤷🏼♀️⁣ ⁣ The only reason I am sharing all of this is because I don’t want to be a fraud and post this video where I seem completely happy with my lack of hair and makeup free face.🙃 I don’t want you to think I’ve got all my sh!t together all the time bc there are definitely days when I don’t.⁣ ⁣ But today I feel good! I’m not letting the hair loss get to me. I’m embracing my freckles & blemishes. Tomorrow, who knows!🤷🏼♀️🤣⁣ ⁣ The point is, body positivity & body acceptance is not a “flip the switch and it’s turned on” kinda thing. It’s an on-going personal journey.⁣ ⁣ Last thing I wanna say - if you have bald spots and want a quick fix I def recommend dark dry shampoo! It works wonders!😝⁣ ⁣ #bodypositive #bodyacceptance #postpartumjourney #postpartum #hairloss #normalizenormalbodies #selflove #selfcare #mentalhealth #ppd #postpartumdepression

A post shared by Jamie Otis Hehner ✨💗 (@jamienotis) on Nov 2, 2020 at 6:12pm PST

She recommended using colored dry shampoo as a quick fix for covering up patchy areas.(The AAD also suggests using a volumizing shampoo and conditioner formulated for fine hair.) However, Otis added that “you can’t put makeup on and instantly feel better, you can’t even spray dry shampoo on your bald spots and expect the sadness that you buried to stay down.”

In addition to hair loss, the Married at First Sight star also experienced postpartum depression. “I’ve had days where I’ve been bed-ridden, too depressed to get up,” she wrote. “I haven’t talked too much about it because if I mention it I fear people will think I’m just looking for pity or worse, that I’m not thankful for the amazing babies I have.”

View this post on Instagram

The moment your baby comes out everything S H I F T S ... and I’m not just talking physically. ⁣ ⁣ As women we are most celebrated when we are pregnant. Especially our bodies. People want to see your bump, touch it, & feel the baby kick.🤰🏼⁣ ⁣ We have multiple doctor visits, strangers hold the door, and women let you pee before them in the bathroom.🙌 Heck, you may even let yourself eat more & not feel *as* guilty about it.😋⁣ ⁣ The moment you deliver your baby, everything changes.⁣ ⁣ You get one postpartum check up. One.⁣ You’re expected to care for yourself, your baby, your home aaaand let’s not forget our hubbies have “needs” too. ⁣ ⁣ And yet, we do. Women are incredible beasts of humans, but we *always* put our needs last. We hide the bump that hasn’t gone away after baby. We shy away from asking for help for fear of seeming not “strong” enough.⁣ ⁣ We slap a smile on our face & just keep going because if you complain about anything you seem ungrateful for all that God has blessed you with.🙏🏻⁣ ⁣ I don’t know who needs to hear this, but I wanted to tell you that you’re not ungrateful or weak or “fat.”⁣ ⁣ It’s ok if you haven’t lost the baby weight — whether your baby is 4 mo or 40 years old.🤣⁣ It’s ok if you don’t feel like being as intimate as you once did.🙃⁣ It’s ok if you need an effin THERAPIST.🙋🏼♀️⁣ ⁣ Giiirl, You Are Not Alone. I get you!💯⁣ ⁣ I’m right there with ya! We are still awesome mamas & wifeys...even if society pegs us as “depressed” or not “bouncing back.”⁣ ⁣ I am sending you the biggest virtual hug.🤗⁣

A post shared by Jamie Otis Hehner ✨💗 (@jamienotis) on Oct 3, 2020 at 4:02pm PDT

According to a study published in The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, postpartum depression impacts up to 15% of mothers. Symptoms include sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, withdrawing from family, and the inability to form a connection with your baby.

“The only reason I am sharing all of this is because I don’t want to be a fraud and post this video where I seem completely happy with my lack of hair and makeup-free face,” Otis wrote. “I don’t want you to think I’ve got all my sh!t together all the time because there are definitely days when I don’t.”

Despite the challenges, Otis is working towards healing. “I’m not letting the hair loss get to me. I’m embracing my freckles and blemishes,” she wrote. “I know I’m so lucky to be a mommy! We tried and tried and tried for SO long to get these beautiful babies and I’m so thankful!”

Support from readers like you helps us do our best work. Go here to subscribe to Prevention and get 12 FREE gifts. And sign up for our FREE newsletter here for daily health, nutrition, and fitness advice.

You Might Also Like