Postpartum care tips for washing hair with mugwort and ginger, and the principles of staged hair care for mothers who have had vaginal delivery or cesarean section: avoid catching a cold after wash...
- Aug 14
- 6 min read
After giving birth, hair easily becomes sticky due to sweating, breastfeeding, and caring for a newborn, and itchy scalp can make it difficult to rest. Many new mothers want to wash their hair with mugwort and ginger water, but worry about "catching a cold." In fact, the key to postpartum mugwort and ginger hair washing is not to force yourself not to wash it, nor to boil the water as concentrated as possible, but to follow the current recovery situation and do a good job of keeping warm, cleaning, and post-wash care.
Traditional postpartum care emphasizes avoiding drafts and keeping warm, and modern postpartum care also prioritizes hygiene, sleep, and infection control. A proper hair wash can leave you feeling refreshed and comfortable; washing too quickly, too hot, or catching a chill afterwards can make it harder for a tired body to rest. The following principles will help new mothers plan their hair washing at home with greater confidence.
Postpartum care tips for washing hair with mugwort and ginger: Consider your physical condition first, not just the number of days.
People often ask how many days after childbirth they can wash their hair, and there's no single answer. Factors such as vaginal delivery, cesarean section, blood loss, sleep patterns, changes in lochia, and whether there's fever or wound pain can all affect whether it's suitable to wash your hair on the day of delivery. If you feel well, don't have a fever or chills, significant dizziness, or wound discomfort, and your home is warm and dry, you can usually use warm water for a simple cleaning.
Mothers who have had a cesarean section should especially avoid pushing themselves. Standing, bending over, or raising their arms while washing their hair may strain the abdominal incision. If they are still in pain or have difficulty getting up, it's best to ask a family member for help, or dry-shampoo their scalp first, and then wash their hair when their strength has stabilized. Mothers who have had a vaginal delivery should also prioritize rest if they experience perineal wounds, fatigue, or a sudden increase in bleeding.
Mugwort and ginger are commonly used in traditional medicine to warm the body and dispel dampness and cold. However, not every mother needs to use them. Those with sensitive scalps, eczema, broken skin, or allergies to plants or fragrances should first wash their hair with water and a mild shampoo. When using mugwort and ginger water for the first time, test a small amount on the inside of your arm; discontinue use if stinging, redness, swelling, or itching occurs.
How can I prepare mugwort and ginger water so that it's not too irritating?
The principle of mugwort and ginger shampoo is to provide a warm and comfortable feeling, without pursuing a strong and spicy taste. Slice old ginger and boil it with mugwort leaves, let it cool to a temperature suitable for skin contact, and then dilute it with clean warm water. The water temperature should be warm but not hot when tested on the back of your hand to avoid causing redness to the scalp due to high temperature. Also, do not rinse your hair directly with freshly boiled herbal water.
Some mothers soak ginger and mugwort sachets very strongly, believing that the hotter the water, the better it "wards off the cold." However, postpartum women are already prone to sweating, dry mouth, and fatigue, and excessively hot water can cause a rapid heartbeat, dizziness, or general discomfort. Especially in Canada's cold autumn and winter, the temperature difference between the bathroom and the bedroom is enough to chill the body, so there is no need to compensate with extremely hot water.
If using commercially available mugwort and ginger bath sachets or personal care products, pay attention to the ingredient list and storage conditions. Products with a musty smell, discoloration, damaged packaging, or abnormally cloudy water after soaking should not be used. Postpartum women are weaker, so hygiene is even more important than concentration.
Arrange the environment before washing your hair.
What's truly uncomfortable is often not the act of washing your hair itself, but rather the frustration of searching for a towel halfway through and then realizing the air vent is blowing directly on you when you're finished. Before you begin, close the windows to avoid direct air conditioning or fans blowing on you, and prepare dry towels, a hairdryer, clean clothes, and a warm headscarf. If you have an infant at home, it's best to have a family member look after them temporarily so you don't have to rush to breastfeed or soothe the baby with wet hair.
Hair washing should be short, about 10 to 15 minutes is enough. When the scalp is oily, you can first clean it with a mild shampoo, and then rinse or shower the scalp with cooled ginger and mugwort water. There is no need to soak it repeatedly. Gently massage with your fingertips. Do not scratch the scalp with your nails to avoid scratching and causing discomfort or infection.
If your mother is prone to migraines or dizziness, it is recommended that she sit while washing her hair or use a height-adjustable shampoo basin to reduce prolonged periods of looking down. Eating a small amount of easily digestible food and drinking warm water before washing her hair can also prevent her from feeling weak after washing her hair on an empty stomach.
Drying your skin after washing is a crucial step in postpartum care.
After washing, gently pat your scalp dry with a towel to absorb excess water, avoiding vigorous rubbing. Then, quickly blow-dry your scalp and roots with warm or medium heat, paying particular attention to the back of your head, behind your ears, and the nape of your neck. Mothers with long hair can blow-dry sections of their hair, avoiding just drying the surface. Leaving moisture inside the scalp can make you feel cold and stuffy.
Do not hold the hairdryer close to your scalp; continuously blowing high heat on the same spot can easily cause a dry and itchy scalp. Once your scalp feels dry and your hair is about 80-90% dry, you can put on a warm jacket or a loose headscarf and rest indoors for a while before going out. Allow enough time when washing your hair before bed, and never lie down with wet hair.
Some new mothers worry that the hairdryer will blow air and therefore don't use it at all, resulting in them wrapping their wet hair in towels for hours. In fact, drying hair in a warm room at a suitable temperature is more in line with care principles than letting wet hair get cold. The key is to avoid direct cold air and avoid prolonged dampness, rather than completely avoiding all airflow.
In what situations should you stop using mugwort and ginger to wash your hair?
Do not force yourself to wash your scalp if your body is sending warning signals, even if it's due to postpartum traditions or scalp discomfort. In the following situations, rest first and contact your doctor, midwife, or other healthcare professional as needed:
Fever, chills, chest pain, shortness of breath, or general malaise.
Dizziness that makes it difficult to stand, palpitations, blurred vision, or a sudden increase in postpartum bleeding.
C-section wound redness, swelling, oozing, increased pain, or noticeable pulling discomfort during movement.
If there is damage to the scalp, pustules, severe rashes, or persistent burning, swelling, and allergic reactions after using ginger and mugwort.
In addition, if you are undergoing special postpartum treatment, have high blood pressure, skin diseases, or have a complex postpartum condition, you should consult a medical professional first. Chinese medicine emphasizes individualized treatment and does not mean that every traditional practice should be copied verbatim.
In accordance with the postpartum recovery rhythm, ensure that cleaning and rest do not interfere with each other.
Postpartum oily scalp and sweating do not mean that mothers have not taken proper care during their postpartum period ; on the contrary, proper cleaning can reduce the feeling of stuffiness, making mothers more willing to rest and be close to their babies. During the first week when physical strength is not yet stable, a simple wash can be done once as needed, and then adjusted according to sweating, weather, and scalp feeling. The frequency can be reduced on dry and cold days, but if you sweat a lot during exercise or breastfeeding, there is no need to resist the urge to wash.
Washing and conditioning are only one part of the overall recovery. Sufficient sleep, balanced hydration and protein intake , keeping the wound clean, and gradually moving around within safe limits are the foundation for supporting recovery. If family members can prepare ginger and mugwort water in advance, help with hair drying, or take care of the baby, the mother won't have to shoulder every little thing herself.
When MoonyMama provides postpartum meals, ginger and mugwort toiletries, and home recovery support for new mothers in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area, they always prioritize the mother's condition on the day of her birth. Traditional warmth doesn't require mothers to endure, but rather allows them to slowly regain their strength in a caring environment with safe and reliable ingredients.
If you're really tired today, you can comb your hair, dry your sweat, and get a good night's sleep. Taking care of your postpartum body isn't a competition; being able to hear your own body's temperature and fatigue is the most reassuring and gentle thing during the postpartum period.
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