Overcoming Postpartum Hair Loss: My Journey with Routine Wellness

Disclosure: This blog post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. These commissions help support the time and resources required to run this blog.

If you’ve ever dealt with chronic hair loss, especially postpartum, you know the emotional ups and downs that come with it. Four years after Nicholas was born I was still struggling with thinning hair and shedding that felt never‑ending. Seeing my balding hairline near my temples took a serious toll on my self‑confidence. I couldn’t keep my hair blonde like I used to, and keratin treatments were out of the question because my hair was thin, weak and damaged.

I honestly felt like I had tried everything. From gentle shampoos and scalp treatments to supplements, nothing seemed to help in a meaningful way — until I discovered Routine Wellness.


🧴 Starting With the Basics: Shampoo & Conditioner

The first products I started with were the Routine Wellness Shampoo & Conditioner Set. This set is formulated specifically for thinning and fragile hair, blending ingredients like biotin, argan oil, saw palmetto, naturally derived plant extracts, and caffeine to help cleanse, nourish, and fortify hair while you wash. The formulas are sulfate‑free and safe for color‑treated hair, which was a huge plus for me as someone who loves lighter hair tones. They’re kid-safe too, which makes them perfect for families. One shampoo and conditioner set can easily be shared by everyone. There are also so many different scents to choose from, including limited-edition options like the Orange Blossom & Sandalwood and Pear Blossom & White Lotus winter scents that I had the pleasure of experiencing.

Honestly, within the first six weeks of consistent use, I noticed my hair texture felt more resilient and hydrated—something I hadn’t experienced in years with other shampoos. Within just a few washes, my hair felt healthier and stronger overall.

Be sure to follow the directions on the shampoo bottle and massage it into your scalp for a full minute before rinsing. I usually let the conditioner sit on my strands while I shaved or took a quick “mommy moment” under the hot water.

I also incorporated a detox comb into my routine, using it before showering to help detox my hair and scalp prior to applying the hair serum, shampoo, and conditioner.


💧 Next Step: Hair Serum & Deep Conditioning Mask

Once I loved the shampoo & conditioner, I introduced the Routine Wellness Advanced Hair Serum. This serum is packed with nourishing oils like rosemary and jojoba that help balance the scalp and provide deeper nourishment to the roots and strands. Applying it consistently (especially with a gentle scalp massage) made my hair look shinier and feel stronger right at the surface.

Then I added the Routine Wellness Deep Conditioning Hair Mask once a week. This mask is rich and deeply hydrating, with ingredients like saw palmetto, biotin, avocado oil, and rosemary extract — all chosen to strengthen, repair, and reduce breakage while adding moisture and manageability.

Using the mask regularly became a self‑care ritual — and it definitely helped soften and define my hair in a way I hadn’t seen in years.


💊 Inside Support: Hair Supplement

To tackle shedding from the inside out, I added Routine’s hair supplement. Their potent formula includes highly absorbable biotin, eggshell membrane for density, ashwagandha to support strength, saw palmetto to combat DHT, and other micronutrients shown to help support hair thickness and scalp health.

Taking the supplement consistently felt like putting the final piece in place for rebuilding my hair — not just superficially, but at a nutritional level.


🎉 The Moment It All Felt Worth It

The real turning point? At Nicholas’ birthday party, my best friend (who knew exactly how hard this journey has been) pulled me aside. She said, “Your hair looks fantastic, what are you doing?” And in that moment, I laughed and said, “I use a detox brush and the entire Routine Wellness system.” That kind of validation, from someone who’s seen it all, made every effort worth it.

You can check out more of my hair journey posts here and here.


💸 Use My Discount Code

If you want to try the Routine Wellness system for yourself, use my code ROUTVIBES15 at checkout for 15% off on their website.


Final Thoughts

Postpartum hair loss is not just about vanity. It impacts your confidence, your mental health, and how you see yourself every single day. I truly tried everything. Supplements, masks, oils, salon treatments, expensive products, and countless recommendations. Nothing stopped the shedding or the tears. My shower drain was constantly clogged, my hairbrush filled with clumps of hair, and I would stand in front of the mirror crying over thinning, balding areas near my temples.

Finding the Routine Wellness system has honestly been a blessing. Today, I am being told my hair looks good again. I can get keratin treatments. I can color my hair. My hair feels stronger, healthier, and fuller, and for the first time in years, I enjoy styling it without fear of what will fall out in my hands.

If you are walking this same path, please know you are not alone. Give yourself grace, stay patient, and do not give up. Healing takes time, but finding something that truly works can change everything. ❤️

If you want to chat about my hair loss journey, the best way to reach me is through Instagram via DM or through the contact page on my blog.

Be well,
Danielle

PS. Be sure to check out Routine Wellness on Instagram, too!

PPS. Add the image below to your Pinterest board!

Discover Organic Foods at Nature’s Food Markets in Hackettstown, New Jersey!

Grand Opening Celebration: Mark your calendars for the grand opening on December 14th from 11 AM to 5 PM at Nature’s Food Markets in Hackettstown, NJ! The grand opening will feature live music performances, delicious free samples, and exciting raffles throughout the day! I have been shopping at Nature’s Food Markets since they opened and have been so impressed with the customer service, the food quality, and the prices. The store is easy to navigate and the customer service is exceptional!

Organic Foods: Nature’s Food Markets prides itself on offering a wide selection of organic foods. From fresh produce to pantry staples, you can trust that the products are free from harmful pesticides and chemicals, ensuring the highest quality for you and your family. I love purchasing organic strawberries, blueberries, bananas, grapes and avocados. They offer an extensive cheese section paired with local artisan products, which will make excellent additions to our holiday table.

Ready-to-Eat Meals: As a busy working mom of two, I love the variety of their ready-to-eat meals. Whether you’re looking for a quick lunch or a nutritious dinner, the prepared foods are made with wholesome ingredients and are perfect for those on-the-go moments. We often buy rotisserie chicken and one of the delicious sides. The sushi is also spectacular; it is so fresh and tasty!

Features and Amenities:

  • Coffee Shop and Juice Bar: Start your day with freshly brewed coffee or a refreshing juice from the on-site coffee shop and juice bar.
  • Hot Food Bar, Salad Bar, and Soup Bar: The hot food bar, salad bar, and soup bar are located in the deli section.
  • Specialty Departments: Discover the vitamins, natural health, and beauty departments, as well as the bakery and floral section. I’ve personally bought natural toothpaste, soaps, and shampoos to incorporate clean products into our daily routines.

Monthly and Weekly Flyers: Stay updated with the monthly and weekly produce flyer. These flyers highlight the latest promotions, seasonal produce, and special offers, ensuring you never miss out on great deals. On my reel, you can see some amazing finds! Look for the yellow tags to indicate sale items.

Location: Nature’s Food Markets is conveniently located at 7 Naughright Rd, Hackettstown, NJ 07840. Hours are Sunday 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Monday to Saturday 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

Social media: Check out Nature’s Food Markets on Facebook and Instagram.

Come experience the magic of Nature’s Food Markets and let me know what you purchase!

YOSUDA Indoor Cycling Bike

One day, I’ll have a room dedicated to having a home gym.

One day, I’ll be able to go to the gym without 10,000 phone calls wondering when I’ll be home.

In the meantime, I will enjoy riding my YOSUDA Indoor Cycling Bike (version L007A) from the comforts of my home.

The YOSUDA Indoor Cycling Bike is a perfect upright stationary bike with a cushioned seat holding riders up to 330 lbs.

YOSUDA L007A Bike

The LCD display shows all your important stats: distance, speed, calories, time and RPM.

The adjustable seat moves up and down and in and out. The handlebars also adjust up/down to give you a comfortable ride. The cage type non-slip pedals also keep my feet secure and the transportation wheels make moving the bike a breeze.

The belt is super silent, so I can ride while Emilia naps without a problem. At 20 weeks pregnant, exercising is a top priority to hopefully have a shorter labor and delivery. (Cross your fingers and toes for me, friends).

A water bottle holder is on the right lower side of the bike; make sure you stay hydrated!

The adjustable resistance creates an uphill feel; I love riding at a high resistance to really give my legs a great workout.

As a working mom, the YOSUDA Indoor Cycling Bike gives me a great cardiovascular workout. After I have my son, I hope to get my Group Fitness Certificate in Indoor Cycling. I hope to teach both in-person and virtually, so the YOSUDA Indoor Cycling Bike will get rack up many glorious, sweaty miles.

Click on YOSUDA Indoor Cycling Bike to purchase using coupon code REALMOFVIBES to score 5% off your purchase. It is never too late to get healthy and meet your fitness goals!

YOSUDA bike received complimentary for review purposes. All opinions within are my own.

Booty Kicker Review

I am obsessed with barre workouts. I became an instructor through Barre Above, and started teaching in local studios and gyms near my home. When I was rehearsing my new choreography at home, I was using a STOOL. It made it nearly impossible to do anything involving my body weight since a stool would not be able to safely hold my body weight.

[Affiliate links below.]

Enter the Booty Kicker.

The Booty Kicker

The Booty Kicker is an authentic, portable, foldable barre that costs $80 when you purchase through my referral link.

The Booty Kicker is made of steel with nickel plated accents, and a hinge design for folding flat. (All you have to do is remove the metal bars, and it folds flat to be stored under a bed.)

The Booty Kicker holds 3 sets of weights, has rolling wheels, and gripping feet for both hardwood and carpet floors.

The articulating Ipad holder is sold separately, but a must have if you view your barre workouts on an electronic device. (I love mine!)

My Review

The Booty Kicker took my husband one hour to assemble. The directions are clear and concise. Neither of us got frustrated or wanted to kill each other during the set-up process, so that always gives the Booty Kicker an added bonus! (Nothing is more frustrating than struggling when assembling something!)

Booty Kicker Review

The Booty Kicker is STURDY. I can do barre push ups. I can do reverse chair pose. I can put my entire body weight on the Booty Kicker and this does not move a centimeter. It doesn’t take up a lot of space. For those of you who follow me on Instagram, you may have seen my stories where I show you my very humble, small home. The Booty Kicker doesn’t take up a lot of space and can fold to fit in a closet should I need it to. Otherwise, I pull out the Booty Kicker from the wall, do my workout, and push it back. Perfection! It also has storage for my hand weights (awesome…they are no longer hidden in my a closet).

The final assembled size of the Booty Kicker is approximately 38″ tall, 38″ wide, and 34″ deep. When folded, it is 34″ deep, 38″ wide and 5″ tall with weight rack (3″ tall without weight rack). The wooden barre is 36″ off the floor.

Booty Kicker

I like the Ipad holder so I can adjust the arms and position my electronic device to exactly where I need it to be to perform my workouts effortlessly. You can purchase the Booty Kicker and tablet holder together here.

It is only $80 when you use my referral link, so it is really not that expensive, especially if you are an avid barre student or instructor!

I am thrilled with the Booty Kicker. It allows me to create an authentic barre workout at home that I can bring into the studio.

Do you have a Booty Kicker? Are you in the market for an at home barre? Drop a comment below and make sure you are following me on Instagram!

Namaste.

Danielle

Booty Kicker Review

Be You CBD Review & Giveaway

One thing I didn’t try to manage my ailments was CBD oil. CBD products are everywhere in NJ. I could count on two hands the number of shops that have just opened up in neighboring towns. CBD is definitely the new big thing.

I didn’t try CBD for several reasons. The first was the stigma attached to the products. Edibles? Cookies? Gummies? What am I, back in high school and college? Rub this CBD stuff WHERE, exactly? What will it do to me?

Other reasons:

  1. the purity of the product
  2. side effects (you SAY I won’t hallucinate, but WILL I?)

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I was skeptical. I did my research. I asked Be You CBD if they needed a product reviewer because I was curious and wanted to try their products. I also wanted to promote the founders, Heidi and Jen, two California women boss babes. (For those of you that have followed Realm of Vibes, you know I love promoting women in business.)

What I wanted to relieve:

  1. stress and anxiety
  2. chronic fatigue
  3. right knee pain (on & off, chronic)
  4. neck pain (chronic for 10 years this January)
  5. rosacea
  6. postpartum hair loss 18 months later
  7. sleeping (not enough, waking up and staying up)
  8. strengthen my general immunity

When I chatted with Heidi, I shared with her some of my trials and tribulations. Guys, I am often not a peach. If you follow me on Instagram, you see in my bio alone that I don’t stop. I work almost full-time hours as an occupational therapist in geriatrics and pediatrics. I teach two barre classes a week. I have a husband who is a homicide detective and depending on the week, is rarely home. I have an almost 19-month-old daughter that is extremely active. I have two rescue dogs that also need my time and attention. I am counting down the minutes until my daughter wakes up from her nap and then this blog post will be over. I need to RELAX. I need to de-stress. I need my neck to stop feeling so much tension. I need my mind to turn off for 30 seconds. Do you feel me, readers?

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So, Be You CBD stepped in. Be You CBD partnered with a boutique farm in central Oregon that grows organic, non-GMO, pesticide-free cannabis that is non-psychoactive. (This alleviated #1 in the reasons why I didn’t to try CBD section).

Now let me review the Be You CBD products. 

Holy Grail Tincture

Holy. Moly. The active ingredients in Holy Grail Tincture include 1000 mg full spectrum Hemp CBD Oil and MCT Oil. Natural Terpenes & Phytocannabinoids swarm inside this tincture.

Holy Grail Tincture can be used to improve health and vitality. As stated on their website, Be You CBD‘s customers report they often use our tincture to help reduce inflammation, find greater relaxation and give the immune system a boost.

You start using Holy Grail Tincture by dropping 1/4 of the dropper full under your tongue. You can increase as you see fit.

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Earthy is a beautiful way to describe this tincture. Let’s be honest, it’s like liquid marijuana under your tongue, and it is absolutely delightful. What the heck was I waiting for? The smell alone puts me in a better mood!

I have been taking this for a week before bed. I would say within 15-25 minutes, I just feel a sense of calm. I. Am. Just. More. Chill. I feel a little bit lighter. I feel like I can just go to sleep without 1037937 thoughts coming into my brain.

I will definitely keep using Holy Grail Tincture.

Down Under Rub

Down Under Rub is Be You CBD‘s formula designed for muscle aches and body tension.

I love the smell of the Down Under Rub. It has very subtle hints of vanilla, and I love how it contains arnica extract and the essential oil blend, which are all great for healing.

Ingredients: Shea Budder, CocoBudder, Coconut Oil, Almond Oil, Amyris Wood Oil, Vanilla Extract, Arnica Extract,  Helichrysum Oil, Bergamot Oil, and Eucalyptus Oil.  Contains: 500mg (1 oz jar) or 850mg (1.7 oz jar) Full Spectrum Hemp CBD Oil.

Down Under Rub is what I rubbed on my right knee and on my neck. Before teaching barre class, I would rub my right knee with a generous amount of creme. It is yellow and reminds me of ghee. My knee pain has dissipated and my neck pain has definitely lessened. I think consistency is knee when using CBD products, and I will definitely be implementing Down Under Rub when I feel signs of strain or tension.

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Grumpy B*tch Balm

Period cramps are THE WORST. PMS is definitely the worst time of the month. I hate feeling like a bloated pig with an attitude problem.

Grumpy B*tch Balm contains the ingredients of the Down Under Rub, except for Eucalyptus oil.

I rubbed Grumpy B*tch Balm on my abdomen for cramps, my neck, my knee, and my temples to relieve a nasty headache I had from one of my daughter’s tantrums.

Again, love the smell and texture of Grumpy B*tch Balm and Down Under Rub. I will definitely continue to use these products on my journey of health and wellness.

Be You CBD also sells Be You Face Serum to help combat fine lines, skin irritations, rosacea, acne, and dry skin. Be You Face Serum can be worn under your makeup and for moisturizing overnight.

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Bottom Line

Since using Be You CBD, my knee pain has dissipated,  and my neck pain has lessened.

I am definitely more zen.

I feel less anxious and that I can go to sleep with a lighter mind.

PLEASE USE CODE “Powerful!” at checkout on Be You CBD to let Heidi and Jen know I sent you! And now…

The GIVEAWAY!

Win a Grumpy B*tch Balm and Down Under Rub from Be You CBD!

  1. Follow ME and Be You CBD on Instagram.
  2. Save the initial giveaway post.
  3. Tag a friend in the comments. Each tag gives you an additional entry.
  4. BONUS: Share the initial post to your stories. You can do this once every 24 hours to gain an extra entry. Don’t forget to tag @realmofvibes and @beyoucbd for your bonus entry to count.

Rules: All entries must occur from the date and time of the initial giveaway post until 11:59AM on January 15, 2020. Winner will be announced in the comments section, via IG Story, and informed via direct message. One winner only. The winner has 24 hours to respond with full name and address or another winner will be chosen. USA residents only. This giveaway is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram. 

Products from Be You CBD were received complimentary for testing and review purposes. All opinions within are my own.