Rihanna Shares Her Journey with Postpartum Hair Loss: 'I Didn't Expect It to Happen in Waves'

Rihanna is getting real about her postpartum hair journey. 

In conversation with Refinery29 at the Fenty Hair launch party in Los Angeles on June 10, the "Diamonds” singer opened up about how she learned to deal with hair loss after giving birth to sons Rza, 2, and Riot, 10 months. She shares both kids with partner A$AP Rocky. 

“I didn’t expect it to happen in waves. I thought it would just happen and grow back,” said the Grammy winner, 36.

She added that the side effect was “not on the pamphlet” for post-pregnancy, during which she began losing hair in patches. “At that point you’re just like alright enough is enough.” 

However, she learned how to embrace the hair loss by getting “more creative and clever” with her hairstyles, which have ranged from chic high ponytails and tousled long curls to honey blonde bangs and layers. She most recently ditched her wigs and gave a rare look at her natural hair texture as she embraced her curls in public earlier this week while promoting Fenty Hair. 

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Now, Rihanna is encouraging others to love and express themselves through hair with Fenty Beauty’s new line of reparative and strengthening shampoos, conditioners and more. 

Fenty Hair officially launched on June 13, shortly after Rihanna rocked the Internet with the brand announcement earlier this month. 

In a speech made during the launch party, the beauty mogul revealed that creating her haircare line over four-plus years was “more stressful" than she’d anticipated. 

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

“Considering all hair types, considering all of the brands that I've been in love with my entire life, I'm thinking, ‘If it's not better than this one, it can't work,’” the Grammy winner and beauty mogul told the crowd.

But over time she worked diligently to create products that not only appeal to the beauty community at large, but ones that also slip right into her own hair routine, which speaks for itself. 

“Evolving as a woman and even as an artist, hair has been such a huge part of that and a reflection of whatever I'm feeling," she said. "So, it changes a lot and my hair goes through a lot. Making this brand, I had to consider all of those things. I want to look fly, but I want my hair to be healthy. How do I do that? All of my products need to strengthen and repair while I'm out just being fabulous.”