My husband and I tested positive for COVID in August 2021. We were sick for at least 10 days. I started to feel better on day 11, and Garett actually started to feel worse towards the end.
We were SO grateful it didn't get to the point of hospitalization!
Once I recovered and got back to everyday life, I never thought I would have to deal with another stressor months later. Fast forward to October 2021, my hair started falling out in clumps! I posted some pictures on my Instagram stories, and one person replied with; "That looks like normal shedding. I lose that much hair in a day." Yes, I know hair normally sheds each day, but my hair was falling out in CLUMPS multiple times a day! It really freaked me out because I never experienced anything like this before.
It was very strange because the texture changed as well. It was tangled, matted, and just always felt dry/damaged. I was crushed! I knew I needed to take matters into my own hands if I wanted to figure out how to heal + move forward from this situation.
I scheduled a doctor's appointment early November to get blood work done to rule out any nutritional deficiencies. My blood work came back normal on everything. A few people had mentioned to me that the shedding was probably caused by having COVID a few months ago.
I did some research and come to find out, if you've experienced illness or a high fever for an extended time period you can experience extreme hair shedding months later. The scientific term is called "Telogen Effluvium."
It happens when more hairs than normal enter the shedding (telogen) phase of the hair growth lifecycle at the same time. Most people see noticeable hair shedding two to three months after having a fever or illness. Handfuls of hair can come out when you shower or brush your hair. This hair shedding can last for six to nine months before it stops.
I was very fortunate that the shedding only lasted 2 1/2 months for me. The below tips really helped my hair get back on track and out of the "shedding" phase. I hope these tips help you as well!
*Disclaimer - I'm not a professional, nutritionist, or have a background in any medical field. These were products & tips I found by doing my own research. The links below do contain affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase I earn a small commission at no additional cost to you! Thank you for supporting this blog!
Tip Number 1:
Find a good shampoo & conditioner that will help repair & restore the hair + keep it strong and healthy. Olaplex hair care products have been a game changer for me!
You can see how tangled and matted my hair was in the pictures above, Olaplex helped to keep my hair soft, tangled free, and strong. I will forever be a fan and user of these products. I can't recommend enough!
Tip Number 2:
Use products that are specifically designed to help with hair loss. These products (pictured above) by Advanced Trichology was developed by certified trichologist William Gaunitz. A leader in the hair loss and regrowth space, Gaunitz spent over 20 years doing extensive research, trial and error, and going back to the drawing board. William has helped thousands of people in his clinics and One-to-One. He has a hair quiz listed on his website. (click Advanced Trichology above to go to website) and you can discover which products best fits your needs!
Below are the products I went with, and I've seen a difference in the last 30 days. I will continue to take the supplements + use the hair growth serum for optimal results.
Nutra M Hair Serum - NutraM Hair Growth Serum has been designed to harness the power of topical MELATONIN and natural DHT Blockers to help reverse the effects of thinning hair. Directions: Apply 1- 2mls (1 dropper equals 1ml) directly to the areas of hair loss on the scalp. Massage into scalp and let sit overnight. Recommended to be used at least once daily. SHAKE VIGOROUSLY PRIOR TO EACH APPLICATION.
FoliGrowth Hair Supplement - EFFECTIVELY Fights hair loss with powerful 26 herbs and vitamins for both Men and Women. Designed to Reduce Shedding and Restore optimal Hair Growth and Fullness to hair.
Tip Number 3:
Purchase a good water filter for your shower head. We purchased this one off of Amazon. It was reasonably priced at $31.84
We have really hard water where we live and I knew a water filter for our shower would definitely help with hair & skin. This particular filter removes chlorine, reduces fluoride and chloramine from your water. Once we installed this water filter and I started using Olaplex hair products, I saw an immediate change in the texture of my hair! It stopped being so tangled & dry.
Tip Number 4:
NO heat! That means no blow dryers, no curling irons or flat irons. This will give your hair a chance to heal & stop shedding.
I've been using the Goody heatless hair rods to add some curl & volume to my hair while I give it time to heal and regrow.
Tip Number 5:
NO color treatments. By cutting out the dyes and chemicals, this will also give your hair a chance to heal, stop shedding, and move back to the growth phase. You want to treat your hair with the best love & nurturing care during this time!
Tip Number 6:
Stay Patient. I know this tip is SO hard to follow when you're in the middle of the storm, but trust me it will get better, and you WILL heal! Trust that your body knows how to shift and heal through this. Trust that these products and tips are there to support you + bring healing change. You will get through this!
Here's the link to all the products pictured above.
Thank you for stopping by! I wish you much love and healing on your hair journey!
