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Temporary or Permanent? Our Post-Covid Impact Hair Loss 'Mystery' Verified

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                                                                                                                                                       image: getty images

Living through the Covid era has had astonishing health consequences - whether you’ve caught corona virus or not! Even testing negative after a Covid infection is a massive battle won but comes with a slew of setbacks. While you could experience issues of cough, fatigue, dry eyes, poor exercise tolerance, there is one emerged fact that we, as hair experts, want to focus on – the global hair loss situation. Hair loss is the visible manifestation of the mental stress you’ve been under.

Hair shedding…eeeek! This mayhem triggered by the pandemic is known as telogen effluvium (TE). Yes, this condition has a ‘name’. It’s true… when there’s trauma to our system, the body goes into shutdown mode and only focuses on essential functions. Sadly, hair growth is not an essential function. We know you’re all getting tired of talking “Covid” but many overlook the physiological changes of our bodies after 2 years of yo-yoing in and out of lock-down and restrictions.

To understand TE you need to comprehend the hair cycle. The growing phase is called anagen, the transition phase is called catagen and the resting phase is called telogen. So basically, at the end of the telogen, the hair falls out and the cycle resets.

Shifting hair into the ‘rest’ mode is potentially part of our body’s sophisticated energy conservation system. It does take energy for our body to grow hair, so when under severe stress, our body needs to channel resources toward survival rather than retaining our luscious locks.

The fact is, there are many Covid-19 survivors who are now experiencing hair loss. The stats are as high as 20% of people who were hospitalised with Covid, lose hair in the first half year after being discharged.

Although there is no scientific evidence (YET) that directly links hair loss and Covid, it seems that stress has a profound effect on our hair. When we have Covid, our stress causes a lack of oxygenation to our hair follicles. Add fever, nutritional deficiency like reduced Vitamin D and B12 levels, and inflammatory reactions -and POW - our hair follicles plunge into the ‘resting’ phase. For those who have escaped getting Covid but are experiencing the gloominess of hair shedding, then we’re looking at environmental factors; aircon, a lack of wholesome foods and not heeding to wise choices during lockdown.

Getting back to the matter at hand, everyone’s hair cycle can vary and be sneaky. Depending on the length of a hair cycle, TE may be happening but not obvious until strands fall out at about the third month and onwards. Just so you know, about 10-15% of your hair is in the telogen phase at any particular time. Now, if an acute disruptor emerges (like hospitalisation, rapid weight loss, childbirth, severe stress) and you notice significant shedding or hair loss, ask yourself, what was ‘that something’ that happened a few months ago?

Anyway, all this TE talk is getting to sound like there’s nothing we can do – when in fact, WE CAN! We suggest that developing a healthy lifestyle is one major way to recover and manage stress, and is particularly helpful to hair regrowth, dryness and frizz. Regardless of your hair type, common signs of healthy hair are minimal shedding, smooth texture with minimal tangling.

Eat a nutrient-rich diet and establish a haircare routine that includes natural ingredients, free from sulphates and parabens products. Also, just for a while, avoid hairstyles that pull on your strands (like ponytails or tight braids) and avoid excessive heat to your locks.

You may also need intervention directly to the source of the problem (your hair). So, how can bhave help?

Firstly, of course, is the ultimate in-salon treatment - our Rescue Therapy. It may sound like a keratin smoothing treatment but here there’s no straightening involved. It’s an intense ‘rescue therapy’ that helps repair hair damaged caused by styling, straightening, curling, heat, stress and more. 

THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY WILL ASSIST:

* strengthening brittle strands from the inside

* thinning hair into thicker and fuller appearance

* repair excessive split ends and breakage

* transform severely dry and rough hair into shiny and glossy locks

* strands that have shed or snapped off

* hair that struggles to hold style

* hair that has been continuously bleached

* use of chemical straightening products

* use of heat devices

* sun, sea and pool damage


This treatment is packed with our bioactive keratin which works wonders for the hair. It penetrates the hair fibres and binds it to the internal structure… ultimately rebuilding the damaged proteins to encourage growth, restore strength and condition to the fibres – providing ample moisture and nourishment.

As hair technicians, we implore you to stay on top of this exceptional in-salon treatment, initially once a week to extremely damaged hair and then every 4 to 6 weeks thereafter depending on the severity and how dry/damaged your hair is. Once you see an improvement you won’t need to do it as often, so it’ll be just popping in for maintenance treatments.

Secondly, we recommend a good home treatment which you can do once a week. Our Deep Intense conditioning masque is suitable for dry, coloured, and damaged hair requiring extra moisture and repair. Our signature masque can be used either as a:

weekly treatment (apply evenly to wet hair, leave for 20min, rinse and condition as usual – make sure you condition after rinsing the treatment since your cuticle is open and requires a conditioner to seal)

or any everyday conditioner (apply evenly to wet hair and massage – simple … leave for 2-3min, then rinse thoroughly)

The key innovation harnessed in this particular product is, again, our revolutionary bioactive keratin technology that penetrates the hair shaft to repair damage and rebuild strand by strand from the inside out. Then combine it with argan oil, macadamia oil and Vitamin E, and this masque will provide intense moisture, restore elasticity, improve strength, and boost shine. Sounds nourishing, amirite?

Just as we recognise the fact that our skin needs moisturising and TLC, so too our hair requires a good home treatment to delve into our hair shaft to reduce protein loss and eliminate hair breakage. We’re only talking once a week. Use our award-winning Rescue repair shampoo and conditioner to restore strength, condition, elasticity & shine. It also provides a protective shield and guards against future damage. It’s all these moisturising properties that will help tackle hair loss, split ends, and damaged hair.

See, not all bad news… we can fix this, just stay on top of your treatments, be patient and your hair WILL grow back (it just may take a little time). If you’re after a salon for treatments, just email us at hello@bhavehair.com and we will locate the nearest one to you.