by Faith, Level 1 Stylist & Certified Hairloss Practioner
A question I get a lot from my clients are what do you like most about cutting or coloring hair? Most of the time I’ll answer with I love getting lost in my haircuts and designing this customizable masterpiece that makes each client feel like their cut is just for them, or my love for color – adding beams of gorgeous color that bounce off each lightened piece of hair to give the most radiant and beautiful end results. However, one of my biggest passions in my career is taking care of the health of your hair and scalp first. As a certified Hair loss practitioner my top priority is to help each client get to the root cause of any scalp maladies or hair loss issues they may be experiencing.
One of the issues I’m seeing to date is the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic and it’s connection to hair loss. A lot of clients I am encountering behind the chair are experiencing lots more shedding and also newly discovered bald spots that may come as a shock to them. Most want an answer and have no idea where to begin to figure out what’s going on with their hair. Covid-19 has taken a toll on so many of us. It has been a truly heartbreaking and stressful time, whether we were battling the virus itself or battling the backlash of the virus on our family, homes and lives it can all take a toll on our hair and scalp.

Hair growth had 3 main cycles Anagen, Catagen and Telogen. In the Anagen phase or Active phase hair grows 1cm every 28 days, the cells within the root of our hair rapidly divides and new hair is formed and pushes the old hair that is no longer growing. Then your transitional phase or Catagen phase is the phase that lasts about 2-3 weeks and during this time period growth stops and the club hairs are formed and attaches to the root of the hair. Then your resting phase or Telogen phase is the phase that lasts approximately 100 days, during this time the follicles are at complete rest and this is where you will see you’re normal shedding of 25-150 hairs a day.
Covid-19 is a virus that can cause extreme stress on the body and the immune system. When our immune system feels attacked it sends out signals to our bodies to go into fight mode, in that process your body may catch a fever and also actively pull nutrients from every part of your body to help get rid of this invader that your body does not recognize. When your body goes through that kind of stress and then recover your hair has usually had a lot of lost nutrients and you may begin to see either some diffused hair loss or for some a autoimmune reaction: alopecia areata.
Hair loss bought on by stress or illness usually remedies itself within a few months in that time period it is super important that we nurse our bodies with nutritious meals and vitamins that will help to replenish the nutrients loss from within during that time. As a hairstylist I also recommend great products like the Kérastase Genesis and Therapiste line which helps with shedding and repair to the hair. Cleansing the scalp of any debris so that the follicles are able to breathe and grow healthy hair I would recommend Surface Awaken shampoo or a gentle scalp scrub from Kérastase.
Lastly you want to protect your hair from any mechanical and environmental damages especially during this time so protect your strands if you are going to be blow drying, heat styling or spending lots of time in the sun be sure to add a heat protection spray or serum from Kérastase Genesis or Therapiste line. If you are having a hard time with your scalp or hair loss issues during this time book a consultation, scalp exfoliating scrub or deep conditioning treatment with me at our Fort Greene location Tuesday-Friday and let’s talk about some options you may have.
About the Author: Faith is a Level 1 Stylist, Calligraphy Cut Certified and a Certified Hair Loss Practioner. Don’t let her quiet demeanor fool you; this mama is on a mission to grow! Faith is driven to please the most discerning clients and passionate about scalp & hair health. Her warm, welcoming smile will put you at ease as she blowdries your hair, lifting your locks to the heavens. Have a little Faith and book this blossoming talent on your next visit.