Did Covid Effect Your Hair??

​Transcription:
Effects of Covid on Hair Charlie McDermott 0:00 It's time for the La Sabrina hair design podcast with Amy button. Well, hello, listeners, Charlie and viewers, Charlie McDermott here back with Amy button for today's episode, which is a fascinating one for me, Amy, I didn't even know it was a thing. But before we get to that, how was your weekend,
Amy Button 0:22 weekend was wonderful. We got to go to path to freedoms red Gala, which was moved from a hurricane with during the hurricane, they moved it to this weekend. And it was just a wonderful. It was a wonderful event, they did such a great job as far as raising awareness and funds for human trafficking survivors that are in their care, they have a safe home. And they've got lots more than they want to be able to provide for the survivors. So it was a really great inspirational event.
Charlie McDermott 0:59 Wow. And say the name of that organization, again, for our listeners path to freedom after freedom. And, you know, probably a lot of listeners are thinking what's out there. And again, you've got listeners all over the place all over the country. But you know, the local southwest Florida residents, I know when when I talked about this topic in the past, it's kind of like, oh, no, not not here. That doesn't happen here. But what do you know?
Amy Button 1:28 It does it happens everywhere. I don't think there's a part of the globe that's untouched by the issue. But yes, in southwest Florida, it is an issue. And currently, Florida is number three, as far as the most cases reported. So wow, yes, what they are doing their meeting and overwhelming me. Wow, you're in southwest Florida.
Charlie McDermott 1:56 Well, thanks for sharing that and for being involved. And so on to today's topic, which I find very, very intriguing. Interesting. And that's the effects of COVID on our hair. I didn't even know there. It never even dawned on me. So yeah, fill us in Amy.
Amy Button 2:19 Yeah. So I know, it's still probably, what do they say too soon, people are pretty exhausted on that topic of the pandemic and COVID-19. But that doesn't change the fact that we are still kind of seeing these very strange things happening. Especially I've noticed behind the chair to our hair, especially as females due to the pandemic, and it does, sometimes it's just a new variable, I guess. And that would help explain some of the things that women are struggling with. And I have quite a few clients that come in, they're like, I just don't understand my hair has never done this before. I don't know why it's doing this. And so it does help kind of fill in the blanks for a lot of length.
Charlie McDermott 3:17 Right? So what are you seeing what kind of impact are you seeing on hair.
Amy Button 3:22 So the first thing I started noticing is hair loss. And it seems to be for most people just really in the front, or what we would call your face frame or your hairline. Similar to after somebody has a baby, they usually within six, around six months to a year, they'll lose like a crazy amount of hair in the front. And I am not a scientist I don't even pretend to understand why that is a thing. And it definitely probably has something to do with hormones. So we're noticing something very similar after you've had COVID. So I did a little bit of research before I noticed that other salons were kind of saying the same thing like hey, is anyone else noticing that people are losing a ton of hair? So I did a little bit of research and found that it's actually pretty common any anytime you have a high fever for a longer amount of time, it's actually very common for people to shed hair. It's also called the hair shedding. So but unfortunately for some ladies, it's more than just their hairline. It's just all over. They're struggling with that. The good news is we're seeing all of it grow back.
Charlie McDermott 4:45 That was was my next question. Yeah.
Amy Button 4:48 People there sometimes I feel like they sit in my chair and I start explaining Oh, this could be the possibility and panic is on their face, but it very quickly and try to follow it up. I, you know, I'm but I am seeing a lot of people's hair. It's growing back. I think that's actually the curtain bangs. I think we're coming back. But then once COVID hit and everybody ended up with these short pieces in front, it really helped launch all of the different things styles are pretty much back, because it's necessary.
Charlie McDermott 5:24 Wow, what's what's been your experience from a? How long does it take for the hair to come back? Is it very?
Amy Button 5:32 It seems rather quick. Pretty much everyone that I've seen. It's like the one appointment they come in. And they're like, oh, no, I don't know what's happening. I'm losing all my hair. And then two to three months later they come and and they've already got a couple of inches of regrowth. So it seems as soon as it sheds and starts to grow back. So yeah, no reason to panic.
Charlie McDermott 5:59 Provide a peace of mind I'm sure. Yeah. And I'm assuming this happens while they have COVID. And or right after? Is that the pattern?
Amy Button 6:10 It seems to be anywhere between like, the very month that you came down with it, or six months later. Later. Yeah. So everybody's a little different. So it's really hard to gauge and then some people don't have any shedding. It's just, it's one of those strange, just like everything else with this pandemic.
Charlie McDermott 6:34 Of COVID. I mean, probably half the population had it and didn't even know they had it, you know? Yeah, yeah. He's now how about so So you mentioned obviously, COVID. Pregnancy, are there any other connections, hair loss, and that you've seen over the years with other conditions,
Amy Button 6:55 stress stress is another big one. Which actually, I mean, if you, it feels like COVID actually takes all three of those things with your hormones and your stress level. And then you have a high fever. So it really is just presents all of those symptoms. So it would make sense, that would happen.
Charlie McDermott 7:18 And I guess, anything that you can do, kind of the kind of like taking your vitamins, anything that that you're aware of that can be done to help limit the loss. If you see this happening.
Amy Button 7:32 Yeah, I don't know about limiting the loss. But everyone here in the salon and lots of other salons, they definitely know how to baby your hair, like you just, you want to baby it for a little while and give it a chance to recover a little bit and you want the hair to grow. When it grows back. You want it to grow back really strong. So we recommend great products, there's products that have biotin in it or promote like healthy proteins in your hair. So stuff like that making sure you're using the proper products at home and making sure you're going to see a stylist that's going to agree with you and baby your hair as well.
Charlie McDermott 8:14 So baby your hair means don't do anything. From a I guess this is my league now but from a hair design standpoint, anything a new hairstyle or or is it more baby your hair use? Maybe Don't shampoo as often or how would you define that?
Amy Button 8:32 Yeah, I would say don't. You want to use heat protectant you want to some for some people shampoo in your hair less is going to help. For other people. It's conditioning more so that would require you to shampoo your hair, but leave in conditioners heat protectant like you just want to pay extra attention. Make sure your hair is getting everything it needs.
Charlie McDermott 8:58 Yeah, yeah. Wow, well, good stuff. Again, who knew anything else that we should be aware of?
Amy Button 9:07 There's one other very fascinating, strange thing that is a lot more controversial. I feel like in the cosmetology world right now, because we can't really explain it. And I've seen reports of it multiple places again, because I was seeing it myself. And I was like, oh my goodness, is anyone else facing these kinds of strange situations. And everyone feels differently about it, but it doesn't change the fact that I am seeing every once in a while after somebody receives the vaccine. They're getting hotspots when you apply color. So I and there's, again, it is just it's very few individuals that that's happening to they seem to be somewhere in their late 30s, early 40s. So I don't really understand What what is happening at that point that's creating the situation. But by that, I mean, we put color on their hair could be a formula that I have used for years on the same client. And they'll just have some spots that turn bright orange or red. Wow, opposite of the color that we're putting on. And we're used to, you know, determining what is in the client's hair. So we're, we always plan for that, like, if you have really dark hair and you're trying to go blonde, you have to go through levels of those kinds of colors, formulate accordingly. So it's very strange to me that there will be these weird hotspots on the client side. And again, I'm not a scientist, I don't understand why that is happening. But that seems to be the common thread in the few that I've had is it's their hair appointment was too close to when they got their vaccine. So my best advice for avoiding is, you know, everybody feels a little uncomfortable sometimes sharing whether they got the vaccine or not. And we always want to respect people's privacy, that's, that's up to them. And but at the same time, if you are sitting in a chair, and it's been too close to your vaccine, you might want to share that with your stylist. Or at least if it happens, we can fix it. But let your stylists know that that might be one of the variables that caused it because believe me, stuff like that we as stylists wake up with nightmares. The night like I don't understand why that happened. So do your stylist. Just
Charlie McDermott 11:49 yeah, yeah. Wow. And so does this happen during the treatment? Are you like getting calls a day or two later? And they're gonna
Amy Button 11:59 see it pretty immediately?
Charlie McDermott 12:00 Yeah, yeah. Yeah. And then what do you do to rectify it? Amy Button 12:05 Yeah, we usually have to that we end up double booked, because I'm not going to have somebody walk out of my salon. And the results aren't what they want. But it usually requires us to go through another chemical process, at least especially on those areas that really are warm. So it does mean it takes more of the client's time, more of our time, which is never an issue for me, I will always make sure we have enough time. Something so that they leave feeling beautiful. I mean, that is the point.
Charlie McDermott 12:41 Why they came in, right.
Amy Button 12:43 Yeah. So it's just time consuming. And yeah. And the other thing that's really important to mention is that after the vaccine, I've also noticed that sometimes it save never had an reaction to color before. But some people scalps are getting really, really itchy. So you're getting some sort of a skin reaction from the color. And again, that's avoided by making sure you've at least the light allowed 48 hours to probably a week between the vaccine and getting your hair.
Charlie McDermott 13:23 Very, very good advice. And it makes sense. I mean, with any vaccine, you're basically injecting particles of that disease and your body is fighting it to build the immunity. Right. So yeah, exactly.
Amy Button 13:38 Probably working hard enough, and then throw something more at it.
Charlie McDermott 13:43 Yeah, yeah. But again, who would have thought? This is really really helpful? Fascinating stuff. Wow. So that we covered all the impact of COVID on hair. Yeah, those
Amy Button 13:56 are the three things that I seem to, to have noticed. And, again, it nothing is proven. But at the same time, I mean, I see a lot of clients. I've seen a lot of clients over the last three years. And it's definitely a common thread. So I can't stand here and with competency this is causing this, but I am just sharing information. Charlie McDermott 14:22 Yep, good awareness, always helpful to know, you know, my hair isn't falling out, you know, there was an end and there's a reason and, you know, hey, it's, it's good for you to put this out there. And good for our Southwest residents, especially those in Naples. Right where you are that whether you've had, you know, a vaccine of any type or COVID or any other condition. You want to look better. Yeah, Amy's place. So, for our listeners, Amy, I know the viewers can can see your web address and phone number for those folks who may have further questions or want to schedule an appointment or stop by what's the best way?
​Amy Button 15:09 Yeah, so we're located on Pine Ridge in Livingston, right where that Starbucks seems to be a famous Starbucks here. And the line is always super long. So we're in that plaza with Starbucks. And our phone number is 239-537-9315. And that's probably the best way to get a hold of us. And then our website and all of the information as well as the what we're doing to support survivors here in southwest Florida. All of that information can be found on our website. Just lots of green a hair design.com.
Charlie McDermott 15:43 Super. Well, Amy, get back to it there and we will talk more in the next episode. I can't wait to see what you come up with next.