[ad content] Researching Covid related hair loss is an absolute rabbit hole, but it’s a noted side effect and something that is now affecting me. My hair follicles seem to have gone into a prolonged resting state so this is ticking all the anecdotal Covid hair loss boxes – I feel as sure as I can that it is telogen effluvium, or ‘episodic hair loss’.
I have taken a hair supplement for several years and yet, inexplicably had a moment where I felt I was taking too many supplements and stopped taking them at the worst possible time. I didn’t know what was coming! So, I’m back on those. Hair loss is so upsetting – whatever gender you are – I’ve watched people on Instagram (notably Jo Jones and her post-partum hair loss HERE) tell their stories and you can just see how what a difficult thing it is and how frustrating unexplained loss is. I don’t know how far my loss will go – at the moment it’s not noticeable to anyone but me, but really it’s quite shocking how much is left on my brush after I’ve blow dried. I have no idea when it will stop. The absolute standard guidance if you have unexplained hair loss is to see your doctor or a trichologist for blood tests which could help to identify any vitamins or minerals you may be short of.
The major thing that I’m doing is using and reviewing the Current Body Skin LED Hair Regrowth Device. The most common types of hair loss are androgenetic alopecia and telogen effluvium (mine) – they have several differences but a common thread is that in both, red light therapy has been found to increase microcirculation, stimulate cell metabolism and provide antioxidant support to scalp tissue. Androgenic hair loss is pattern loss – you might hear it termed ‘male pattern baldness’ but it’s common amongst women too. Please note that ‘proven’ result studies have mostly been conducted on androgenic loss but boosting circulation and cell metabolism can benefit both. Claims with the CurrentBody Skin LED Hair Regrowth Device is that it targets receding hairlines, hair thinning and pattern balding, giving noticeable results in 16 weeks, so this is a long haul test. I’m giving this the full four months, with weekly photos so I can see any improvements unless results come sooner in which case you will hear about it!
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Now, friends, there are two ways to go with this and I’m somewhere in the middle. It is a beast of a thing – a white helmet that emits a red light glow that you use daily for 10 minutes. When it arrived, I was completely taken aback at this device – I just wasn’t expecting a whole, huge, blue tooth enabled helmet. And then I was worried about how it was going to look in pictures and being entirely honest, there is a comedy element to this. Remember those Courreges space era hats from the 1960s and 70s? Retro futurism – we can make it fashion. In fact, after initially feeling somewhat self-conscious, you just kind of forget about how it looks to be honest. It’s only 10 minutes and if Audrey Hepburn can take on a bucket hat and Sigourney Weaver can look fierce in an astronaut helmet, I can do my best with this. The absolute irony that only a few months ago I was trialling a device to get rid of hair and now I’m trialling one to increase it! I’ve been taking skin supplements for a good while now, I take D, C and K and Vitamin B6. Obviously, I am back on my hair supplements too. I’m just trying to cover off everything that could possibly contribute to any results just so you that know, but I’ve been taking all of these, bar the B6, for some considerable time. As you can see below, my scalp is also unhappy – flaking and itching.
Stress and illness can be a big factor in episodic hair loss – over the summer I had both and my body took an absolute battering. Things are almost better but I notice I don’t have the same balance I had before or the same strength. My eyes look sleepy in a way they did not before – I kept wondering what was wrong with my eyes before I heard that ‘Covid face’ was a thing – but that’s a whole other topic.
The use of red light for hair loss has been in the pipeline for several years. NASA studies of red light benefits have been of keen interest to the beauty and wellness industry which has been desperate to authentically address so it’s had very high levels of research thrown at it. A wavelength of 630-670nm is crucial, as is the light being able to reach the scalp (so if you have abundant hair but would like it more so, red light will be far less effective in reaching the follicles so it’s not for you) to do its work.
The CurrentBody Skin LED Hair Regrowth Device is a considered purchase at £650 HERE but having now looked at as many like devices as I possibly can, it’s at the lower end of cost (never mind looking at other hair loss treatments which can run into the thousands). If you use JANE15 at checkout, you will get 15% price reduction. Something has to pay for all that research, right? So I’ll be back with follicle news in due course – in the meantime, I’m channelling my inner Sigourney Weaver and Audrey Hepburn on rotation.
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17 comments
So Glad you are reviewing this as I finish chemotherapy next month and I have lost around 60% of my hair from a full on Charlie angels hair to a thin, sparse, bald spots. I was going to purchase this as desperate to try anything so thanks for the discount code and also can’t wait to see your regular updates.
Oh I’m sorry to hear that. I have seen reports saying that it can be helpful – I am sure you have done plenty of research on it already but I found this useful.. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3944668/
Sending you best wishes Jacqueline xxx
Brilliant that you are reviewing this Jane! It is quite an outlay but if it is effective it would be a wonderful appliance for people with hair loss. I have a friend affected by this & I appreciate the effect it can have.
I have experienced excessive hair shedding recently & have found the Champo ayuverdic products to be really helpful. Obviously this is not as acute as some people. However my hair looks & feels much thicker & bouncier & the shedding has lessened.
I’ve heard really good things about Champo – thank you for that recommendation. I cannot believe how much hair I’m leaving behind when I wash it. The place I really notice it is when I put my hair in a pony tail and have to wrap my hair tie round three times instead of two.
I think it might be a good time to think about letting your hair do it’s natural thing. There is so much advice available on ‘curly’ hair and it all involves products that are completely vegan. No parabens, no silicone, no nasty ingredients. If nothing else, they can’t harm your hair or scalp so worth thinking about. I’m not expert, in any way, I just know how the condition of my hair improved with ditching the straightening, and using really gentle products. Good luck…..
thanks Kim – I am being super gentle with my hair: no straighteners unless absolutely necessary. I use a dryer in the morning just to fluff up my fringe and sort out any obvious kinks. I was always such a silicone fan but less hair means there’s no need for it – I feel that its more an internal health issue rather than a product issue though.
I too have a dry, itchy scalp from time to time. The thing that has been most successful for reducing the itch, and removing the scale has been Epaderm ointment. I use about one teaspoon at a time, and apply it to my scalp, and massage it in. I tend to leave it on for a couple of hours, giving my scalp a rub every thirty minutes or so (often whilst watching a film). I rinse it out in the shower, then wash my hair as usual. It rinses out really easily, and is the best scalp moisturiser I have ever used. I little tub (125g) is currently £7 in boots, and lasts for months. It might be worth trying if you haven’t had any luck with anything else.
thank you so much for this recommendation.
I shall be very interested to hear how this goes. I have thinning hair on top and I hate it, I would spend this if it really works!
In a few months time I will be back :-))
I will be interested to see how you get on with this. I have some hair loss at my parting – I blame menopause. I just got the Light Salon patch which is cheaper though not sure how it compares on the power front. I chose the patch because you can strap it on to any area, like the head or neck and I wanted to also try it on my hip which gives me occasional problems. Let us know how you get on. Emma x
thanks – won’t be for a few months yet, I want to do it properly because most testing is done on androgenetic rather than telogen but as both varieties can benefit, I want to see for myself.
Hi Jane
This looks like an interesting device. Thanks for your recommendation on the CurrentBody IPL machine, I have had a great experience using it and have removed most of my armpit and leg hair so far. Seems that CurrentBody know what they are doing, so good luck with this.
Regarding the vitamins you take for hair, have you noticed whether these have an effect on your eyebrows and/or lashes? I am keen to fill out some Emmental-esque eyebrows so wonder if they would help. Can you please remind me which supplements you take if they’re different to the ones listed here?
Thanks
Harriet
Hi Harriet – yes, I’m a big fan of the IPL – it’s worked very well for me under my arms but left me with just one single seam of hairs which are grey and can’t be targeted by IPL – I didn’t even know I had any grey armpit hair but I do now! :-))) I would say that vitamins didn’t have any discernible effect on lashes or brows but I think you’d be a good candidate for Natucain brow serum. I used it on my lashes and it really did work to make them longer and stronger. I take Good Hair (Amazon).
Hi I’ve just acquired a Current Body LED Hair Regrowth Stimulator. My question is – can I use it effectively whilst putting Regaine 5% Hair Foam on my 7 partings once daily ? I’m really unsure of whether to give it a go or send it back (the Hair Regrowth Stimulator). I must also confess to only washing my hair once fortnightly – again – does this mean the device won’t work for me & I’d be better off sending it back ? Very keen to know the opinion of someone on this site please.
I can’t think why there would be any negative effect from using both – how often you wash your hair isn’t relevant to the device. However, if you’re having second thoughts, go on your gut. At the end of the day, as I’ve said in my review, I have no way to know whether the regrowth I experienced would have happened anyway. If yours is pattern loss (mine isn’t) you might be more likely to tell definitively. Perhaps use your Regaine for the right amount of time and if that’s not helping, then try the LED? It’s a tricky one because it’s so expensive and harder to say just give it a go and see.