Here’s Everything I’m Trying for Post-COVID Hair Loss

After years of COVID hair loss, these are my ride-or-die natural remedies to stop hair shedding, speed up hair growth, and build resilience against future hair loss.

The number of times I’ve told my hairstylist, “Sorry about the insane hair shedding,” should really be studied. Over the last six years, I’ve managed to get COVID almost once a year (despite being super careful), and like clockwork, my hair starts to fall out about three months after the infection.

Lucky for me, my bloodline is blessed with an abundance of hair. My great-grandmother made it to ninety-six with more hair than most people have in their prime. That said, losing any amount of hair is an emotional experience, especially for someone like me who already has a chronic illness. So, for the last few months, I’ve made it my mission to rescue my depleting curl pattern with natural remedies.

Chapters

• Can COVID Cause Hair Loss?
• How to Know It’s Actually COVID Hair Loss
• 7 Natural Remedies I’m Trying for COVID Hair Loss 
• Even With the Best Home Remedies, COVID Hair Loss Is Emotional

Can COVID Cause Hair Loss?

Yes, COVID hair loss is super common, and usually happens a few months after the infection. From my understanding, high fevers can force the body to throw all its nutrient stores at the illness, and shift hair from the growth phase to the shedding phase. 

How to Know It’s Actually COVID Hair Loss

I’ve asked this question a lot because I also have some hormonal imbalances that could cause hair thinning. But COVID hair loss is pretty characteristic. It begins around 2 — 4 months after the initial infection, and lasts anywhere from 3 — 6 months. 

7 Remedies I’m Trying for COVID Hair Loss (As a Crunchy Person)

Most online sources will tell you to manage stress, get eight hours of sleep, eat a healthy diet, and wait until your hair regrows. But I do all of that anyway, and it hasn’t changed my COVID hair loss patterns. As a crunchy person, here are the holistic remedies I’ve tried that either minimize shedding or make my hair growth faster.

Homemade gelatin gummies ★★★☆☆

One of my goals for 2026 is to embrace my inner grandma and eat gelatin on a daily basis. I’m not talking about sugary Jell-O with weird additives, but homemade marshmallows or gelatin gummies to enhance sleep, energy, and hair growth. 

Gelatin is a hair and skincare superfood, and it’s the reason so many people are obsessed with bone broth (that chunky stuff you see in bone broth is gelatin). Often, hair loss happens because our nutrient stores are depleted, and gelatin delivers healthy minerals and amino acids that support hormone balance and healthy hair.

Nutrafol supplements ★★★★★

If you see ads for this supplement and want to know if it actually works, it 100% does. My hair grows at rapid speed when I use Nutrafol, and it stops falling out after just a few days of taking the supplement. It’s the best natural remedy I’ve found. That said, it’s also the most expensive. A month’s worth of Nutrafol costs $80, which means you’d pay around $320 to resolve four months’ worth of COVID hair loss. Since I have a lot of hair to begin with, this is more money than I’d like to pay. But for someone who has thinner hair or wants a quick fix, it’s my top recommendation.

Cell salts (Silica) ★★★★☆

Cell salts are the homeopathic version of minerals, and I use them for everything. There are twelve different salts, and they help with mineral balancing, nutrient absorption, cellular function, and general symptom relief. The only barrier to entry is education. You need some knowledge about what cell salts do and how they work. For hair growth, the best cell salt to try is silica. 

This cell salt is known to help improve skin elasticity, strengthen tissue, and support hair growth. In my experience, it’s the second-best remedy to Nutrafol, and it’s only about $12 per bottle. Taking silica on a regular basis is a good way to replenish nutrient stores so you don’t have post-COVID hair loss in the first place.

Head massages ★★★☆☆

A little blood flow to the scalp isn’t going to completely reverse your hair loss, but it could improve hair growth. I like to pair this habit with a rosemary oil right before showering, and it’s a nice self-care habit that forces me to be more intentional. You can use your fingers for this practice or find a head massaging device. I’ve noticed a cleaner scalp, faster hair growth, and softer hair after this practice.

Rosemary oil ★★★★☆

Let me be so honest and say I just don’t have the energy to make my own rosemary water at home. I know, it’s two ingredients, and it takes five minutes when you boil it on the stove, but then you have to bottle the rosemary water and keep it from going bad. I can be self-aware and know I just don’t have the patience. 

I’ve found rosemary oil to be a much easier alternative. Maybe it costs a little extra, but I don’t have to make it myself, and it has a long shelf life. My local herbal apothecary carries rosemary oil that’s mixed with jojoba oil and other ingredients for hair care. All you have to do is massage a few pumps into your hair before you shower. I’ve found this practice to minimize hair shedding, and I have less frizz when I use it on a regular basis.

Mineral replacement ★★★★☆

Since I’m a self-proclaimed crunchy person, I don’t believe people lose their hair for no reason. COVID and other infections tend to deplete our mineral stores, and it’s interesting to me that some people get really sick after COVID, and others don’t. I know I have low mineral stores, so my focus going forward is to build them up so that infections don’t fully take me out. I’m using cell salts, mineral drops, electrolyte powders (a lot… because I live at altitude), mineral-rich foods, and teas. I don’t expect this to change my current hair loss, but I hope it makes me more resilient in the future.

Liver supportive herbs ★★★★☆

My favorite is the Liver Cleanse from Blessed Botanicals (although any blend of milk thistle, beet root, and dandelion root is perfectly fine). The liver is in charge of metabolizing fats and balancing hormones, and if you have any pre-existing liver issues, it can show up through hair loss. This is another remedy that I don’t expect to instantly grow back my hair, but I hope it makes my body more resilient in the future.   

Even With The Best Home Remedies, COVID Hair Loss Is Still an Emotional Experience (And That’s Okay)

Since I grew up with a chronic illness, hair loss feels personal. When clumps fall out in my hand, I’m transported back to bleak doctor’s offices where professionals tell me what kinds of symptoms I can expect for the rest of my life. It’s so easy to spiral — or to think I’ll deal with this for the rest of my life. But when emotions are high, it’s important to stay grounded and simply do what you can. Hair grows back. Hormones recover. Mineral stores can refill. Your job is simply to build up your body so it can handle infections a little better next time.