Dr. Jen Ashton Opens Up About Her Personal Covid Hair Loss Journey

Elizabeth Booth: I lost over 60% of my hair after getting covid and went from past waist length to armpit length in less than two weeks. It was scary seeing huge clumps of hair. I am still in the shedding phase but am focusing on eating primarily whole foods so the new hair that grows back will be healthy. Praying for anyone else going through this.

A. Wilcox: I really appreciate her honesty & authenticity in sharing this. Very helpful to those of us who have already experienced hair loss.

Right Side Of 40: I lost about half my hair after having C Oct 2021. I cut it shorter, it stopped falling out, and it’s now as thick as it ever was. There is hope y’all. Your hair will grow back.

Rhiannon Whiteford: I thought I had covid April of 2020, got pretty bad. My husband wanted me to go to the hospital and I refused, I was terrified of being alone and that sick. Since then, I've had a lot of the long haul symptoms. The hair loss has been the most traumatic for me. I honestly have lost half of my hair in this last two years. This just confirms to me that it was covid I had. Very troublesome

Sandra Aviles-Wilkes: I went through the same thing when I contacted Covid-19 back in 2020. My hair was falling out in clumps, my eyebrows and eyelashes were falling also. My hair hasn’t been the same since, it changed. I haven’t been the same since contracting Covid.

Lynne Bortot: Thank you for sharing this information and your own personal story. I’m experiencing the same thing. Never knew it could be covid related and it seems to make more sense now! I felt like you were talking about me! I have not addressed this yet with my primary care and have been planning to, and now the whole covid thing will definitely be in the conversation. Thank you, thank you!

Myra Fuller: Mine started about 3 months after Covid and lasted about 6 weeks … it’s almost back to pre Covid thickness … stay encouraged!

Linda Christensen, PhD: same story as others here, had Covid last Sept. and lost over half of my hair but it's now starting to grow back...it's a lack of oxygen that's the issue, it kills the hair follicles...I was hardly breathing and didn't realize that was the issue even for my weakness and slow recovery and then I started to force myself to breathe deeply, was hard to do, and noticed things turning around quickly

Bridget Wiser: Dr. Ashton, thank you so much for making this video. You described perfectly what I am going through with my hair loss. I was diagnosed with COVID July 8, 2022 and started having noticeable hair lost around 35 days after diagnosis. I am at day 63 and still losing hair. When you showed your hair in a ponytail, I could have been looking in a mirror. Having someone in your position and on national television sharing your experience helped me to realize other people are going through the same thing. I wonder if men are having the same issue or if age plays any role in it?

Karen Bandov: I had mild Covid-19 in April and had my hair colored and highlighted in Sept., I think that stressed out my hair follicles and half of my hair has fallen out! I thank Dr. Jen for sharing her story. I have read the comments and feel this is normal with Covid. I was surprised it has taken 5 months to happen, but I think the abundance of chemicals affected my scalp and stressed it out.

Lois Beauty Luxe: I had covid in November and started losing my hair the following month and I'm so desperate to a solution and pray it grows back. It's a real struggle out here I'm so happy you spoke about your experience . xoxo

Kisha B: Thanks for sharing your story Dr! My entire family got COVID-19 in the month of December 2021. About 1 month later, we noticed that our hair was starting to suffer. My mom‘s hair basically stopped growing for a couple months, my hair started to break like crazy and I lost some volume, and my sister lost about 50% of her hair. My sister has natural hair, so it was very distressing for her to lose her hair, but I am happy to say that it has started to grow again. She chopped off as much as she could, which was about half, and she said it felt like the hair that was falling or breaking wasn’t her own. She said it felt like something strange, and when my mom cut it off for her, she said it felt like her hair again. The part that was left. Her hair is now growing well, and you can see the shine starting to come back. Needless to say she is happy about that! My hair is still breaking, but I am also happy to say that it appears to be stabilizing…this took about 4 months after the infection. We have paid a lot of attention to our diet, our hydration, and the products that we are using. COVID-19 is very traumatic on many levels, and it is not something that I would like to repeat….ever. But, thank you for sharing your experience that can help other ladies who have suffered the side effects of COVID-19.

Kar Ben: I was diagnosed with pneumonia in January 2020. I believe, looking back at my symptoms, I had covid. I was sick for eight months with breathing issues, anemia, fatigue and hair loss. I've always had thick hair, this symptom thinned it out considerably, but it did come back. I could see the new hair growth coming in. It took a while, but my hair is back to normal thickness. I was never officially diagnosed with covid, but believe now, that is in fact, what I had.

Peggy Brennan: My hair started breaking off. I had the Covid vaccine and booster. I’ve talked to several people, like me, who lost hair just by having the vaccine. ‍♀️

Amy: My hair has been falling out in clumps and I couldn't figure it out, but my covid timeline exactly mirrors Dr. Jen. I had no idea it was likely due to covid, which I was quite sick from despite triple vaccination.

Donna Myers: I had covid April/May2021. By the end of July my hair started falling out. I had lost half my hair by the end of September. So into October I had been going to the doctor. Nothing was working. I did some research and end of October I just shaved my head to 1/2 inch long. Started taking Liquid Collagen twice a day, started a good complete multivitamin/mineral regiment twice a day. Plus I do scalp treatments twice a month and drink tons of water. Wash my hair every other day but kept Vitamin E oil on it all the time. Plus I stopped coloring my hair. Fast forward to today. My hair follicles repair 100%. My hair is 3 inches long and thicker than it's ever been. Thank the Lord.

Amy G: I had covid in November of 2021 and lost probably 25% of my hair and also it broke off and fell out. My other sister had covid in October and also is going through this.i went from long and blond to short and broken. one of my sisters had covid 2 years ago when the pandemic first started and lost the majority of her hair she has super short and thin hair I'm happy to report that it's super thick and growing past her shoulders now. I can see a bunch of baby hairs on the top of my head growing already. I had Delta in November and I almost died so I know that that is definitely the reason why. I had just recovered from postpartum hair loss and then this happened I'm just happy to be alive

Glam Seamless: Thank you so much for sharing your story, and for the helpful tips! This is truly helping many woman.

Beach Waves: Same thing happened to me after covid but didn't know why it was happening. It scared me, so i went to my doctor who told me that she was getting the same concerns from some of her covid patient. As this lady said about resting your hair, i was only combing mine every month or so in tiny sections that's how scared i was of losing more.

Jeannie K: WOW! I thought I was imagining my hair loss. Clumps and thinning and very noticeable around my forehead. I’ve been dealing with this since the beginning of 2020 when I was first having all Covid symptoms but we still new little about it. Two years and everything you can possibly imagine doing to preserve my hair it’s finally leveled off. I would say I lost more than a third of my hair. After not shedding everyday for about 6 months Im back to shedding an abnormal amount of hair again. All my life I complained about how thick my hair was. I couldn’t use barrettes, elastics only fit 1 an 1/2 time on a ponytail. COVID really wrecked my hair

Ashley Taylor: Thanks everyone for sharing. I too have suffered from hair loss. It was nice to know I'm now I'm not going though this alone. I hope we all continue to heal.

Patrice B: I had Covid September 20 and exactly 2 months later was diagnosed with Telogen effluvium. It was awful. My Covid was only gastric and I lost 15lbs in 2 weeks. My only symptom. I’m finally seeing a huge difference in my hair coming back.

Jason Sandifer: Congratulations to Dr. Jen Ashton. Wish her the Absolute Best in Love, Life, and Wellness, Joy, and Happiness... God Blessed You... and your family.

Joelle Smith: I have had covid hair loss. I had the delta variant & was incredibly sick for 3 weeks. A couple months later my hair began falling out in clumps, I’m talking handfuls of hair. I estimate I lost at least 30-40% of my hair. I had to cut it short to try to hide how thinning became. I minimized shampooing, styling, brushing…I lost hair for 2-3 months then it literally just stopped falling out one day. That was about 6 months ago. My hair is growing back. I have new growth all over my scalp. The texture of my hair seems to be different now, however, the more it grows out the better it looks. It’s wavy/frizzy and I’ve always had super straight hair. The experience was traumatizing but my hair is coming back.

Sharlene Hart: I lost about half of my hair. It came out in chunks. I was devastated. As a woman my hair is a significant part of me. I had Covid in October and started shedding in December. Unfortunately I was pulling it up to try and disguise it. I started prescription minoxidil 2% in January. My hair has grown in a few inches. My hairline is actually filling in more. There is hope.

Mo: I got covid in january of this year and started losing my hair in april. I have a ziploc bag full of hair. It was pretty hard to deal with at first but i know it'll grow back eventually. I know stress is also a factor in this.

Edged Out Beauty: I am experiencing hair loss after a mild case of covid in January 2022. In March my hair started shedding and breaking along my hairline. I also have diffuse shedding across the entire head. Still going through it but staying positive. I am using organic products, no heat and detangling my natural hair with my fingers and putting it in large loose twists to stretch the hair to keep tangles at bay. Satin-like scarves have become my bestie...must tie very very loosely because my scalp is so sensitive! This has helped to reduce the shedding a bit. For my very thin areas (my temples) my dermatologist prescribed a topical steroid. Peace and love to all those going through this. It is not easy! Curious for those who have gone to a dermatologist and had blood panels run- did you have a high ANA? I personally feel like this is a link but wanted some anecdotal data.

Regina Forest: I had a mild case of Covid in January 2022. I've probably lost about 50% of my hair since then and it's still falling out. My naturopath has recommended breathing exercises, the reason being that the lungs are not operating at full capacity because of covid. My oxygen levels are at 96ish and she would like to see them at 98. Her theory is that the hair follicles aren't getting enough oxygen. she said that it will grow back and it takes 3-4 months.

Marques Q.: I know she mentioned having had hair loss issues before but didn't elaborate and I think it's important to clarify that. She did a segment in 2015 about her struggles with hair loss and trying PRP treatment with great results. I feel it might have been better to include that info in a little more detail.

Sunshine 2019: I lost hair after Covid as well. I am happy to say that it lasted about a month and it is now starting to regrow. I am 54 years old.

Ally7deto: I experienced the same thing after i had covid. Its been devastating. I've been taking collagen and using hair growth products, as well as praying it comes back to how it was bf covid

Milka - Americus: I had COVID in March 2020. I still have long COVID, but my hair has filled in again. There is hope. I did have to cut off most of my hair ss it did become super thin. But it's back to a full and shoulder length head of hair. Have faith and rest yourselves.

Tristin Kirby 🇺🇦: I got COVID mid May 2022 and my entire life I've been told when I go and get haircuts "Ohh wow you're hair is so thick you're so lucky" Well now in this short amount of time i'm not losing huge clumps but it is falling out. I'm waking up with hair on my pillows, its coming out in the shower, or when I brush I've never had this much loose hair EVER

Humble Courageous: I lost a lot of hair and at least an inch has receded from my forehead. (I'm a 73 year old female.) I got it from a quick weight loss. When I retired we decided to only eat twice a day. I didn't even know about intermittent fasting then. Good news is I went from high end BMI over weight, to high end BMI normal weight. I'm happy about that. For my entire life I have only washed my hair twice a day, only dry it with a dryer a few times a year, and I don't use hardly any product. I also lost all my eyebrows even though I only plucked lower ones when I had them. There could be a hormone imbalance.

Neutral Barr: I admire Dr. Ashton. That must be tough to pull through.

Ana_Michelle_3: Thank you for this. A lot of people were & are going through this, and don't know why, how, etc. I myself included; Caught COVID in July with severe symptoms (fever, fatigue, it was hard breathing.) Thankfully I recovered, but in October I started noticing my hair coming out more than usual in the shower, didn't think anything of it. Then more & more clumps started falling off (in the shower & brush.) I was terrified! I literally thought I was dying, it was such a traumatic experience. I had to do my own research, digging the internet, countless hours. There were no videos like these to help answer questions. But after finding out my hair loss was due to this virus, I felt better knowing what was going on. Although I lost a lot, and have some thinning, my hair has stopped falling (in clumps) and am getting new hair growth. Hopefully in a year I'll have my beautiful, bouncy, think curly hair back.

Brooke Starr: This happened to me. After covid I lost a lot of hair. Tea tree shampoo really helped me to grow it back.

Sara Marie: A friend of mine had this experience after COVID as well. She used to have very thick hair, but not any longer. I wonder what causes this side effect? It's a little bizarre honestly, but I know it is absolutely true.

Peter Corzo: I really hope her real hair will grows back soon. I felt sorry for her since her hair lost from Covid. It’ll grows back. Fingers crossed.

John Bedell: My daughter had similar but started after her two vaccine shots, she also had contracted the covid 19 virus 3 months after final non effective vaccine.

Little Mavis: Dr. Jen Ashton❤ Thank you for your advice every morning.

Nancy Ramirez_Texas: My hair thinned out too from the top only and I believe it is from having the delta virus in August 2021 which almost killed me, unvaccinated (my good friend passed the virus to me and died from it but I recovered in the hospital). I'm now fully vaccinated plus boosted. Hopefully I regain that hair back!

Jean Stone: I had severe Covid in February, 2021. 18 days in ICU. I’ve had a lot of hair loss. 16 months later it is just beginning to grow back. I’m hopeful.

Cheryl Nelson: No one believed me about my hair loss when I had covid.

Mark Pashia: I had no idea this was a thing, but I my doctor suspected me of having Covid in early March 2020, when testing was not really available. Pretty severe case but survived at home. About a month later I would get clumps falling out as I washed my hair but did not connect it. My hair was to the bottom of my ribs in a pony tail but being a man in my sixties I just thought I was getting old. My volume to grab for pony tail was down to about half. I got all vaccines as they became available but in Feb. 2022 I still got a mild case. Just two days of fever and sweating at home and stayed up in the head instead of the lungs. It started again and I am down to about a third of what I started with. Just the other day I was debating if I should just give up and shave my head but I hate that look on me. Maybe there is hope but I also don't like this comb over look as my loss is in the back and the front comes right over it. Cannot really see it with a hat on, so might have to explore options beyond ball caps. So happy to see this and maybe I will be lucky and grow some back. Thanks for the video.

CHARMAINE GIO RUBIO: I also experienced thinning of hair 3 months after getting covid and i panicked and got so worried so i searched for cure and found biotin and Vit D supplements. these supplements were helpful and had my hair back.

Gloria Sandy: Thanks for posting this video about hair loss after contracting covid19. There's a lot to consider.

Spencer Wilson: She sounds like she's out of breath. I hope she continues to make a full recovery.

Dad: My buddy told me that when his mom got lung cancer that she was more distressed about losing her hair from chemo than from actually dying of cancer. Women n their hair is a big thing if they are very invested in their appearance.

HillyPlays: Five people in my family(three who were vaccinated) ended up getting covid on Thanksgiving, but now they’re all better.

S K: I also lost about 60% of my hair as well. After constantly shedding the last 2 months it finally slowed down. Hair is definitely growing back but... they are all growing back in white! Is anyone else experiencing this? I'm only in my mid 30s :(

Jill C.: I am in my mid-60s and I have androgenic alopecia. I call my pattern "Jude Law baldness" since my hairline is receding just like the actor's. I have been using rosemary oil applied directly to the thinning areas for over a year. I put it on at night. I also sleep in a satin-lined cap AND use a satin pillowcase. These are less stressful for the hair. Now I know that this is just one person's anecdote, and can't be extrapolated for everyone, but I have noticed not a complete regrowth of hair, but some miniaturized growth so that my head cover is better. (I have short hair.) Even my stylist has noticed it. I'm not going to say that this has "cured" my hair problem, but it was getting to the point that I was considering wigs, because toppers on short hair look like you have a dead animal on your head and there is no such thing as extensions for short hair. I still have to do what I call "artful swirling" of my hair, and my stylist cuts it so that I have some longer pieces to, yes, brush over the thin spots. But it is definitely better than it was a year ago. The oil I use is from a company called Maple Holistics and I get it from Amazon.

SC: I've lost about 25% of my hair as well after COVID. Damn I hope it comes back eventually.

Gaia Earendel: I noticed my hair loss there was a little bump at the root end of the strands that fell off. My Dr told me that's a good sign the hair might grow back. Time will tell.

Anne: Interesting. I had Covid @ the end of December. I also switched thyroid medicines around the same time. I thought my thinning hair was from the different thyroid medicine & that it wasn't working. It probably was a combination of both.

Yohan .A: Been dealing with this since late April of 2021, after I had Covid in early March. It’s Sept 1 of 22 and I’m still dealing with this, it sucks but as a guy I’m rocking short hair for now

Cheryl Carlson: Had Covid 3/20 but stayed home on bipap and oxygen.wasnt mild! Expected the hair in drain as could only shower weekly for fatigue. Now 2 yrs later,hair really thin,fine but sounds like have done all the right things

Wilma Allen: Since I was so sick with Covid to the point of hospitalization, it was much later I noticed my hair had come out drastically.

30 Mai: Some alcohols actually conditions the hair. Isopropyl alcohol is what people think of when they see alcohol in the ingredients list but this alcohol behaves very different from the common alcohols seen in hair products. Cetearyl alcohol for instance, conditions and smooths the hair for increased manageability.

msliltrinity: Thank you for sharing information and this experience.

Linda Maltese: I got covid in January n I'm going through hair loss too...I was also on this medicine that does cause hair loss n I went off of it ...I just hope it comes back...God Bless everyone ✝️

Songs: This is happening to me too Twice. Because I got Covid for the first time summer of 2021. I shed like crazy after that. I started to regrow …..fast forward to this year. I got summer Covid again 2022. And now I’m shedding all over again. It’s devastating but I’m trying to just eat whole foods take my supplements do head massage and head inversion and wait for the shedding to stop and pray that my hair grows back as much as possible. I never knew how devastating it is to not have my hair. My confidence is shot.

Thats Vicki: this is happening to me, hair loss is real !

Helen Boula: that sounds like my story within a month after I had my covid-19 my hair will just started coming up by the handful I just touching it just break off right in my hands that was in September and now it's going into what may I'm still losing hair but not as much as I was and I just hope and pray to God I think it's coming back I can't swear to it but I just I'm just horrified every time I have to brush my hair I guess I know what's going to be in it or if I rub my hands through my hair I'm going to come out with a handful of hair and I had beautiful hair I truly did. I can't say that anymore I can camouflage a little bit because I'm a retired cosmetologist in a makeup artist so you know a lot of little tricks I know that is an illusion but I know what I've lost and I just hope and pray to God that I have a miracle and it comes back.

Helen Boula: I'm only washing my hair once a month no hair sprays no nothing and when I feel like getting a little dirty which I do I get some cornstarch about the size of a dime and put it all through my hair to absorb the odor and it helps so I don't have to wash my hair as much.

sarabieber14: Had Covid back in August 2021 then around October 2021 noticed clumps of hair coming out when I was showering, brushing etc started panicking cause I didn’t know why until my sister said it was because of Covid. Got my hair cut in November then it slowed down until it completely stopped falling out in clumps so December maybe.

Patti Cake: Thank you Doctor for sharing

Sonia: I lost a lot of hair too

Annette Patton: I had Covid and I didn’t experience hair loss. But, I maintain taking my hair supplements and Vitamin D, and using products that had rosemary to help blood circulation.

Kari: I had Covid the first time in January 2020, mine has finally started to grow again. It’s like my body had ptsd from the infection, like cancer patients after chemo.

christian farias: Ok I’m glad people are talking about this! My hair fell out in clumps after o had Covid

JC: Interesting. I’ve heard hair loss from bleaching and coloring. Maybe best to skip getting your hair done until you fully recovered. Maybe the chemical reacts different on your scalp when your immune system is down.

V C: I told my doctor me I was "crazy" and that my hair loss/thinning was not related to my COVID-19 diagnosis.

Apara: As a cosmetic chemist of 15 years I want to clarify fatty alcohols ARE NOT bad for your hair. They function of them in your products are to condition and to keep the product together (emulsify- think of them as the egg in your oil and water mixture). An example of a fatty alcohol is cetearyl alcohol. A drying alcohol example would be isopropyl alcohol. I really hate this Dr on GMA. I always wished they fire her and hire another one to speak!!!!

Denise McCarty: There is still so much we don't know about contracting and recovering from COVID 19 yet no one wants to wear makes anymore in stores, restaurants, theaters, at work, or on airplane. She looks like she has had highlights in her hair and that's not good for your hair. Also, putting your hair in a pony tails is actually bad for your hair hair because it pulls on your hair follicles and can break them/damage them. My hairstylist told me to never put my hair in a pony tail. I like to use cloth head bands and hair clips if I want to get the hair out of my face.

Patti Cake: Jan 2022, I was hospitalized for 12 days with COVID n pneumonia....it's mid May n my hair is still shedding n my scalp is visible, it's devastating..when I wash n condition it won't detangle.i praying I get courage to cut what's left n wear wigs..it was bra length, it's little past shoulder but so thin.

T E P P I: I have gone to three different doctors about my hair loss and then all told me it was my own fault. Thank you. I got Covid in January 2020.

Taryn Primpandproze: Thank you for sharing this

jessie Pyle: I haven't had Covid, but I think that about half my hair has disappeared . I've learned that it was from the vaccine. Wonder how bald I'll get if I take the booster.

Marlynne K: My hair started shedding after my first Covid VACCINE. It took me a while to connect the dots. I'm reluctant to get my second booster because my hair has gotten so thin. I hate it.

Tess S: I lost a ton, used Folexin, has grown back… thank God.

Topsy Turvyy: Many people lost hair during their Covid illnes because for many it could spell death, fear was a major factor involved and no wonder, that can be scary or they see thei loves ones falling pray to the illness and they didn-t knwo if they would lose them.

Kristen 13: Can you clarify that cetyl alcohol, ceteryl alcohol, etc are actually moisturizing alcohols? It's going to make it really difficult for people to find hair products if they don't understand the difference between good and bad alcohols in hair products.

Maria: It's happened to me too

msdhark: The real reason is the stress from telling people for years that mandatory immunization was safe and effective when she knows that claim is sitting on thin ice.

Danielle: My hair is awful since having covid 19. Ive lost so much hair its now thin, brittle and breaks off when i brush it. I havnt dyed my hair in months and letting it rest but i dont know if ill ever have fuller hair like before again.

Kyra: I was about to say.. she just freshly highlighted her hair, but yet she's talking about hair loss. I stopped highlighting my hair several months before I started losing my hair, and I'm still currently losing it 2 years after having Covid. I'm not even sure if mine's Covid related at this point

Dolena Thompson: I have had so much hair loss….it started after getting my covid vaccines and boosters……

Sounds of Nature ASMR: I want to see the numbers that compare Covid symptoms after being vaccinated and Covid related symptoms for those who did not get vaccinated.

Mary K: I lost half my hair as well.

Irina Pinkhasov: I started to take vitamins and it did help,it stopped falling off,I see new hair grow thank God.

River Zane: I feel the fat underneath my eyes starts to disappear lines starts to settle in a year after getting covid someone I know all of a sudden grow white hair all over after covid. it aged us!

SOLÈIL: Going through this now

AquaSm: I lost mine too. I had to cut it but now its not growing as before

Felicia L: One comment - Alcohols are not universally drying for your hair. This generalization is chemically false - which is why many formulations have so-called alcohols. It depends on the type of alcohol. Some are drying. Most stabilize oils so that the product does not separate. So, read up on this from a credible source (or your own past experience) before you follow this part of the advice. (I am a PhD engr who used to formulate soaps and lotions for fun.)

Bre: If your hair is thinning why do you have freshly done bleach blonde highlights? Just my observations of all her photos/video content and I'm not talking about the fake hair peices she used you can clearly tell that's her hair at the roots.

Arpine Khosrovian: Lost 75% of my hair and lost all my curls

Tricia Buenaluz: I never associated my hair loss with my covid infection. It's not something your doctor discusses.

Irina Pinkhasov: I had this too due to Covid-19.I had have lost 2/3 of my hair. It started 3 months after Covid-19.

Michele K. Perner: Me too, I lost hella hair