As if battling covid itself wasn’t a big enough hassle, one of the longer-term after-effects being reported is thinning hair and hair loss. And whilst we know, in the grand scheme of things, it’s a small price to pay if you are fully recovered and healthy, it can still be something that affects your self-confidence.

When the UK’s Institute of Trichologists – a professional association for those who treat hair and scalp disorders – surveyed its members, ​​79% said they had seen cases of “post-Covid hair loss” in their clinics.

So, what can you do to slow the loss down?

Kerry Capewell, Naturtint’s in house hairdresser, heads up the brand’s UK helpdesk. She explained that the first thing to do is talk to your GP to check there is no underlying medical condition causing your hair loss.

“Once that has been ruled out,” she said, “you can swap your usual hair care products for a shampoo and conditioner designed specifically to manage hair loss.

“You need to strengthen the delicate hair root and protect against further loss from environmental stress.”

While it always sounds like a punishment, rinsing your hair with cold water after shampooing will help to stimulate blood flow to the surface of the scalp, encouraging new hair growth.

Kerry added: “It’s always good advice to try to limit the amount of times you use heated hair appliances as they can further damage weak strands, so let your hair dry naturally if possible.

“If you need volume but don’t want to use heated appliances use velcro curlers.

“You can also invest in a vegan-friendly bristle brush and limit brushing and combing too much.

“Finally, when you are styling your hair, avoid tight ponytails, plaits or anything which pulls on your root area.

“If you need to wear your hair up, or off your face, it’s important to use the right accessories,” she said, “Hair elastics can snag and break the hair and tying it up too tightly can cause stress to the hair follicle.

“Mix your style up, use covered hair bobbles and don’t make your style too tight.”