Going all Sinéad over here?

Taking a departure from my Wellness Wednesday tradition for a mundane topic. It is actually related to wellness. But it’s about hair.

I am pretty sure I’m not the only person to be getting a little bushy up here, without my lovely Nicole Schreifels, the only person I trust with my hair. She always does a wonderful job and I walk away feeling cared for and sassy.

It is clear from the increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases that this “Stay At Home” situation is not going to end (safely) any time soon. The number of cases in the U.S. continues to climb rapidly. While I think Minnesota may fare better than some states, we must still use caution to protect vulnerable people.

A dear yoga sister of mine told me Tuesday that she probably has the virus. She was advised by her tele-medicine practitioner that she could not get tested unless she went to ICU. With a severe and painful cough, fever, chills, and a loss of smell and taste, she was told to stay home and to self-quarantine for 7 days without the option of testing.

To me, this indicates a few things:

1) The actual numbers of infected people are MUCH higher than the confirmed cases reported (which include mostly hospitalized patients).

2) This is going to get worse before it gets better. How much worse? Nobody knows.

3) Despite many warnings from public health officials in recent decades that this type of event was probable, leaders ignored the warnings. They did not take time to understand the science to protect people. We need to listen to the experts, not the politicians.

4) Because infection rates increase in logarithmic progressions rather than linear ones, it is hard for us all to comprehend the nature of the spread. So, in a free society such as ours, we have difficulty complying with the kinds of orders that can slow the spread.

What does this have to do with hair? Well, wouldn’t it give a virus a lot less surface area to attach and inadvertently get into eyes or nose if I shave it all off? I mean, it’s short now already. As I washed my hands for the 20th+ time today, and brushed the hair out of my eyes, I considered a shampoo bottle and thought: wouldn’t be easier just to unburden myself further?

I don’t have the delicate features and symmetrical head shape of Sinead O’Connor, so I doubt I can pull it off personally. But in the interest of public health, why not at least ask the question?

Stay safe and well, friends.

cristy@meximinnesotana.com