There are some upsides to self-isolating – no one can see your overgrowing eyebrows or the roots in your hair sticking out.
For once, we don’t have to meet societal expectations on our appearance.
But still, for our own comfort and pleasure, many of us still want to keep grooming ourselves.
For women, who are typically advised to trim every eight to 12 weeks, getting our hair done is probably not a priority.
But men are probably used to getting theirs trimmed a lot more frequently.
There are salons still operating to ensure that you’re able to get your wash cut and blow-dry or a much-needed trim.
But call your usual salons to find out what services they’re offering.
If there aren’t any or you don’t want to leave the house, it might be time to learn to do it on your own.
Juliet Somers runs her own salon and has said it will still be open but she’s taking precautions such as allowing only one client at a time.
She tells Metro.co.uk: ‘I know that from 30 years of helping women feel good that when life gets stressful having their hair done relaxes them and makes them feel they can face whatever life throws at them.
‘To that end, I put a poster together stating a few things I’ve done to give my clients peace of mind.
‘By only taking one client at a time will mean my takings will drop but I feel it’s important to give clients peace of mind and this way at least the salon will hopefully stay open.’
While we all want to help independent businesses stay afloat, it might not be the best idea to be in close proximity to people, meaning you may have to cut and trim your own hair.
Mitchel Rosen, associate professor at the Department of Urban and Global Public Health tells Insider: ‘People should restrict non-essential appointments and activities. That means things like haircut appointments and nails.
‘It’s not just about you. This is bigger than that. What’s the worst thing that happens? You don’t get your hair cut today, as opposed to the alternative, where you get sick or get others around you sick.’
How to get a salon quality blow dry at home
If you love the salon finish of a blow dry, then we’ve got a step-by step process for you.
We spoke to Michael Van Clarke, who has over 25 years’ experience in the haircutting industry. His tips are:
1. Use the right equipment for your hair and the style you want. Flat brushes and round brushes with short sparse bristles are easier to use but don’t give the same control. If you need to properly smooth wavy or frizzy hair a quality round bristle brush is best.
2. Bin the nozzle unless you have thick wavy hair that needs blow drying smooth quickly. They over concentrate the heat and cause more hair damage than anything else.
3. After washing comb through thoroughly to take out tangles and then release the roots by combing up and back at 45 degrees from the hairline.
4. Preparation is the most important step to take the hair closer to the finished result before brushwork. Use a diffuser to prepare the hair taking out 85% of excess water. Lift roots into shape prepare mid-lengths and ends.
5. Use the time you have on the most important parts. The hairline sections around the face are the most important followed by the tips of the hair, then the top layer. Least important the underneath section of the back. So if short of time don’t waste it on the bits no one sees.
6. Work cleanly. Take neat sections no wider than the brush and keep the rest of the hair out of the way. Slant sections downwards around the hairline.
7. Lift sections high at a tangent to the scalp so you have proper control of the roots. This will eliminate snagging and give tension control without painful pulling.
8. Keep a one-inch gap between the hair and the nozzle.
9. Keep dryer nozzle in line with hair and pointing towards ends. Do not over dry the section. If it isn’t right, damp it and start again. All the damage is done when continuing to Blowdry hair that’s already dry. This goes beyond taking out excess water and strips the hairs own innate moisture leading to thinner brittle hair that eventually splits and breaks. Dry to 98% and let it air-dry the rest of the way.
10. If blow drying curly hair straight keep the section tight, closed and in position when you take the brush away. This will limit the hair absorbing surrounding moisture whilst you move onto the next section.
With all the extra time you’re spending at home perhaps you could learn to cut your own hair or get someone else living with you have a go.
At the end of the day, no one is going to see what the outcome is.
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