Don’t panic about any hair-y situations yet, says local stylist
Lockdown has been in effect for about a month and local stylists across Moose Jaw have started to see some of that isolation impatience reaching their clients as roots grow out and ends split.
The stylists at Chic Hair Lounge have been fielding phonecalls from clients looking for some do-it-yourself solutions to their hairstyle woes, and so stylist Beckie Andrews shared some of the tips she’s been offering to help steer folks away from any bad COVID-19 cuts.
For the most part, Andrews and her fellow stylists have been hearing the most panic about grown out roots and too-long styles in need of a trim. She’s had to share her expertise so that clients can become temporary at-home hairstylists, and she’s amassed some standard tips to help. Her first bit of advice is fairly easy: just stay calm and try not to do anything drastic.
“Everyone’s in the same boat and that doesn’t necessarily make it easier,” said Andrews. “Everyone has roots showing and overgrown hair and really, in the midst of what we’re going through, it’s just hair.”
In fact, Andrews suggested that now is actually a great time to give your hair a break. For many, being at home means it’s possible to use less heat styling daily and let hair recuperate from past damage without stress.
With so much spare time, she encourages people to look into hair masks and treatments to help address any hair issues that might be popping up.
“We stress our hair every day with our flat irons, blow dryers, curling irons, and taking the time to do a mask once or twice a week is really good,” said Andrews. Clients with dry hair should look for a mask that focuses on moisture and for damaged hair, one that features proteins to help rebuild. Andrews recommends avoiding the do-it-yourself route even though it may seem tempting — coconut oil and mayonnaise are for cooking, she joked.
“We’ve all heard about using different products out of the kitchen [for hair masks] and there’s nothing saying that there’s any benefit there, so I would say leave the kitchen products where they belong,” said Andrews.
For those overgrown bangs, bobs, and split ends, Andrews strongly suggested waiting until a stylist can handle the situation for you. Now might even be a perfect opportunity to grow out those bangs or try a new length of style and see how you like it.
For those who can’t wait for a trim any longer, Andrews said to use sharp scissors or clippers to avoid shredding the hair and remember that wet hair is always longer than it will be when it dries.
Cut sparingly, said Andrews, because it’s always easier to trim a little more than to wait for that length to grow back.
Her next bit of advice may be the hardest to follow for some. She warned all clients watching their roots grow out to stay away from the tempting box dye at the pharmacy, as it can be very unpredictable — and pricey to fix, once salons reopen.
“It’s not just the product that’s in the box that’s very unpredictable. How you apply a colour can also go wrong very quickly,” said Andrews. “You can end up with lighter roots and darker ends, and it truly can just be a bigger mess in the end than the bit of root that is showing now.” Instead, she recommends reaching out to your usual stylists and asking for temporary solutions to grays or root grow-out, like coloured root sprays or touch-up solutions.
Andrews is glad to offer her expertise in any way she can right now, especially when her usual clients message her with questions, requests, and funny photos of their at-home hair adventures.
“I have had some really funny texts and pictures, like ‘look what I just did to myself,’ or ‘look what I did to my husband,’ because everyone just grabs the scissors and starts cutting,” said Andrews. Most stylists are happy to offer product recommendations for any concerns, said Andrews, and many salons in the city are still offering delivery or pickup for products to help tide over clients until stylists can have people back in their chairs.
“We’ve had a lot of clients asking us for recommendations, and that turns into us finding the product and getting it to them,” said Andrews. “I’ve had so many great outreaches from clients, something funny or even just an ‘I miss you,’ and I believe that all stylists are missing their clients just as much right now.”