JOSH WOOD’S GUIDE TO THE ULTIMATE NO-HAIRDRESSER HAIR

1. HYDRATE AND CONDITION

THIS is a moment to focus on the condition of your hair and really hydrate it in a way you probably don’t on a normal day.

Use a mask once a week (try the Everything Mask, £19, joshwoodcolour.com). If you don’t need to see (or video call) people, slick your hair back with a conditioner or a mask and keep it in all day.

Alternatively, treat with the mask at night, wrapping it with an Aquis Turban (£30, aquishair.co.uk) and go to bed for an overnight deep condition.

2. ALWAYS COMB BEFORE HOME-DYEING

IF YOU do want to do your roots at home, use a good wide-toothed comb, such as Re-comb (£16, re-comb.com) or my other favourite, a Tangle Teezer (£12, tangleteezer.com), to brush out your hair beforehand, then you won’t get clumps of colour or missed patches.

I think the dotting method works best — applying multiple small dots of colour — and in this case, more is really more. Pack on the product to ensure greys are completely covered

3. EXPERIMENT WITH DIFFERENT SHADES

HAVE fun! Given that most of us are now working from home and events are on hold, this could be a moment for experimentation with new styles and semi-permanent colours.

This is much easier if you have highlights or balayage, as you can use a temporary or semi-permanent colour over the blonde and it will wash out over time. Changing the tone of brunette hair, going a bit warmer or cooler depending on skin tone, can be another way to switch things up (try Josh Wood Colour Gloss in Cherry, pictured, £19).

4. OR RETURN TO YOUR NATURAL HAIR COLOUR

USE this opportunity to think about what you do with your hair, and whether you have got stuck in a cul-de-sac.

After the first lockdown, many people returned to a more natural colour that didn’t require so much upkeep, partly because they don’t want to be caught out again, and partly because they realised they’d been doing the same thing for years without thinking.

Begin this process by building up a mood board of things you like and things you don’t like. Also think about how often you want to maintain the colour and get advice on skin tone: cool or warm? Ask how the colour can be nuanced seasonally.

We often recommend that clients send us an image of their hair from a time in their life when they absolutely loved it.

5. . . . EVEN IF THAT MEANS GOING GREY!

THIS could be the perfect time to make that transition. But when you decide you want to start to grow out the grey, you’ve got to be committed.

The first step is to leave a little bit of grey around the hairline, so it starts to break up that harsh regrowth. It looks a bit more natural and helps to introduce a bit of grey gradually.

Then, once you can get back in to the salon, you should talk to your colourist

about having a lighter tint around the hairline for a few weeks, then introduce some kind of highlights or balayage.

6. TREAT YOURSELF TO A SCALP MASSAGE

THE hair grows from inside the scalp, so nourishing that is very important for healthy hair.

I often ask my clients to think of their scalp as they would their face. A healthy scalp in general leads to healthy hair. Dandruff, psoriasis, greasy hair, or a dry, itchy scalp are indicators that it is in need of some attention.

Regular massage of the scalp is a great way to boost the blood supply — and it’s relaxing.

Your scalp produces natural oils that are essential for keeping the skin moisturised. The more we wash our hair the more we strip these away.

I recommend using the En-Root Scalp Treatment (£36, weare centred.com), which is like a facial for your scalp.

7. LAST-MINUTE CHRISTMAS ZOOM

IF YOU haven’t washed your hair but need to get on a Zoom call and look like you have ‘done, undone’ hair, Sam McKnight Cool Girl Barely There Texture Mist (£25, sam mcknight.com) is the product for you. It’s a very light texturising hair spray that can quickly create a natural tousled look — just spray and scrunch.