No-salon survival guide

My interest in staying groomed is professional as well as personal. As a beauty editor i need to maintain high standards or else risk a P45.

Like a personal trainer with a beer gut or a dental hygienist with halitosis, anything less would be bad for business.

i am also dating again after 15 years of marriage, so am keen to avoid errant whiskers and grey hairs.

i’m therefore more than a little anxious about salons and gyms being shut down. i realise there are more pressing worries, but i’d still rather not turn into a lumpy, unkempt hobbit with Meat Loaf hair.

i am a salon snob, i’ll admit. i’d never risk at-home colour for fear of getting the blocky, Lego-head look.

i last painted my own toes circa 1996. i’ll wriggle out of blowdrying my hair if i can. And as for brows — the last time i plucked them myself, it didn’t go at all well (i looked surprised for months).

But now i am faced with a Diy mission. so i’ve researched insider home beauty tips, tricks and products that really work; the secrets to help you not only maintain your looks during lockdown but improve them.

Here’s to us all looking ten years younger when these tough times are over — and saving a packet in the process. Who knows, maybe we’ll never go back to our old habits . . .

SWAP THE SALON FOR A BLENDING BRUSH

Josh Wood Blending Brush, £15, joshwoodcolour.com I CAN’T deal with the existential crisis of going grey, so I’ll do root touch-ups at home. This easy, paint-on formula lasts up to three washes and comes in blonde and two brown shades. STICK WITH THE SWAP? It’s impressive. I’ll still go to the salon when I can, but use this between visits. FUSS RATING: 1/10 (where 1 means the least fuss)

SWAP BRAZILIAN BLOW DRIES FOR OVERNIGHT MASKS

Kerastase 8h Magic Night serum, £37.20, kerastase.co.uk

MAsks are loaded with moisturisers and oils, so they can make you look like you’ve gone ten rounds with a deep-fat fryer. But this manages to be both lightweight and nourishing. it reduces pillow friction and seals hair cuticles to boost shine.

to supercharge the effects, wear a shower cap over the top. Use regularly during lockdown and you will be rewarded with glossier hair when freedom calls.

STICK WITH THE SWAP? i get Brazilian blow dries to deal with frizz, but overuse can damage hair, so this is a great alternative. FUSS RATING: 1/10

SWAP SALON TINTING FOR EYEBROW DYE

eyelure Dybrow, £7.49 superdrug.com THIS requires you to mix your own solution. A mascara wand is included, but I used a make-up brush for greater accuracy. It comes in dark brown or black, but be warned — even the former goes scarily dark.

Protect the skin around your brows from staining by applying Vaseline. My brows were slightly wonky, but definitely passable. And they should stay defined for up to six weeks — though more likely four.

STICK WITH THE SWAP? Good in an emergency, which this is. But then it’s straight back to the brow groomer for me. FUSS RATING: 8/10

SWAP A CLINIC PEEL FOR ONE IN A POT

Dr Jack Face Paint Peel, £139 each, spacenk.com THE yellow mask evens skin tone, the blue hydrates, and the red unclogs pores. I liked scaring the postman by greeting him with them on, but for ten goes, they are pricey. STICK WITH THE

SWAP? They worked, but I’d still like a peel from Dr David Jack himself. FUSS RATING: 2/10

SWAP TEETH WHITENING TREATMENTS FOR FOAM

Professional Dental Cleaning and Whitening Foam by Smile Science Harley Street, £19.99, smile-science.co.uk

BrUSh your teeth with this and the makers claim your teeth could be up to seven shades lighter, but after one go there was minimal difference.

STICK WITH THE SWAP? No. I’ll return to wearing a mouthguard tray filled with a bleach formula. FUSS RATING: 2/10

SWAP WAXING FOR AT-HOME IPL HAIR REMOVAL

Philips Lumea Advanced IPL Hair Remover, £200, johnlewis.com THIS uses light energy to stop follicles producing hair. The pain is minimal (only dense areas feel ouchy) but concentration is needed so you don’t go over any areas twice and risk burns. There is even a ‘pen’ attachment to zap facial hair.

STICK WITH THE SWAP? No. Salon machines are stronger, if you can afford them. FUSS RATING: 7/10

SWAP CELLULITE MASSAGE FOR SKIN BRUSH

Espa Skin Brush, £20, espaskincare.com

WheN it comes to cellulite, we know creams don’t work but body brushing does. how? It stimulates the lymphatic system, helping to reduce water retention and its related lumps and bumps.

the brush exfoliates and boosts circulation to leave you with glowing skin. Use it once a day, and stroke towards your heart to work with the body’s lymph flow.

STICK WITH THE SWAP? Yes. We know this helps. FUSS RATING: 4/10

SWAP SPA SCRUBS FOR HYDRATING ACIDS

Ameliorate Transforming Body Lotion, £14.50, spacenk.com IF YOU want to banish scaly shins, blitz bacne e or plump up skin, try y this. It uses lactic acid to o exfoliate away dead skin, while locking in moisture and renewing collagen. STICK WITH THE SWAP?

Yes — this is the gentle way to smoother skin. FUSS RATING: 2/10

SWAP THE FACIALIST FOR A CYBER FACIAL

Eudelo Dermatology Grade Facial, £290, eudelo.com

After a video chat about my skin via Zoom, my therapist Jasmine collates a package of cosmeceutical products which arrive in the post a day later. I also get a microneedling roller, a skin peel, a hydrating mask, gloves and unmarked phials.

Jasmine calls to walk me through how to apply them. My skin is rejuvenated and glowing, but I miss the relaxation of a treatment bed.

STICK WITH THE SWAP? this is ideal for people who live far away from a good aesthetician. FUSS RATING: 6/10

SWAP LASH EXTENSIONS FOR MAGNETS

Lola’s Lashes Diamond Magnetic Eyelashes And Eyeliner Kit, £35, lolaslashes.co.uk the lashes are attracted to the eyeliner, so you don’t need glue. If your liner skills are lacking, you’ll make a mess. It took me a few goes, and I trimmed mine down to look less like a love Island contestant. You can reuse them up to 30 times.

STICK WITH THE SWAP? No. extensions give me the natural look I prefer. FUSS RATING: 5/10

SWAP LASERS FOR LIGHT THERAPY

Light Salon Boost st LED bib, £445, thelight-salon. com THIS promises to rejuvenate your ur neck, chest, back ck and shoulders. . The LED lights aid absorption of the plumping masks it t comes with, and my chest did look instantly better.

STICK WITH THE SWAP? No. To fix sun damage you need a laser. FUSS RATING: 7/10

SWAP MANICURES FOR CREAM AND GLOVES

Mavala Repairing Night Cream For Damaged Hands, £42, amazon.co.uk

All that washing means dry hands. Counter it with this cream with cotton gloves to lock in moisture.

I wore these in the day because I could, though my family thought I was unhinged. I also had a rest from gel nails, so used Jessica Geleration removal Kit (£ 13.50, jessica

cosmetics.co.uk) and Phenomen Oil (£7.92) on my cuticles.

STICK WITH THE SWAP? No. Gel nails are God’s own invention. FUSS RATING: 5/10

SWAP PEDICURES FOR EXFOLIATING SOCKS

Footner Exfoliating Socks, £9.99, boots.com

SCARED of Parmesan heels without your pedi? These booties are infused with exfoliating alpha hydroxy acid. After a few days my skin began to shed like a snake’s, and by day four my feet were gloriously smooth. STICK WITH THE SWAP?

This rivals vigorous foot filing, so maybe.

FUSS RATING: 5/10