The good news is that with the right tips and tricks, professional-grade looks are totally doable and right at our fingertips. Read on for solutions to the most common hair upkeep issues we’ve been facing and learn the how to take care of your hair at home:
How to Take Care of Your Hair at Home: Social Distancing Style
How to Cut Your Own Bangs
We’ve seen a rise in DIY haircutting and hair maintenance queries due to the current stay-at-home mandates worldwide. Cutting hair at home has come to the forefront of many people’s minds. In mid-2020, there was an increase of 120% in Google searches for how to cut hair at home. To help address this, we’ve tapped our resident expert stylists for insights on how to attempt correct DIY hair maintenance, while keeping any hair accidents at bay.
“We all know how wrong at-home trims can go—just go on a search on YouTube!” caveats Unilever In-House Stylist Bailey Pope. “First, you will need a comb and sharp scissors; scissors what aren’t sharp will make it nearly impossible to get a clean shape,” she notes. “You’ll [also] want to cut after drying and styling, as wet hair can shrink up after drying.” When it comes to cutting your own bangs, it’s best to err on the side of caution and start small. To properly trim your fringe at home, follow these easy steps:
At-Home Haircut Guide
Step 1: Section out your pre-existing fringe and use clips on each side to separate your bang area from the rest of your hair. Step 2: Wash, dry and style as usual. Step 3: Comb hair to get it sitting uniformly. Step 4: Hold your fingers parallel to the shape of your pre-existing line. Step 5: With scissors at a 45-degree angle, create a straight line using uniform small “point cuts” following your current shape, a.k.a. the last shape your stylist created on you, as your reference. Step 6: Comb down and use your fingers to loosen up your fringe to assess length. Step 7: If you need to go shorter, move up ¼ to ½ inch and repeat. Note: It’s easier to take a few inches off little by little as you need it than to go all too short at once!
How to Color Your Hair at Home
Although this is also a process best left to a professional, dyeing your hair at home is a skill that can prove useful in a pinch. The sheer number of at-home coloring kits available on the market also suggests this is a process that can be undertaken at home. We saw a whopping 250% increase in “Best At Home Hair Color.” This is a strong indicator that many are looking to dye their hair at home. In light of this, you can find more tips on how to successfully color your own hair while in lockdown.
First things first: Stick to color within one to two shades of your base to minimize the risk of any mishaps. On your next #sociallydistanced provision trip to the drugstore, carefully study the box dye options available and choose one whose “Before” image most closely matches your current color.
At-Home Hair Dye Guide
Step 1: Start on second- or third-day hair. Your scalp’s sebum (i.e. natural oils) acts as a protective barrier and will help minimize irritation from the ammonia and/or bleach present in box dyes. Step 2: Apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly around your hairline and nape line. Step 3: Read the instructions carefully and prepare a plastic or glass mixing bowl, a dye brush, latex gloves, plus a plastic fork or whisk for mixing and an old towel or T-shirt to protect from staining. Step 4: Wearing your latex gloves, combine the hair dye and developer in your mixing bowl, following the correct ratio indicated on the box. Mix thoroughly. Step 5: Do a strand test on a small section of hair to see how quickly your hair texture lightens/changes. Finer hair can lighten faster than thicker, coarser strands. Step 6: Apply dye in two steps, starting from ½ inch away from your roots, downwards. Next, go back and do the roots at the midway point of your processing time, making sure to cover the entire head. Step 7: Let set until the recommended time (or the time indicated by your strand test). Gently wipe away the petroleum jelly on your hairline and nape. Remove any traces of dye on your forehead, sideburns and neckline. Rinse out hair with water, then shampoo and condition as usual. Step 8: Maintain your fresh color by washing with a color depositing conditioner like TRESemmé Gloss Clear High Shine Deep Conditioner. This conditioner can be used whenever your hair needs a deposit of shine and some color revival. Leave on for 3 minutes for best results.
How to Deep-Condition with a Hair Mask
Applying a hair mask is a super effective way to infuse strands with an added shot of moisture. Dry, damaged hair benefits the most from this extra level of hydration. But, hair masks can be used by all hair types and textures to enjoy a quick dose of TLC. With a 250% increase in searches for “hair mask recipe,”how to repair damage is another high-volume query experiencing some lifts during lockdown.
A once-a-week deep conditioning session is a good place to start for most hair types. Using a hair mask to is a great step to learn how to take care of your hair at home. Read on and get your self-care on:
Deep Conditioning Guide
Step 1: If your hair is dry, start off with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner like Suave Coconut Hydrating Shampoo and Conditioner to clean strands. If your hair is normal to oily, you can skip the conditioner. Step 2: Take a generous swipe of your hair mask and apply to your hair. If your hair is oily, start towards the mid-shaft. Coat hair evenly, concentrating on the mid-lengths and ends—that’s where most of our damage is! Our current fave is Dove Mask + Minerals Soothes + Pink Clay. It’s specifically designed for dry and frizz prone hair, so you can trust your hair will feel incredibly nourished after. Step 3: For added relaxation, massage your scalp with your fingers or a scalp brush. Step 4: Use a wide-toothed comb to help coat hair evenly. Step 5: Let sit for anywhere between 15 minutes to a few hours, depending on your dryness level. Tip: steam from a hot shower can help impart ingredients more efficiently into hair. Step 6: Rinse with cool water.
Those are our top tips on how to take care of your hair at home! Show your hair some TLC while we’re living in these unprecedented times. Social distancing is a learning curve, but think of all the skills you’ll have to treat your hair. Methodology: Data used for the graphs and images are from Google Trends Figures represent search interest relative to the highest point in the given period where 100 = peak popularity
