The longer this lockdown goes on the further away normality seems to get. This one has been the worst by far and we’re all feeling a bit run down without our go-to beauty appointments. I can’t even remember the last time I got my nails done or went to a salon – that all feels so alien now.
The last time I got my hair cut was in July with Ijan Davies. He’s the founder of Ocean Hairdressing, one of the most popular and well-known salons in Cardiff. Alongside this he’s a guest artist for Joico, one of the biggest hair brands in the world – so he knows his stuff!
After reaching maximum disappointment with my crispy ends, roots and attempts at a home blowdry I thought I would reach out to him for some lockdown hair tips. I know that everyone hates their hair right now so I hope these bring some joy to your beauty routine.
The last time I had my hair cut – July 2020.
“So lockdown is a pain in the ass and one of the worse things is not getting to see your regular hairstylist. Hair frustrations are normal and are more common in lockdown than ever! Here are some simple tips and hints to see you through until salons reopen…”
– Ijan Davies
1/ Time.
It’s the one thing we have more of so it’s perfect to make use of it by giving your hair a deep conditioning treatment. In order to find out what your hair needs try this simple test first…
1. Take a single strand of hair, hold it in between your fingers and gently apply pressure.
2. If it breaks very quickly you’ll need to choose a moisturising treatment but if your hair stretches and is more elastic then a protein-based treatment should do the trick.
Moisture will replenish thirsty/brittle hair.
Protein will strengthen weak/stretchy hair.
Another great tip is to wrap a hot towel around your head for 10-15mins when the treatment is on. The heat will open your cuticles and activate the formula to give you better results.
2/ Shampooing.
This is often the simplest and most overlooked part of your regime. I would definitely recommend investing in a professional salon brand, trust me there is a big difference! Then, when shampooing you need to leave your shampoo on for at least 90 seconds or up to two minutes to allow it to properly cleanse your hair. For instance, a volumising shampoo cannot work if you simply lather and rinse almost immediately. It will need time as do all other effectively prescribed products.
If your hair is fluffy and a bit flyaway then avoid shampooing every day. Instead, skip a day and only rinse with water on alternate days to freshen up. This will help to make your hair more manageable.
Now that we’re in lockdown I would recommend seeing how many days you can go before you really NEED to shampoo. It’s probably a lot more than you think. The same rules apply with conditioner except if your hair is flat and lifeless. If this is the case then try to skip the conditioner or only use it every 2-3 washes.
3/Colour.
It is a minefield…so I would suggest only using the temporary colour sprays and powders to camouflage your roots for now.
If you really have to use a supermarket dye then make sure it’s semi-permanent. These wash out in around a dozen washes. If it says it lasts six weeks that suggests it’s more permanent so I would recommend avoiding these.
If you’re not sure what colour to choose then always choose lighter options because the golden rule is YOU CAN ALWAYS GO DARKER! Once you’ve gone dark or too dark it’s an actual nightmare trying to lighten and it’s a stylists biggest headache. Not only that but it will cost you a lot more to fix it.
4/ Heat.
As we’re in lockdown, try to give your hair a little breather from the heat and hot tools if possible. When drying, use a medium heat and don’t blast dry your hair. You also want to make sure that you always use the appropriate brush for styling.
If you have to straighten your hair turn the temperature gauge down and try to stay under 150 degrees. Cranking up the heat will ruin your hair and lead to breakage in the long run. Think of your hair like a piece of silk and your straighteners like an iron, it’s the same principle!
5/ Eat Well.
Make sure to pack your diet with lots of fresh green vegetables like broccoli, green beans, kale and spinach. These are high in Vitamin C; this helps in the delivery of iron and zinc, which is key to maintaining healthy hair.
For more hair tips and inspiration follow Ijan here @ijandaviesemrusjoico_.
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