Taming The Tresses: Pandemic Edition

As days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months, and months turn into, well, A WHOLE YEAR NOW, quarantine brings many challenges. One of which, although superficial, is hair styling and the dreaded haircut. 

Here are a few tips and tricks to handle that horrible pandemic hair, until we can get the kids to the salon again. 

GIRLS

1. Several of the hair stylists we have spoken to since the beginning of the pandemic have recommended against trying any drastic haircuts yourself. Instead, trim the ends (about one inch) and try some of the hair care and styling tips below. 

2. Keep hair moisturized with a coconut-oil (or similar product that  can easily be found at home - extra virgin olive oil works as well) treatment. This will ensure that the scalp and their stays hydrated and healthy until your next trip to the salon.

3. Experiment with braids. There is nothing more elegant than a nice French or Dutch braid.

4. Grow out the bangs.

5. Try your hand at the 1950’s pin-wheel curls. Or the newer space buns trend.

6. If you are looking for something more edgy and a more drastic change, try your hand at hair chalk for some new and funky colours.

7. If you MUST try your hand at a cut, take a little at a time. Watch MANY tutorials. Use professional- grade shears. Don’t cut straight across - try more of a “point-cut” - snip up into the hair vertically. For curly hair cuties, whether loose curls or tight ringlets, each curl follows an "s" shape. Find that pattern and get as close to the middle of the "s" as possible. Spray down the hair and hold that curl between parallel fingers and trim the end of the curl in a downward motion.

BOYS

1. Keep them distracted to avoid excessive movement during a cut.

2. Cut the hair when it is clean and wet. (Keep in mind that wet hair contracts as it dries. An inch when wet may seem a lot shorter dry.)

3. For curly hair, cut it when it is already beginning to dry. This way, you can see how it will fall lengthwise while you are cutting.

4. Whether using scissors or clippers, start with a little (no. 4 clippers) and work your way shorter. You can always cut more. You can’t put it back once it’s gone. 

5. Start at the nape of the neck and work up.

6. Blending is harder than it looks. Take it slow.

Remember, whether boy or girl, YouTube can be both your friend and your enemy - building confidence when it shouldn’t and teaching lessons we otherwise wouldn’t have access to. 

Good luck! We can’t wait to see all the beautiful new hairstyles.