Haircare during the time of social distancing
Who knew what early 2020 had in store for all of us or how quickly things could change. I shut down my business (temporarily, of course) on March 16th, and I’ve been pretty much sheltered in place since then. I’ve gotten used to face masks as the new reality, and serendipitously I had purchased a mask back in February anticipation of our annual fire season with its accompanying bad air quality. Instead, I use it to go out just to buy groceries.
We’ve all had to adjust, and this period has been disastrous for scores of “nonessential” small businesses. Imagine: what I do for a living has been officially designated as nonessential! And on top of that, “shelter in place” has been extended until the end of May. In spite of this, I am ready to get back to doing what I love the most: working with you and your hair. And this time I’ll need your help since I can’t be there with you — a little self-help for a lot of self-love. Here are a few things you can do to achieve healthy, beautiful hair at home.
Healthy scalp = healthy hair
Healthy hair always starts with a hydrated scalp that is free of dandruff, debris and excess oil build-up. But don’t overdo shampooing — you can strip out too much of your natural oils and cause the scalp to flake and the hair shaft to become brittle — and you end up with dry hair that won’t style properly. For people with dry or normal hair, I recommend shampooing only once every 10 days.
Conditioning
If your hair is dry or needs deep conditioning:
- After shampooing, apply Joico Defy Damage Protective Conditioner* liberally, then cover your hair completely with a plastic bag for 15 minutes. (For a deeper treatment, add heat elements, such as a hood or bonnet dryer, for 20 minutes.) Rinse out thoroughly.
- Follow up with a warm herbal hair tea and scalp treatment combined with an essential oil (recipe below). Apply to scalp and hair leave it in.
Herbal hair tea recipe:
- Place 2 tbsps each loose peppermint tea, rosemary leaves and lavender petals into a tea bag filter. (In a pinch, you can use a coffee filter, stapling it shut after adding contents.)
- In a medium-sized saucepan, bring 1 qt of water to a boil, then remove from heat.
- Drop filter into hot water. Cover and let it cool.
- Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil.
The comb out:
- Add hair oil or an emollient, such as Kyra Shea Medley.*
- Using a wide-tooth comb section out hair in quarters, then secure with clips.
- Optional: Use a blow dryer with cool to medium air to dry and stretch out hair in preparation for the next styling phase.
For a change of pace…
I encourage you to try a new hairstyle, something different. This is the ideal time to experiment with transitioning your hair from one texture to another.
For a temporary change from a curly texture to straight, try setting your hair with rods or flex rollers, and use a hood or bonnet hair dryer for 45–60 minutes (or longer, depending on your hair’s length and/or thickness). For the best results, hair must be completely dry before removing rods or rollers.
Or if you’ve been straightening your hair, go natural. Try a two-strand twist, braids (to create an elegant wave effect) or Nubian knots. For best results, leave in overnight before loosening.
a non-committed style change.
The directive to shelter in place won’t last forever and before you know it, you’ll be back in my salon. Until then, I’m available for one-on-one video consultations, especially helpful if you are new to Head Designs and are thinking about working with me. You can set up a consultation through my website: https://headdesigns.com/contact/.
Let’s stay connected, and be sure to follow me on Facebook (@headdesigns) and on Instagram (Head Designs Salon, headdesigns83). Let’s also make the most of our time during this unprecedented period — this can be an incredible opportunity to tackle those projects you keep putting off or reading that juicy novel you bought last year. Or just be in the moment. Relax, enjoy and appreciate LIFE!
*Used to buying your haircare products at the Head Designs salon? For your convenience, right now haircare and styling products recommended in this blog and your other favorite salon products can be purchased online and delivered to your doorstep. Visit https://headdesigns.com/products/.
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