Playing around with our hair was once part of the cultural zeitgeist. Bad breakup? It is time for a dramatic chop. Moving to a new city? You will obviously need the latest style of “It” bangs. Ghosted by an employer? Let’s try dyeing our hair. When we were looking to spice up our lives, a trip to the salon always did the trick. Therapy for some, social hour for others. Although, now that a majority of salons are closed some of us are starting to look a little like Hagrid.
So, what are we to do in times like these? Celebrity hairstylist Cash Lawless’s biggest piece of advice is to wait to see a professional as you cannot replace their level of training. Giovanni Vaccaro, artistic director at Glamsquad, agrees. “You probably aren’t a seasoned pro stylist,” Vaccaro adds, “so no matter how many tutorials you have watched on YouTube, please don’t chop your hair.” With that said, they understand that some of us play by no rules and have given us some helpful tips to trim our hair at home. Keep in mind these are baby trims! Meaning do not cut off more than an inch or two. Here are some tips to tell when you need a haircut.
Purchase the Right Tools
Lawless advises purchasing a really good detangling brush and thinning shears (they are far more forgiving than regular scissors). Translation: There is less risk for harsh lines if you make a mistake. “We really want to trim with the least risk of failure,” he adds. Shears vary drastically in price, so if you are looking for a budget-friendly pair, opt for Coolala thinning shears (priced at $14). If you are ready to go all out, Nic STS Shears (priced at $489) are a great option as they are for entry-level professionals.
Trim Your Hair with the Gravity Cut and Go Slowly
Everything goes back to the type of haircut you already have going on. It is fairly simple to learn how to trim your own hair at home if you have long layers. But, if you have a sleek bob, you really should consider waiting it out. We cannot stress that enough. For those of you with long, layered cuts, try Lawless’s “Gravity Cut” method. It allows you to gently trim the ends in their natural fall position with only a pair of thinning shears.
According to Lawless, the first thing you want to do is part your hair in a center part that goes all the way down to the nape of your neck. Then spray your hair with a shine spray and run your detangling brush through it to make sure any knots are out. Next, lean your head down and brush your hair, so you can see the line your ends make. Now gradually start trimming the hair that looks damaged in a straight line. Pro tip: Only move your thumb back and forth when cutting. You want to avoid using a claw grip on the shears, which will create uneven tension leading to an uneven haircut. Lawless recommends every ten seconds to come back up, look in the mirror, put your hair back to its natural resting state and see if everything is looking good. “Don’t get micro-focused on pieces because you may end up cutting too much,” Lawless instructs. Kiss your dead ends goodbye as you go through the entire perimeter of your hair. Lawless says “this technique gives you a really good trim without changing the shape of your haircut.” You will really only be dusting the ends, and while cutting your hair this way may take a little more time, it is very low-risk in terms of messing up.
Remember That There Are Other Ways to Help out Your Hair
Vaccaro reminds us that “the best thing you can do for your hair is GIVE IT A BREAK! No need to heat style during this time. Let your hair be natural and keep it hydrated! Use that hair treatment you’ve been wanting to use but never found time for.” If you do not already have one, he recommends using a silk pillowcase, because it doesn’t create friction among your strands, reducing the chance of split ends, tangles or waking up with frizzy hair.
Something else you may want to add to your hair routine — vitamins. “My wife and I take customized vitamins from Paragon Vitamins,” says Vaccaro. “But if you want to just do a multivitamin, make sure it has biotin, vitamin C and B.” We like Hum’s Hair Sweet Hair vitamin gummies as they contain all of Vaccaro’s recs, are vegan, and delicious.
And do not forget your scalp! “The scalp is the means by which the hair follicles get nourishment to maintain healthy looking hair, promote hair growth and prevent hair loss” says Michele Green, M.D. So, if you want to come out of quarantine with Rapunzel-like locks, try Sunday Riley’s Clean Rinse Clarifying Scalp Serum. You are welcome.
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