A guide to taming your (out of control) lockdown hair

Once again we find ourselves locked down and separated from our most trusted confidants: our hairdressers.

The only ones who understand our bone structure, why experimenting with a micro fringe is an absolute no go, and have patiently stuck by us despite a tragic incident with off-brand box dye, or two.

Now, as we’re confined indoors, it can feel as though we have little choice but to accept the advancing roots staring back at us during Zoom meetings and relax into examining split ends until we’re cross eyed with frustration. But it doesn’t have to be the case.

There are a whole host of products ready and waiting to save the day and according to some of the capital’s best stylists and colourists, this break from the swivel chair could be a blessing in disguise. “Lockdown is a great time to focus on the condition of your hair in a way that you probably wouldn’t have time to normally,” says celebrity colourist Josh Wood.

And for many, this pause in proceedings presents an opportunity to improve how we feel about our locks, too, says stylist and afro hair specialist Charlotte Mensah. “Looking after your hair during quarantine is part of the building blocks of your psychological well-being. It’s a good time to get to know, embrace your hair and find out what makes your hair happy.”

Split ends SOS

The first step to prolonging the results of your last cut and colour won’t cost a penny, but it will require willpower. “Hide your heat tools!” declares Ricky Walters, founder of Salon64. “More often than not split ends are caused by heat damage, so reducing the heat used on your hair is the easiest and most effective way to prevent and recover tired ends.”

If you’re feeling flush, Mensah and Liz Smith, trichologist and founder of The Hair Loss Clinic, advocate investing in silk headscarves and pillowcases, such as the This Is Silk Silk Hair Wrap, £35.99, and Silk Pillowcase, £45.99 (thisissilk.com), created to minimise breakage and encourage hair growth. “Cotton fibres grip and tug at individual hair strands, causing damage and loss," says Smith, “Silk, by contrast, protects delicate new hair from friction and nourishes it with the amino acids it is made from, encouraging growth.”

Don’t neglect your scalp

When it comes to keeping lengths looking fresh and roots voluminous, investing in scalp health is key. “Much like an exfoliant for the face, give your scalp some TLC with a scalp scrub, this helps to remove any product build up or dry skin,” says Walters, who swears by R&Co Crown Scalp Scrub, £36, for it’s clarifying mix of Kaolin and Salicylic Acid that absorbs excess sebum and gently exfoliates without irritation. For those with thicker, curly or afro hair, Mensah encourages utilising spare time by massaging the scalp with an oil, such as her own ultra hydrating Manketti Hair Oil, £48, to stimulate circulation and follicles, encouraging healthy hair growth.

Wear a damn mask

According to stylist and L’Oreal Professionnel Ambassador Adam Reed, the only way to truly banish split ends is with a good old fashioned chop, which at home, is strictly off the cards. Reed does, however, say that some hair masks can effectively ‘prevent and conceal’ tired ends.

Formulated with a patented filler complex and amino acids, the L’Oreal Professionnel Série Expert Pro Longer Lengths Renewing Mask, £14.06, promises to extend the life of tired lengths by coating strands, smoothing ends and protecting hair from further damage. For those with bleached or heat damaged hair, the Olaplex No.3 Hair Perfector, £26, repairs mechanically damaged lengths at a molecular level by finding and resealing broken bonds within individual shafts.

Leave-in treatments, serums and oils can have a similar effect. The Aveda Botanical Repair Strengthening Leave-In Treatment, £28, detangles hair to minimise breakage when brushing and strengthens strands by packing porous lengths with plant-based fibres, and the Moroccan Oil Mending Infusion, £26.95, transforms brittle lengths with an injection of binding extracts and argan oil.

Root renewal

The subject of at home hair colour is a sticky one amongst the capital’s colourists. Many such as Reed and Walters, claim that home hair colour is more hassle than it is worth and can take years to fix. Wood, on the other hand, believes it can be done using his new complimentary video consultation process, designed to guide users to the most suitable and realistic colour for their hair type (joshwoodcolour.com), and plenty of due diligence.

“Split hair into four sections and clip. When you begin to colour, keep your sections neat, so that it’s easy to keep track of what parts have been coloured and which have not.” Nevertheless, Wood warns, it’s important to be realistic about the results that are within our reach at home. “Highlights and balayage are virtually impossible as these techniques are hard to replicate and need to be created in the hands of the professional.”

If you’re not feeling up to the task, banish brassy tones and disguise split-ends with a nourishing semi-permanent colour formula such the Josh Wood Colour Gloss, £19, the Shu Uemura Yubi Blonde Anti-Brass Balm, £49, for blondes, or the Redken Colour Extend Brownlights Duo, £30, for brunettes.

Incoming roots, Walters says, can be hidden during even the most important zoom calls with a root touch up, which is ‘essentially eyeshadow for your hair’. Available in every shade from platinum to the deepest, darkest browns, the Color Wow Root Cover Up, £28.50, and L'Oréal Paris Magic Retouch Instant Touch Up Spray, £8.99, offer the best results.

Styling secrets

With a ban on heat tools, styling can seem like an impossible task. However, for those with afro hair, Mensah says it’s an opportunity to embrace protective styles such as twists and braids. Reed encourages using the time to experiment. “Plaiting hair over one shoulder and then twisting up into a bun is a great look that also helps to conceal any split ends.”

For those with less energy, another clever way to refresh hair is to mix up where your parting lies, he continues. “Typically the hair around your usual parting is more prone to damage so flipping your parting can add freshness to hair, as if it’s just been cut.”

Another excuse for a hair flip? Don’t mind if we do.