How to Give Yourself a Haircut At Home

If you’re overdue for a hair appointment, then no doubt you’ve been left wondering how to manage your hair. There’s no need to panic though, while we might not do it quite like the professionals, there are still lots of ways to keep your hair looking salon-fresh from home.

It’s better to do the bare minimum rather than nothing at all until normal life resumes. Use this time to learn how to blow-dry your mane, create perfect curls, and also give your hair a well-earned rest from chemical treatments. So when salons do re-open, your hair will be in great condition for a style refresh!

‘Less is More’ Styling

Cutting down on daily styling with heated hair appliances is an easy way to boost your hair’s health. Why not also use the opportunity to master some basic styling techniques? A once-a-week styling session is a good chance to pamper yourself in these uncertain times and will still allow your hair a breather in between.

For professional results try these easy techniques from Martin Quenault, salon director at KH Hair’s Ashby salon.

Hair cutting is definitely best left to the experts but if you must, try these trimming tips from Martin.

• Only use hairdressing scissors — kitchen scissors are a definite no-go!
• Don’t attempt a re-style. At most take off a very small amount and stick to the existing shape.
• Only cut your hair dry, as it’s easier to cut too short if you try it on wet hair.
• Take small sections and use the tips of the scissors to just take the ends off and chip into the hair, rather than making blunt lines in your style.
• Tidy up a fringe using the same technique, cutting up into the hair rather than straight across.
• Get someone to help do the back, or use two mirrors to help.

A Salon-Worthy Blow-Dry in 5 Steps

1. Start by applying a heat-protection spray and a volume-boosting mousse if you have one. 
2. Turn your head upside down and, using the medium heat but full power setting on your hairdryer, rough dry your hair by blasting from the roots. 
3. Use a large, round brush and take small sections the width of your brush.
4. Place your brush at the root and lift as you work down the hair shaft, curling the hair under at the ends for bounce and volume. 
5. Continue working on each section until your hair is completely dry, then finish with a blast of cool air to boost shine.

Perfect Your Curl

1. Section your hair and start underneath working towards the top section. 
2. Take small two-inch sections of hair and place the straighteners close to the root. 
3. Close them gently and turn them completely over 360 degrees then pull down as if straightening the hair (almost like scoring a ribbon). 
4. Release and allow the hair to curl back up and cool. 
5. To alter the size of the curl change the size of the section. Larger sections give more of a wave, while small sections give a tighter curl.

Color Care

Home colouring needn’t be a disaster. 

“If you’re new to home colouring, then start with a semi-permanent colour,” suggests Kerry Capewell, Naturtint’s in-house hairdresser and colour advisor. 

“These are gentler hair colors that simply sit of the outside of the hair as a ‘coating’, which will gradually wash away over time.”

Try Kerry’s tips for coloring success…

1. Do a skin patch test 48-hours before you use any hair dye. Follow the instructions carefully and never skip this step – even if you’ve used the dye before. 
2. Get everything to hand that you need and make sure you cover your clothes and protect surfaces in case of spillages. 
3. Follow the instructions exactly and leave yourself plenty of time. Wear gloves and keep them on for the whole process. 
4. Don’t try to apply the whole bottle at once. Take small sections and make sure you have really covered the hair well, before moving on to the next section. 
5. Don’t forget your roots and the hair behind your ears and back of your neck. 
6. Leave on for the recommended time, then follow by rinsing or shampooing, then with a conditioner as instructed. 
7. Hopefully you’ll love your finished shade, but don’t panic if not. Most hair dyes will have a helpline telephone number on the box for you to call if you have any problems.

“You’ll need two boxes of hair color if your hair is longer than shoulder length and thick”

Want to Color In Confidence

The best way to check how your colour will turn out is to do a strand test. Here’s how…

1. Use the same mixture you prepared for your skin sensitivity test. 
2. Cut a small lock of hair from the root (underneath at the back so it’s hidden) and secure the ends together with some sticky tape. 
3. Wear the gloves provided and completely cover the lock of hair with the mixture. Follow the cover instructions. 
4. Gently dry the hair (make sure it’s taped down if you use a hairdryer!) to reveal the result. 
5. Check the condition of your hair by gently pulling it. If it springs back then you’re good to go. If it snaps, it’s too weak to color. 

This article originally appeared on our sister site, Yours.