ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — With hair salons shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be tempted to give your increasingly shaggy hair a trim.
Hairstylists in St. John's all had the same thing to say: don't.
Every hairstylist who spoke with The Telegram for this story had the same thing to say: do not attempt to cut your own hair, unless absolutely necessary. In fact, many suggested taking the next few months as a chance to let your natural hair grow and give it a rest from the heat and chemicals that come with hairstyling in normal times.
Jacinta Macey, a Witless Bay native who now styles hair in Toronto, says now is a great time to give your hair a break.
"Everyone is in the same boat. We're all at home, we're all self-isolating: what a great excuse to just not have another thing to worry about. You shouldn't be out in public, you shouldn't be seeing anyone. So live your recluse life, you know?" she said.
That said, Macey says she knows people will be tempted, so there are a few things to keep in mind for those who get desperate for a trim.
"I'm a realist, in that regard," she said.
"Know that any cut that you have to do, your hairstylist will have to go shorter in order to fix it. Know that whatever you're cutting isn't going to be too short, keeping in mind that your stylist is going to have to take off an extra inch to even it out and shape it properly. Erring on the side of caution on the length you take is a big thing to look out for."
Erika Peddle, a hairstylist with the Signature Salon, says she has been encouraging clients to keep heat away from their hair for a more healthy head after the pandemic is over.
“Keeping the heat off of the hair will keep the hair healthy and, honestly, a lot of my clients need to give their hair some more TLC,” said Peddle.
“Do at-home hair treatments, let the hair air dry, try cute headbands to keep the bangs out of your face or bobby pin it. Braids are fun, too, and if you don't know how to do that, try twisting the hair and pinning it.”
Dana McIntyre, who styles hair at the Tommy Guns Barber, says if you really want to risk a long-term bad hair day, there are a few tips to keep in mind.
“The elasticity in hair will stretch when wet and shrink when dry. It is better to trim dry hair so the final result is the true length,” she said.
“If you decide to trim wet hair it will shrink as the hair dries and the final result will be shorter than anticipated.”
McIntyre says the first snip should guide the rest of your haircut.
“Always follow a guideline. After the first snip of hair, use that as your guideline and connect the hair the same length,” she said.
“That one piece of hair and following the guideline really helps. It's like a ruler.”
Macey says the best advice of all is to find ways to live with your hair, even if it's not quite the style you're used to.
"Hats, headscarves, headbands are all super cute ways to cover the top of your head if you're worried about the way your hair looks. Braids, ponytails, there are so many options to keep your hair manageable while we're going through this pandemic," she said.
"If you're concerned about your hair, my number one absolute thing you should absolutely do is contact your stylist for guidance for your hair specifically. Always just err on the side of caution. Remember: we're all in this together."
