Corona-cuts. Pandemic bangs. The phenomenon of people cutting their own hair while in quarantine is real—and not entirely surprising. With salons closed for weeks and only some just now reopening in certain states, people have been looking for solutions to shaggy, grown-out cuts and overgrown fringe. Many turned the scissors on themselves or took the clippers to a significant other or roommate—sometimes with less-than-stellar results.
If you were one of the many people who turned to an at-home quaran-cut, whether with good or bad results, you’re not alone. The good news: hair grows back—and, in the meantime, there’s always hats). Depending on where you live, you might be able to make an appointment at your salon sooner rather than later. If you are able to see your stylist, be honest about your at-home haircut (chances are, they’ll already know). They should be able to clean up your look and blend any unevenness.
If you’re not able to get an appointment with your stylist, either because salons are not yet opened in your state/county or because your stylist is fully booked post-quarantine, here are a few things you can do to ride out your quaran-cut:
- Cut your bangs too short or unevenly? Pull them into a pretty crown braid or twist and pin to the side until they have a chance to grow out or until you can get in to see your stylist.
- Opt for chic up-styles if your at-home attempt at fixing grown-out layers or cleaning up a bob didn’t go so well. A loose, low nape knot hides uneven layers and works for just about all hair lengths. If you’ve got longer strands, double-dutch braids are a great way to hide cutting mistakes.
- Try a hair detox if you accidentally cut your hair shorter than you meant to. While you’ll still have to be patient when waiting for your strands to grow, removing buildup on the scalp can promote faster hair growth. Plus, a hair detox will help your hair look healthier, cleaner, and shinier, which can distract a bit from a bad cut.
- If you attempted an at-home box dye that went horribly awry or made a drastic cut, you might need to turn to accessories—like headbands and hats—to help disguise it. And, when all else fails, nothing hides a major hair mistake like a wig. Find a good quality one and rock a new style while you wait to get back into the salon.
How to Not Cut Your Hair at Home
If you’ve been thinking about cutting your hair yourself but haven’t quite made the leap yet, consider this a sign: don’t! It might seem like an easy fix for seriously grown-out strands, but the risk of making a mistake isn’t worth it. Remember, hairstylists are licensed, highly educated professionals for a reason; cutting hair isn’t easy!
Still not convinced? Here are a few tips for avoiding cutting your hair during quarantine:
- On average, hair only grows about ½ an inch every month. Sure, it may seem like your hair is growing like a weed, but if you haven’t had it cut since before quarantine started, chances are it’s only an inch or two longer than it was. Even if you are still waiting for salons to reopen, you’re only looking at a couple more inches of growth, max.
- Longer hair is easier to style. Take advantage of this time to try out some expert-approved at-home hairstyles.
- Focus on hair health, rather than length. We guarantee that a good hair and scalp detox, moisturizing masks, and extra-intensive hair care will leave your hair so soft, shiny, and healthy, you won’t even think about how long your layers have gotten.
- Think of this as a time to let your hair take a break. Skip the styling products and hot tools and instead focus on embracing your natural texture. After all, what better time to let your hair do its thing than when everyone is social distancing?
If you still feel the temptation to cut your hair at home, just Google “quarantine haircuts.” We promise the results will convince you to wait until you can see your stylist again—no matter how long that may be.
