The longer we stay home during this pandemic, the shaggier our hair looks. Some of us have even started bearing a semblance to Rubeus Hagrid. Not ideal for a surprise Zoom meeting, is it?
The good news is that basic haircutting services will return on 12 May to help us sort out our unruly mops. For those who need to refresh their hair colour or perm, however, you’ll have to wait till after 1 June, when the Circuit Breaker ends.
If you’re past the point of seeing your hairstylist for a snip, but you don’t want to head out until the Circuit Breaker is over, we got you. Here are a few tips to make sure you look presentable, ready for any video call.
How to style your hair (women)
Smooth out your tresses with a leave-in hair treatment
Before you start experimenting with new ways to style your hair, make sure your mane’s in tip-top shape. To soften your locks and tame any frizzies, try the L’Oreal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil Treatment (left). It’s a lightweight treatment that contains sunflower seed oil, coconut oil, and vitamin E to replenish moisture levels, leaving hair soft and shiny without feeling too greasy or heavy.
If you’re not a fan of an oil texture, go with Botanist’s Botanical Hair Milk (Moist) (right) instead. It has a milky, serum-like consistency that sinks into the hair quickly to repair, tame, and protect. The product has a subtle apple and peach scent as well, which is sure to boost your mood in the morning.
Trim split ends with a pair of fine-point scissors
Pinpoint the damage and snip off split ends only where you can find them, so you don’t go overboard and lob off a section of your hair at once. To identify split ends, use your fingers to comb through sections of your hair when it’s dry. If you feel a change in texture or if you see the ends splitting, that’s where they are.
Instead of using your old craft scissors at home, get yourself a pair of fine-point scissors instead. Give your hair another comb through to locate the split ends and trim them off. You can also get a pair of layering scissors, which can give you a little more room for error. To purchase both of them, try this stainless steel set on Shopee.
Style your hair with hair accessories
1. Hair clips
If you need to get your bangs out of your face fast, invest in a couple of hair clips to keep your hair in place. From metallic gold pins to oversized clips, we’ve got a list of nifty hair accessories to help you look effortlessly glammed up in an instant.
We’re particularly fond of these minimalist hair clips that are made of gold metal (above). They come in sleek geometric shapes as well as other designs like a ribbon or a crescent moon. You can find them on Shopee.
If you want to switch up the style of your fringe, have a look at these ten easy styles you can achieve with hair clips.
2. Hairbands
For those who aren’t fond of hair clips, there’s always a trusty hairband to rely on. Hairbands push all the hair away from your face, so you can focus on what you need to without readjustments. Add some colour to your look with the ASOS DESIGN Knot Headband (left). It is adorned with red palm leaves to channel vacation vibes, even though you’re homebound.
If you’ve got a virtual dinner date coming up, the ASOS DESIGN Headband With Floral Buds (right) will set the tone perfectly. Its gold leaf embellishments will make you look and feel like royalty.
3. Scarves
Got a scarf lying around? Fold it and turn it into a hair accessory. You can also opt for satin or silk scarves as they cause less friction between your hair and the fabric, which makes it sit more comfortably on your head. We’re partial to these cute scarves with vintage prints on them, available on Shopee.
How to maintain coloured hair
1. Try a box hair dye or root touch-up hair dye
If your hair colour has morphed from mermaid perfection to fifty shades of dull after a month, it’s time to revive it. For those who have easy, non-pastel hair colours to maintain, have a look at our list of DIY box hair dyes. You can also use root touch-up hair dyes to help extend the life of your hair colour.
2. Use a sulfate-free shampoo
Sodium laureth sulfate is a detergent and surfactant with a bad reputation. This ingredient is responsible for producing the foam in your shampoos, but what it also does is strip your hair of its natural oils and moisture. That’s the last thing you want for hair that’s been bleached and chemically dyed.
Instead, try using a sulfate-free shampoo to prevent your hair colour from fading too quickly. If you’re using a colour-infused shampoo, make sure it’s sulfate-free too. We recommend Infuse My. Colour’s shampoo range for coloured hair. Each shampoo helps to enhance and maintain the tone of your hair. If you have bleached locks, you can experiment with these shampoos for pastel tints.
3. Turn down the water temperature when shampooing
A hot shower feels lovely, but the heat opens up hair cuticles, allowing colour pigments to escape easily. Instead, you should rinse your shampoo off with cold or room temperature water. You should also spend less than a minute rinsing to prevent colour from running.
4. Use a hair treatment two to three times a week
When you have coloured hair, a hair treatment becomes your best friend. The BFF to rival all BFFs is undoubtedly Olaplex’s No.3 Hair Perfector Treatment. Olaplex uses a patented bond-building technology that is said to reconstruct hair strands. So this mask doesn’t just soften your hair, it actually helps to rebuild damaged parts too. To reduce hair breakage, use it two to three times a week.
5. Use a dry shampoo between washing
Washing your hair every day is something you want to avoid if you want your hair colour to last longer. On days where you’re skipping the shampoo, use a dry shampoo to build volume and refresh a greasy scalp. Have a look at our reviews of the best dry shampoos in Singapore.
How to care for permed and rebonded hair
1. Don’t use a heat-styling tool
On top of regular hair masks and treatments, you should also keep the heat-styling to a minimum. Blow-drying your hair could create frizz and damage to your hair and loosen your curls. The same goes for curling or straightening irons, so please put them down. If you can’t survive without a blow dryer, use the cool setting to prevent damage.
2. Put away the box hair dye
For those who went for a perm or a rebonding session before the Circuit Breaker, your hair has probably had enough of chemical treatments. You may be tempted to throw in a DIY hair colouring session at home to switch up your look, but it’s probably a bad idea. Unless your hair’s completely untreated, a box hair dye formula could be too much for your hair to handle, so be gentle and don’t over-process it.
3. Use a wide-toothed comb
After a perm or rebonding treatment, your hair is vulnerable so you have to be delicate with it. Instead of raking a fine-toothed comb or brush along the lengths of your hair when it’s wet, use a wide-toothed comb when your hair is dry. This will help prevent breakage and it won’t cause any static flyaways.
How to style your hair (men)
Use a matte styling product
If you want to look put together without overdosing on hair gel, try a matte styling product. A styling clay or wax can provide more hold to your hair without the obvious shine of a hair pomade or gel.
Apestomen’s Volcanic Clay is a popular one amongst men in Singapore. It adds texture to limp hair and gives a fuller appearance. The gritty styling clay can also manage coarse, thick hair, so it’s easier to create the style you want.
Clean up your hairline
Buzzing your own hair with the hopes of mimicking the high fade your barber gives you isn’t going to end well, and you know it. If you can’t wait for 12 May, you can still tidy up your hairline.
A clean hairline is the sign of a fresh haircut, so freshening up those lines can make your style look much neater. You can do this with clippers or shave the area with a regular razor. If you’re using a razor blade, apply shaving cream around the hairline first. Then, remove the product from the hair you want to keep so you can get a better visual.
