Sunderland hairdresser reveals how to keep your hair looking good in Lockdown

But it needn’t be a disaster.

Sunderland hairdresser Neville Ramsay has issued some top tips on how to keep your hair looking good in Lockdown, until the salons can open again.

Avoid Box Dyes

After the last Lockdown Neville says most salon appointments were taken up with colour corrections due to people using box dyes at home and the hairdresser, who’s styled the hair of celebrities including Jodie Kidd and Sting, says his biggest piece of advice is to steer clear of permanent box dyes.

“You see celebrities endorsing permanent box dyes in adverts, but it really isn’t the same as a salon dye,” he explained. “Colours are complex and there’s so much that salons take into account when preparing your colour, such as the natural tones of your hair.”

Dyes which can be used in Lockdown without causing damage

Just because you can’t get to the salon, it doesn’t mean you have to live with unwanted grey hairs.

"There’s a great range of semi-permanent dyes and root boost sprays available at supermarkets and chemists,” said Neville. “If you don’t want your grey roots coming through, the sprays are a great way of camouflaging them.

"Meanwhile, the vast majority of semi-permanents can really add tone to the hair.”

Home remedies

You don’t have to invest in expensive brands to look after your hair: there’s many conditioning and colour treatments available in your kitchen.

For those who need to lighten roots, Neville advises using lemon juice on the area and then gently heating with a hairdryer.

“You’ve got to be careful not to burn the hair,” he explained. “But if you squeeze lemon juice on to the roots three/four times a week it will help to camouflage the root slightly.”

Neville explains how household item ketchup can also be used as a makeshift colour corrector.

People who usually have regular bleach treatments with a toner may start to notice their hair turning a greener shade in lockdown.

Neville said: “As the toner wears off, the hair becomes more porous and it will start to absorb chemicals and pollution in the air which can lead to it going green. Red cancels out the green and ketchup is a good way of correcting it when you can’t go to the hairdresser – just leave it on for five minutes and wash off.”

Olive oil and avocado, meanwhile, can be mixed together and left on the hair for up to an hour after shampooing (don’t use conditioner) to provide an intense conditioning treatment.

How to cut your own hair

"Leave the back because no one sees that,” says Neville. “But to cut your fringe and layers that frame your face, always follow the line that the hairdresser has already cut. And never cut in a straight line, always point cut to give texture.”

The effect of Covid

Neville says the social side of salons has also been a big miss.

He said: “The whole industry has had such a kick, not just hairdressers. For lots of clients they really miss the social side, some come for a blow dry every week and have had the same hairdresser for years. Going to the salon is like a day out and people miss that familiarity and banter.”

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