Sara Bartlett
  • Welcome
  • Blog
    • Sara's Favorites
  • TV
  • About
    • Privacy Policy

How to Handle Grays While Salons Are Closed

3/30/2020

3 Comments

 
Here in Minnesota, all salons and spas closed temporarily beginning on March 18th, and I know a lot of us are all in the same boat: gray hairs grow more visible every day and no one is 100% sure when we'll get back into those salon chairs. Many people color their hair at home and are experts at it. But a lot of us do not and are not, and are getting twitchy as our roots grow out. Over the past week+, the single most frequently asked question I've received on Instagram is: Should I try to color my hair at home?

via GIPHY

My answer is swift and serious: Absolutely not. If you're accustomed to getting your hair colored at a salon, now is not the time to panic-buy boxed hair color and attempt to channel your professional hair stylist. I've been there, I've done that (not recently - my stylist would kill me), and here's why I hope you won't:
  • You will be disappointed. Most people who get their hair colored at the salon have more going on than a one-color process. It's so, so unlikely that you will be able to come even close to replicating the look you're used to with permanent at home hair dye. 
  • You will likely mess up your hair color. Color = chemicals. Layering chemicals on top of chemicals (boxed color on top of professional color) means you will likely wind up with hair that is brassier than you intended, or darker than you intended. (Or peach. Or green. I've done both of those, by accident, in my twenties.) 
  • Color correction is expensive. Your stylist's salon will open again (see below for things you can do to help ensure that!). And when it does, chances are pretty good that you will need some color correcting to get you back to pre-box dye. Color correcting is difficult, time consuming and expensive. So that $10 box dye can turn into $200 worth of color correcting.
If you really don't care what I think and were just hoping that I would support your decision to dye your hair at home - I get it. I do. If you're going to do it, I suggest you try a service like eSalon. Also, check out this article that's jam packed with good info about at-home hair color. 
​
And if I have convinced you to wait those roots out? There are several temporary products you can use to hide those grays. I've repeatedly recommended L'Oreal Magic Root Cover Up spray because it's what I use. You spray it directly on grays and they are covered up until your next shampoo. I like it because it's easy to use and is available in a wide range of shades. I just picked up a new bottle at Walgreens for $10.99 (while I was there picking up a prescription - no special trips for something like this!). It's also widely available online.  If a spray isn't your thing, you could try a powder, a balm stick - there are lots of options. 
Picture

Here are a few things you can do to help your stylist while salons are closed:
  • Follow them on Facebook, Instagram - wherever they have a social media presence. Not only does it help keep you informed on when they will start booking appointments, but it helps your stylist see that they're not forgotten and they have a community behind them. 
  • Ask if you can buy product from them. My stylist is accepting orders for hair products via phone, and I can pick up curbside outside the salon. 
  • Buy gift cards to give them some cash flow now, and you'll be able to redeem for a fabulous new style later. Even better, buy gift cards to give as gifts to anyone in your life who needs one (I've had three birthdays during this social distancing time!). Again, you're giving your stylist a boost of cash flow and possibly some new customers down the line.
Let us all know in the comments how you're handling grays and other hair issues that are popping up right now. And if you do successfully color your hair at home, leave us all your best tips below!
3 Comments
Tammy Bright
3/30/2020 11:49:56 am

My stylist offered to custom mix color for her clients who want to try it at home. I have an appointment scheduled for April 17th, but who knows what will happen by then. Thanks for the recommendation on root cover up.

Reply
Sara
3/30/2020 01:15:59 pm

Having color custom mixed by your stylist seems like a good solution, Tammy! I would be much more willing to color at home under semi-supervision like that. I’d love to hear what you wind up doing if you’re unable to make the appointment.

Reply
Vancouver Hair Color link
10/29/2020 04:41:37 am

This is really appreciated that you have presented this data over here, I love all the information shared. It will be very helpful to understand about how to handle greys while salons are closed. Great post to share, thanks for publishing this here!!I have also found this resource Paulbhair.com useful and its related to what you are mentioning.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Sara Bartlett

    This is a place to celebrate all the parts of yourself that come with age and experience. I'm here to share with you what I know and to explore with you the many (many) things I don't. 

    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Beauty Favorites
    Beauty Mini Reviews
    Product Empties
    Read This
    Show Up For
    Try This Not That
    Twin Cities Live
    What I've Learned At 40

    Newsletter Sign-up

    RSS Feed

    Warehouse Sale | $30 Separates + $60 Dresses
    Shop Green Beauty at The Detox Market
Copyright Sara Bartlett 2020
  • Welcome
  • Blog
    • Sara's Favorites
  • TV
  • About
    • Privacy Policy