How to Handle Grays While Salons Are Closed

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?

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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. 
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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. 

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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!