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Hair & COVID-19: What's a Girl to Do?

For Women & Men

Who would’ve thought just a few months ago that hair salons, barber shops and spas would now be closed due to a pandemic? And that hair dye would be flying off the shelves at some stores as those who’ve had the pros do their hair now have to do it themselves? Well that’s where we are!

People tend to be particular about our appearance, including our hair. It affects how we feel and how others feel toward us.

Coloring hair ROOTS is a concern to many as they grow out in a mismatch between natural color and the color we’ve chosen for our hair. Our chosen color can also fade. So those who color their hair need to keep up with it as part of a personal grooming routine.

I’m a small business owner now working at home thanks to the virus and my work involves videoconferencing with a number of other people. So I want to look my best even though the circumstances are strained. To do so, I’ve put together my own plan and I’m happy to share with you what I’ll refer to as my “Coronavirus Hair Coloring Secrets”.

As you’ll see, they’re an easy read and also easy to act on. The OneStopSolutionsShop has included hair products that I use and requested be shared with you. When you click on any of the links they'll take you to other related products as well. You can no doubt find just about anything you're looking for!

Good luck to you and yours as we all get through this unusual experience together.

TIP # 1: ROOT CONCEALERS

So here’s my # 1“secret sauce” hair strategy for covering my gray “Stay Home” roots:

brush on powder! Can you believe it?

I use Ion Color Brilliance Root Cover Fill-In Powder. Found it months ago (before the Stay-at-Home movement”), have been using it ever since and couldn’t be more pleased.

You simply brush it on at the hairline (or pull hair away from skin and brush it on). Just takes a few minutes and it works wonders! I thought it would look fakey but I was able to get a great color match and it works really well. Stays on until you wash your hair and doesn’t rub off on pillows.

Absolutely easy to use and allows you to extend the time between overall hair coloring.

The container is kind of like a blush on or eyeshadow box and it comes with two separate colors. I use demi-permanent color on my hair and having the two Ion colors is a plus as the bottle color fades over the weeks. It also comes with a wide brush and a narrow brush.

I noticed that multiple companies produce root concealer products (see link under the Ion products). Sally’s Beauty Supplies is where I first bought the powder and Amazon has it as well.

Check Out Here:

TIP # 2: TO DYE FOR

I'm still trying to get the nerve up for this one! But if I do, it'll be to go with a "silver" hair color like the one below. Love the look and my natural greys would blend pretty easily so less need for coloring. Another cool grey appears under Tip # 3.

Or there's choosing another color in your natural color family but better than the natural look. OR you can go wild with your color choice, maybe even a mix of colors like in the photo above!

The link below leads to an assortment of colors and brands.

Stunning Gray Below Right:

TIP # 3: FAUX FASHION HAIR

Years ago, just for fun, I bought some wigs in various colors and styles very different than my own. It was adventurous and a blast -- and they looked pretty darn good.

Maybe you’ve wanted to try out something very different but haven’t had the nerve or the time. Now could be the perfect time since people in stay-at-home mode are finding all kinds of flexibility that they never knew they had AND many are in the mood for some entertainment!

A way to show your playful side with those from work too.

And you can also "repurpose" them for Halloween!

Be sure to click on "Shop Related Products" for a wide selection of hair products .

Be Bold!

TIP # 4: HIRE A TEMP

A temporary color that is. Referred to by hair colorists as demi-permanent or semi-permanent color. The color from these products gradually fades out over time, typically 6-8 weeks depending upon frequency of washing and other factors (type of shampoo, sun, etc.). I’ve never used anything but this type of color and it somehow makes me feel like I can change it much more easily if I want to. It also phases out in a more natural looking way and you can take the color down intentionally by washing more frequently.

Until this year I'd actually never had my hair colored before at a salon. I had always done it myself. The colorist there suggested a darker color than I was used to but I was ready for a change and I went for it. It’s a very dark brown, darker than I want, and it shows gray roots much more readily. I’m getting great use from my root powder (see Tip # 1 above) and I’m also fading it out so the grays are less conspicuous and I won’t have to color my whole head of hair as quickly.

The hairstylist cost about $75 as compared with doing it myself and the product costs between $7-8. While I certainly enjoyed going to the salon, it seems that I’ve come full circle back to the place where I want to be of doing it on my own. By the way, I’ve had great success with the brand “Natural Instincts” over the years.

TIP # 7: LAST RESORT

Then there’s the “bag over the head” approach – as in, wearing one to go all the way undercover – which I’ve threatened to do many times!

There’s also the option of skipping it all and returning to one’s natural hair color. I like that idea from several standpoints (self acceptance, environmental, healthier for my hair and saving money). But when I did it several years ago I didn’t like the way it made me feel -- and I’m pretty sure I’d feel worse now since there’s more gray to be found.

For now, I plan to stick with hair coloring.

ALSO SEE OUR CORONAVIRUS PAGE HERE