Hair rehab: DIY hacks for cutting, colouring and covering greys at home

Model and mega WAG Jesinta Franklin took her hair upkeep into her own hands during lockdown. This is how she cut her own tresses, with the help of a pro.

Bad hair days have become all too common during lockdown. With salons shut and blowouts a thing of the not-so-distant past, hair maintenance is one self-care task you can’t afford to let slip.

Stylists are being flooded with SOS queries about colouring, hair extension maintenance, hiding greys, and even cutting your own hair.

While now is not the time to play Tabatha’s Salon Takeover, there are ways you can refresh your tresses (preferably under a stylist’s virtual guidance) in a kind of DIY hair rehab.

Model Jesinta Franklin cut her own hair under the FaceTime direction of her hairdresser, Koda Cutters creative director Diane Gorgievski (their Instagram tutorial on the subject went viral).

“It gives people some direction if they do want to just trim their bangs,” Gorgievski said, citing British “it” girl Alexa Chung – known for her choppy, low-maintenance cut – as inspo.

And there’s one hair hack that can be done while WFH.

“I’ve been using lots of masques – focus on deep conditioning, rather than deep bleaching,” she said. Here is the pros’ guide to lockdown hair.

CUT

Gorgievski, whose clients includes former Victoria’s Secret model Georgia Fowler and singer Delta Goodrem, recommends using nail scissors if you can’t live without a cut. “They’re sharp, they’ve been a bit of a hack,” she said.

“They’re small, you can’t do too much damage.”

She advised tidying split ends by “putting tension on the hair and taking off the ends in a point form”.

“It means you point-cut the hair so it’s like a rough line on the ends.” For those with short hair, invest in a pair of clippers. “Take off the sides until we get back into it (the salon).”

Celebrity stylist Anthony Nader told Vogue if you must, “nibble into your layers with nail scissors and never cut in one line. Your inspiration? Hailey Bieber’s ‘done but undone’ hair shape”.

Jesinta Franklin has been taking haircuts into her own hands during lockdown via Koda Cutters.

The model has been simplifying her hair routine during lockdown.

COLOUR (AND GREYS)

A root spray such as Orbie’s Airbrush Root Touch-Up Spray or Color Wow Root Cover Up powder can temporarily hide greys and overgrown roots.

“We use a brush to put it like eyeshadow,” Gorgievski said, of the texture. “Some of my clients use it to soften the darkness (regrowth).

“Colouring is really technical and it takes a long time to be a pro.

“The other way we’ve been combating regrowth is we’ve been providing our blonde clients a ‘root stretch’ mix.

“It’s where we get the client to put a permanent gloss on the band that’s growing down. Blending in the dark and the blonde via the root shadowing technique.”

When he advises against at-home dyes, Nathan Armagnacq of Oscar Oscar salon suggested a simple rule if attempting to colour.

“Use a colour that is lighter than what you would normally have, so that your stylist can adjust it easily when you go for your next visit,” Armagnacq said.

Alexa Chung shows off her low-maintenance hair style. Picture: Instagram

EXTENSIONS

Remove tape-in extensions yourself using Isocol, a multipurpose alcohol spray that costs usually between $6-$12. .

“Using a cotton ball, hold it on the tape until it loosens up, and then separate the tapes with your fingers and pull gently,” Armagnacq said.

“Comb out any remaining residue using more Isocol.

“If there is still residue in the hair, use an oil or shine spray to loosen it up and it should comb out. Do not use oil directly on the tapes.”

FRINGES

“A lot of people are just growing them out,” Gorgievski said.

“Others have bee giving them a go, blow-drying it straight and taking the nail scissors and cutting little bits.”

Armagnacq warns that hair has a “natural elasticity” and this needs to be taken into account with fringe trims. “Any time you comb it has a tendency to bounce back,” he said.

“Many people don’t allow for that when they do this themselves.

“If it’s absolutely necessary start by talking small amount of length off first, then keep taking little bits off until you reach the desired length.”

ADD TO CART

Oribe Root Touch-Up spray via David Jones.

Color Wow Root Cover Up powder.

Be gentle on stressed hair with these Kardashian-approved silk scrunchies from Slip.

Originally published as Hair rehab: DIY hacks for cutting, colouring and covering greys at home