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Here's How To Look After Your Hair Right Now, According To A Professional Hairstylist

We may be in lockdown, but our hair doesn't have to suffer.

Hanifah Rahman
by Hanifah Rahman

BuzzFeed Staff

Meet Dionne Smith. She's a professional hairstylist with over 20 years in her field.

As well as running her salon and tending to the manes of A-listers, Dionne has also worked with Dyson on the development of their Wide Tooth Comb.

@mcmlondon / @dionnesmithhair / Lia Toby / Getty Images / Via instagram.com

When it comes to all things hair, it's safe to say that Dionne's expertise is the gold standard.

Usually Dionne would be busy styling a hair for a shoot, tending to private clients in her salon, or working on a celebrity press junket.

But since we're in lockdown, Dionne's sharing her wisdom with us on the best ways we all can look after our hair right now. Hope you've got a pen and paper ready, because you're gonna want to take notes!

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1. Adjust your routine to fit your new schedule.

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Contrary to what adverts might tell us, washing your hair often isn't the best thing you can do for it. "People with textured hair should try and push the time between washing for longer, because our hair produces natural oils called sebum, which help fight dryness," Dionne tells us. Washing hair strips those oils, so the more you wash, the drier it gets.

Now, our usual routines – which could include sweating in the gym and being exposed to pollution – can mean you need to need to wash your hair quite often, but since our on-the-go lifestyle has pretty much come to a halt, you should adjust your routine accordingly.

2. If you can't get a hold of your usual products, substitute in things from your household.

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Dionne stresses that your main focus right now should be maintaining your hair before you can get back to to the salon for your treatments. So that means making sure your hair stays well moisturised for the entire lockdown duration.

Nipping out to grab a premade hair mask probably doesn't count as an essential trip, and you might not be able to get your hands on the stuff that you use in the salon. But, according to Dionne, whipping together eggs, avocado, and honey works just as good as a premade mask.

"The avocado has fatty oils and the egg has protein, so it's the same as a treatment from the salon," she says. She did admit that it can feel a little weird putting food on your head, but once you see the results you'll definitely get past that.

3. And if you're worried that you're missing out on steam and heat treatments, wrapping your hair under a plastic cap and a towel is the next best thing.

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I wonder about the effectiveness of this at first, but Dionne breaks it down – "when you wear a hat, your head gets hot because the heat gets trapped– putting a plastic cap or cling film on does the same thing."

It's as simple as that! Just apply your mask, wrap your hair in a plastic cap, and pop a towel over the top. Voilà! You've got yourself a 20-minute treatment!

4. If you're constantly manipulating your hair in the outside world, take the time to let it breathe.

5. If you're not used to tending to your own hair, remember to take things slowly!

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For a lot of us, this might be the first time you've had to do your hair solo, but try not to feel too overwhelmed! Remember to part your hair so you can handle it sections, and take lots of breaks (I mean, you do have the time).

And don't be too hard on yourself! As someone who often gets frustrated with my own mane, Dionne's reminder that "doing your own hair is a lot harder than doing someone else's" is very reassuring.

6. Keep a very close eye out for split ends!

@dionnesmithhair / Via instagram.com

Split ends are lethal, and no one wants to leave quarantine with their hair in a condition worse than it was before. DIY cutting might sound like a no go, but Dionne advises that, if you trust yourself, trimming (with caution) is a good idea.

That's where the "White Paper Trick" comes in. It goes like this: part your hair into small sections and put a piece of white paper behind it. The contrast will show all your split ends and you can trim away!

This goes without saying but obviously only do this if you feel confident enough to do so – this isn't an open invitation to go all Edward Scissorhands on us.

7. But if you're really unsure about what you're doing, considering putting your hair into a protective style.

8. When it comes to your night time routine, invest in the best.

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I think we can all agree that lie-ins have taken centre stage since quarantine began, and those drying cotton pillows just ain't it. Swap your pillowcase for a silk or satin one and your hair will stay moisturised for longer – you'll even see changes in as little as three weeks!

Dionne particularly recommends swapping out pillowcases for children. They toss and turn at the best of times, so if you're a parent, you can save yourself some detangling hassle by making this little change.

You can get a pack of cases from Amazon, among other places.

9. When boredom hits, no matter how tempted you are – stay away from DIY chemical treatments!

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Yes, it's tempting, but resist the urge! It might seem like a fun idea when you're stuck in the house, but harsh chemicals can be very damaging when in inexperienced hands. The salons will reopen and all the colour, straightening, and perming treatments will be waiting for you. If you're really desperate for a new quarantine look, try out a weave or wig!

10. But if you normally get a relaxer or perm at the salon, make sure you're taking extra steps to protect your hair from breaking.

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This is a question that Dionne's had a lot, so she gets why you'd be tempted to reach for that box relaxer, but it could end up doing more damage than good. She says that the most important thing is to keep your roots as stretched as possible, but that doesn't necessarily mean you have to apply heat – you can blend your two textures with cornrows or single plaits.

11. If work commitments usually have you sticking to traditional hairstyles, take this opportunity to get experimental.

12. And if you have kids, the same goes for them! Now's the time to get creative and have some fun with their hair.

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School dress codes aren't really conducive to self-expression. But if you have little ones, now's the time to bust out that box of clips and barettes and get really creative with hairstyles. It's a great quarantine activity that'll give them skills that'll last way longer than lockdown.

The bottom line is – make sure to keep your hair well moisturised and try to have fun with things until you can get to the salon again!