I don’t know about you, but the past year has felt long. I’ve got more grey hair and more wrinkles, and despite going to bed earlier, I’m still tired. There’s no denying that I’ve felt like I’ve aged faster in lockdown. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with this (I have no issues with changing hair colour or a few lines on my face), the speed at which it has happened has been a little disconcerting. I want to feel like myself again, and for me, that means getting a haircut.
Over the past few months, I’ve lost count of the number of people who have said their hair needs cutting, from my husband to my colleagues as well as my parents. The craving to get a chop has been strong. Personally, I’m desperate to get my hair cut back into a bob. I want to feel like that new and improved version that always comes post-chop. I don’t think I’d be exaggerating to say that we’re all looking to hairdressers to give us back our former selves—how we looked pre-lockdown with a cherry on top.
With this in mind, I spoke to two hairstylists—Peter Burkill and Efi Davies, the international artistic director for Toni&Guy—on the haircuts to go for once heading back to salons feels more like the norm. Plus, they told us which cuts will make us look and feel more youthful to combat all the accelerated ageing we feel like we’ve undergone (although, I’m certain that’s not really the case).
First, it’s important to assess your hair before you even book that appointment. “Unlike skincare, most people I’ve spoken to haven’t spent as much time on their hair routine,” says Burkill. “Before you go to the salon, leave-in conditioners and weekly masks will make your hair look much healthier,” he advises.
Burkill also says that “to get the best out of your hair, it needs to be in good condition. Whether you’ve got fine, thick, curly or Afro hair, you need to work with a conditioning product and properly work it through the hair.” Burkill recommends Aveda Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair for all hair types, and “if the hair is tightly curled, you can also try Aveda’s Nutriplenish Leave-In Conditioner to help define curls.” Ultimately, says Burkill, if your hair is in good condition, you’ll save yourself a couple of inches, and you might also find you like your hair more.