For the first five days of isolation, I didn’t wash my hair. Not because I was depressed, but because I thought who cares? (To boot, if shampoo went the way of toilet paper, not only would rationing these precious drops stretch the life of my supply, but it would also mean fewer trips to raided grocery shelves).
Turns out, I cared. When I finally did wash my hair almost a week later, I instantly felt reborn and promptly Marie Kondoed out two closets.
So, the lesson here is to not let yourself go entirely when no one is watching—cleanliness is next to godliness.
Here are a few tools to help us all keep our hair as healthy and presentable as possible in these challenging times:
Garnier Olia Hair Dye
Image courtesy of Garnier.
Before the world pandemic, my priority was keeping my roots covered every four weeks. These days, my new goal is to regularly vacuum up the hair that falls on the bathroom floor due to all the stress. I half wonder whether women will emerge fully grey come summer in a collective refusal that men get to be the only ones who look “distinguished.”
But for those of us who aren’t ready to smash the patriarchy just yet, there’s Garnier Olia. This permanent dye is a 60 per cent oil blend with natural flower oils to give you long-lasting colour in a cream formula, all without ammonia.
For now, I’m staying the course on fully exposed roots. Let’s see how strong my resolve is when this thing lifts.
Voir Rhythm of the Rain Hair Masque and Scalp Detox
Image courtesy of Voir.
Before COVID-19, hair masks were the purview of teens and other souls with a surplus of time. Now, everyone has time and, with it, the opportunity to contemplate why there was never enough before. Reflecting on it all, I hope that when things return to normal, I’ll have found a way to focus on what’s truly important.
Healthy hair can be considered important since an unhealthy mane (from brittle strands to premature greying) can signal anything from too much stress to thyroid disease. This is when hair masks come in handy.
Not only do they force you to sit in a bath to let the mask do its work—smooth and soften—they also help keep you still for some of that meditative thinking.
This made-in-Canada Rhythm of the Rain Hair Masque and Scalp Detox by Voir Haircare is a weekly indulgence—nay, necessity these days—that deep conditions with natural butters, oils, and botanicals to restore your scalp’s health while infusing it with nutrients.
Gabrielle Chanel Hair Mist
Image courtesy of Chanel.
Let’s be honest: no one really needs perfume right now. If you’re in an enclosed space, an overpowering scent runs the risk of aggravating others around you, and if you’re by yourself, it will only make you wistful for the time we all got dressed up and ate out in public.
But a happy medium is perfume for your hair. Chanel’s Gabrielle Hair Mist is lightly scented with orange blossom, ylang-ylang, jasmine, and tuberose that hails directly from Grasse, France, where Chanel has a long-standing relationship with the Mul family, which has been growing roses for the famed brand for generations.
Mist your brush or spray directly on your hair to let you and family members know you’ve got a good head on your shoulders.
No. 41: Mint Sage Hair Wash + Body Wash
Image courtesy of Lockwood.
Now, when you’re ready for a nice, luxurious wash, Lockwood New York’s No. 41: Mint Sage Hair + Body Wash is a sulfate-, paraben- and petroleum-free shampoo that doubles as a body wash with its blend of amino acids, antioxidants, and vitamins. Skin ends up feeling soft, while hair is conditioned and shiny.
More important, mindful choices at the moment strike the right note: this all-natural brand—made with ingredients grown on the brand’s farm in the Hudson Valley—is H Project approved, Holt Renfrew’s program that highlights companies that inspire change and practise responsible production.
Lululemon No-Show Dry Shampoo
Image courtesy of Lululemon.
While it may seem counterintuitive to suggest a dry shampoo immediately following a recommendation for hair wash, hear me out. If you’re investing in good shampoo and body wash, you’ll want to conserve appropriately elsewhere. Plus, you shouldn’t be washing your hair every day anyway as it strips its natural oils.
So for the days in between—and the Zoom meetings that inevitably land in those gaps—a good dry shampoo works wonders.
In my 20s, baby powder did the trick, but the questionable safety of talc made me rethink this tried-and-true beauty hack. I’m a big fan of Lululemon’s Selfcare line, which features an aluminum-free, lightweight dry shampoo. It sprays on invisibly (which I can’t say for popular Batiste), which is key when you have dark hair.
Made with green and brown algae, it slowly stops oil production over time while tapioca starch and argan oil round out the formula for frizz-free, soft locks (and it’s vegan, cruelty- and gluten-free in recyclable packaging).
This line was made for post-workout hair, but no one is the wiser when I just wake up and head to the living room—or the kitchen, or even back to bed.
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