By Damien and Louis

Not an essential business? Are they crazy? You can’t tell our clients that grooming is not essential. They are calling, emailing, texting and sending in carrier pigeons to find out how to look decent and keep sane. Maybe it’s not the most important thing in this incredibly horrible time, especially here in New York, but we are only three weeks away from learning everyone’s true hair color—and four weeks away from women going crazy with bangs causing vision problems.

OK, if this were all you had to worry about you would be lucky. It’s not. But if it is on your mind, we can help. Normally we don’t dispense how to information, but under these circumstances every one of us can use all the help we can get. So here goes!

Damien

The Cut—Long Hair

The luckiest of you have long hair. You can just wait it out. Long hair getting a bit longer is not that big a deal. If you want to do something you can always part your hair down the middle, in the back of your head, bring all the hair to the front, and snip the bottom. It’s best to do this when the hair is completely straight so you can judge your performance.

The Cut—Bangs

For those of you sporting a style that has bangs, remember that less is more.

• Dry and style your hair as you normally do to prevent shrinkage when you cut.

• Before you start take the time to section off the front of your hair with clips. Concern yourself with the hair approaching the temple area. Sectioning the hair too far in either direction towards the ears will be the hardest thing for a hairdresser to fix and take the longest to grow out. Stop at the end of your eyebrows.

• Do not cut the hair directly on the skin or the look will be too blunt. Nor should you use a lot of tension, which will only stretch the hair and the cut will look shorter than intended. Instead gently grab the hair in between your fingers and lift slightly away from your face before snipping.

• After you cut let the hair fall and decide if you need to make it a bit shorter.

• Keep your fingers straight when approaching the side pieces unless you want the hair to curve or slope downwards.

• For a softer look point your scissors directly into the bang area as you hold them upwards and texturize them with a soft perpendicular scissor-cutting motion.

The Cut—Short Hair

Short hair also has a quick and easy fix. Very much like the problem with male cuts, the sides and the back are the parts that require attention.

• To do the sides, slide your comb under the hair around the ears that need trimming and use a texturizing technique, pointing the hair out in a perpendicular motion while it is in the comb. This technique allows for more feathering of the hair, which will have a softer, less aggressive look.

• The back is tough. How about you ask someone do that for you? Better not to touch what you can’t see.

The Cut—Curly and Wavy

Curly and wavy hair are the most forgiving. You might trim the pieces that bother you but it will take a while for people to realize that the shape is just not as good as it used to be. By then, all you will have to do is pick up the phone and call us!

Louis

The Color—Eeeek!

If you color your hair, you're probably now seeing your real color, as roots grow at an average rate of half an inch per month. For many of you, this may be the first time you've actually seen your natural color in many years. Not to worry. Everyone is facing the same trauma. 

The Color—What Can Be Done?

The fix for color is difficult. Most salons across the country are not only closed, but have no access to product that they might be able to ship to you. Even if your colorist is able to access and ship color products, most top colorists involve multiple shades when formulating. This isn't something that can be recreated at home. 

My advice would be to sit tight and perhaps be creative... part your hair differently so the roots don't show... or wear your hair more tousled, without any part.

The Color—Gray

If that isn't an option and your gray roots are making you crazy, try either a root spray, crayon or powder that will temporarily cover the gray. Always choose a color that is one shade lighter than what you think you need. You may not get full coverage, but at least you won't look like a chipmunk with a dark stripe at your roots!

The Color—Dark Roots—Don’t Do It

If your issue is not gray hair but rather dark roots, you really need to wait it out. I would never advise any form of at home lightening product, either for roots or for highlights. Highlighting kits are for teenagers who think orange stripes would be fun.

If you decide to tempt fate by buying a "boxed" color product, again, choose a shade that is one shade lighter than your color, apply to roots only, and leave it on for 20% less time than the box directs. At-home products tend to be darker than you think. When you do go back to your colorist, he or she can much more easily remedy color that is too light rather than too dark. Plus, color correction is exponentially more expensive than regular color!

Damien and Louis

Good luck and stay safe and healthy. Your stylists will be waiting for your return—soon we hope—with open arms, sharp scissors, all your colors, and a brush. You’ll be yourself in no time!

Damien Miano and Louis Viél are co-owners of Miano Viél Salon and Spa. They have had years of experience with fabulous clients. This unprecedented time will test all of their skills.