Lockdown hairstyles: Stylish through the corona period

With the government’s new regulations and the tightening of coronavirus guidelines, public life will be restricted until at least mid-February. Hairdressers will also remain closed during this period, but the hair on your head keeps growing merrily. So what can you do when your hairstyle is no longer recognisable and there’s no professional help available? We’ve gathered some tips from barber Behar on how to get your hair through lockdown.

A new hairstyle during lockdown?

“My advice to all men who now have a proper mop on their heads is this: the longer your hair is, the more thoroughly you need to blow-dry it after washing,” explains Behar. In detail, this means that the hairdryer should be used at close range and parallel to the comb to dry the hair. “This prevents it from becoming too voluminous and sticking out to the side.” If you need to buy a hairdryer, make sure it fits comfortably in your hand and has adjustable temperature settings. This isn’t just more comfortable, it also protects your hair structure. Once your hair is dry, a good hair wax will help you achieve your desired style. If you want less volume, you can massage the wax into wet hair and then let it air-dry. The rule here is: with longer hair, you may need a stronger product than with your usual short hairstyle. However, this always depends on your hair structure: for thicker hair, you’re better off using Eric:Barbier’s “Strong Wax”.

Long hair looks great on you!

Depending on the length of your hair, hair ties are the perfect companion for your lockdown hairstyle. This way, you can avoid complicated styling and simply get your hair into shape – perhaps with the classic ponytail or a “man bun”, which are all the rage this year? “To prevent your hair from tangling, I always recommend combing it thoroughly after blow-drying,” says Behar. A comb with both fine and wide teeth is ideal for this, as it gently detangles hair of any length and texture. For those who still want to style long hair, the expert advises using sea salt spray before blow-drying – the salt crystals give the hair greater hold immediately after drying and make it easier to shape. Here too, a brush should be moved parallel to the hairdryer to style the hair at the same time. The professionals at Eric:Barbier use so-called ‘fly-leg brushes’ for this, which ensure optimal results and are easy to handle.

Hair care during lockdown

However, excessive blow-drying also has its downsides: “Frequent blow-drying damages the outermost layer of the hair. If this layer becomes too dry, the hair loses important vitamins and substances that protect it from external influences,” says Behar. This layer of the hair can be protected and repaired using oils or hair treatments. But be careful not to overdo it: “Using them too frequently robs the hair of strength and volume and is often too much of a good thing,” explains the barber, “they should only be used once a week.” These treatments are particularly important given the current weather conditions. During the cold season, hair becomes damp outdoors, whilst the dry, heated air at home or in the office causes the hair to become stressed. But styling products can also strip away nutrients: many hair gels contain alcohol, which dries out and weakens the strands. Behars’ tip: pamper your hair daily with nourishing products such as Eric:Barbier’s Argan Oil Shampoo or Lavender Shampoo, which moisturise the hair and scalp.

Cutting your own hair

If all else fails and your hair is doing its own thing, then it’s time to roll up your sleeves and have a go yourself. A trimmer isn’t just for keeping your beard in shape: it also comes in handy for the nape of the neck and the hair around the ears. To do this, use the hairline at your ears as a guide and work your way slowly towards the nape of your neck – it’s best to ask someone else for help rather than actually styling it yourself. But please stick to the contours: “Anyone making major changes to their own hairstyle will most likely not be happy with the result,” reveals Behar from experience. So leave the actual cutting to the professionals once it’s allowed again. These tips are guaranteed to get you through lockdown in style. But how do you protect yourself indoors? The team at Eric:Barbier has tested the “MAX-UV” air purifier.