“Your hair looks lovely. That
is the colour I want,” said a young, trendy woman as I strolled through a store
the other day.
I had just left my amazing hairdresser, Michael Charalambous. I felt good because my shades of grey looked stunning hanging in a sleek mid-length bob.
Michael had constantly advised me to stop colouring my hair but it was only having to stay at home due to the lockdowns that I decided the time was right to embrace my natural colour. To quote Michael, my locks looks like they have been had been highlighted. The lady who spoke to me was having to resort to bleach to get the hue she desired. I felt lucky.
It had been six months since I last went to the salon. I had been patient and let my hair grow so that it would be long enough to let the layers come down and it could be cut to one length. I was delighted when Michael announced that we were almost there. “Another 10 weeks to go,” he added.
I turned the pandemic into a positive. Others, according to Michael, have not been so lucky. “We have had plenty of clients who have seen hair loss due to Covid,” he said. They have to wait till it grows back. Making sure to have a healthy diet will help.
If you are considering taking supplements that contain biotin and other vitamins touted to promote hair growth, you should check with your doctor first.
“There are still plenty of clients coming in with hair disasters from home colouring”, he said.
Michael pointed out mixing professional products with pharmacy ones can result in a mess. A salon will customise the peroxide level for every colour and client whereas the ones you buy at the pharmacy have a standard formulation.
Colours also may not match, so your hair can look patchy. If your hair is not looking great, he suggested seeking out the help of a professional. It may take hours to put right but it will be worth it.
Another problem is the result of people cutting their own hair during the months when they could not get to the salon. This led to many requests from clients for fringes. “Not many people suit them. They are also hard to maintain,” he added.
The most popular style of the moment, according to Michael, is the mid-length cut. It is so versatile and flatters practically every face shape and hair type. From blunt-cut to choppy layers, you have plenty of options to choose from.
Michael is right. It feels so modern.
After so many months of growing out the grey and having short-layered haircuts
(not my styles of preference), I am falling in love with my hair again.
By Daralyn Danns
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