Life in lockdown: Itching for a haircut? Here's how to self-trim
Avoid horizontal cutting: Advice from Yan Chabot, co-owner of Tonic Salon Spa Aveda if you are pondering taking matters into your own hands.
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While there are more important things going on right now under COVID-19, the fact is that after more than six weeks of self-isolation, most of us could use a haircut.
And in my case, having let my stubble grow into scruff and on to a full-blown playoff beard, that would be a shave and a haircut. Desperately.
The upside is that there are very few people — aside from our better halves, random neighbours and friends/colleagues on Zoom — to see the savage beasts we have become. But there’s only so long you can let yourself spiral out of control before self-respect kicks in and you ponder taking matters into your own hands.
Which brings about difficult decisions: Take a chance on life and cut your own hair, or go full shaggy while waiting for your barber/hair salon of choice to reopen at some unknown future date.
Yan Chabot, co-owner of Tonic Salon Spa Aveda on St-Laurent Blvd., advises against doing anything drastic but isn’t averse to a little self-trim to get you through the next month or two.
“It’s funny,” he said of the conundrum. “You see it a lot on social media — people with roots growing in or longer hair, wondering what to do.”
Chabot has some basic tips for those who just can’t wait it out. All you need is a pair of scissors and a comb.
Rule No. 1 is to avoid cutting horizontally. To take a little length off the back or the sides, use your comb to part and hold your hair in place, then snip the ends vertically with your scissors, a little at a time. Same goes for bangs.
“The key is not to create any lines you’re not going to want to live with after,” he said.
Guys can use clippers to clean up the neck, back of the head and sides, but be careful to gradually pull the clippers away from the head as you move toward the top if you don’t want dramatic lines.
For anything else, he advises using a little hair product to keep things under control while you ride out the storm until the pros can take over.
When it comes to colouring, Chabot recommends using semi-permanent colour for your roots — preferably something non-toxic.
“We don’t want to have to work on a complex colour-correction situation (when someone comes back to the salon),” he said. “It’s difficult to find products that are not damaging to hair, in pharmacies.
“There are pens with colours that you can paint your roots with, but try not to play around with the chemistry in your hair, and not to damage your hair. It will be harder to recuperate the work after with your professional.
He preaches the benefits of Aveda’s range of eco-friendly products, available online, which can be picked up at Tonic Salon Spa Aveda on Saturdays, from noon to 3 p.m.
Chabot founded Tonic 30 years ago on May 5, and ran it for 18 years, then left for nearly a decade after selling the business to Aveda. Two years ago, he and a couple of partners bought back the salon, which is independent while remaining part of the Aveda chain.
Things were running smoothly until last month.
“It was surreal to stop a business like this, from one day to the next,” he explained. “Vive le yoga.” (Chabot is also co-owner of Centre de Yoga Iyengar de Montréal, further up St-Laurent Blvd.)
He and his Tonic Salon Spa partners have had little rest since the lockdown began, using the time to renovate, revamp their website and plan protocol for an eventual return to work.
Chabot and his team are hoping the salon will be allowed to reopen by June. They have been stocking up on protective gear to ensure the safety of both staff and clientele.
Being part of Aveda helps. The chain has an Atlanta branch that recently reopened and a network that includes 60 salons in the U.S. and 40 in Japan.
“We got all the info (on safety procedures from them),” he said. “It will be as if the salon were transformed into a hospital. We’re going to wear gowns, masks and visors; and guests will be invited to wear masks. It will completely change our way of operating.”
The salon will be open 12 hours per day, to allow employees to work in two shifts, while respecting social distancing guidelines. Chabot expects a rush for the first month or two, allowing the salon to recoup some losses while getting its loyal customers presentable again.
“We’re counting on the fact that we’ve been here 30 years,” he said. “It’s almost an essential service. Government programs have given us a hand. We’ve worked things out with our suppliers and landlords. Everyone has to dance together. But we’re optimistic.”
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