Master stylist Susie Hopson, of Charisma Salon, was wonderful enough to share her expertise with all of us on what we should be doing to care for our hair in the days to come.

1)    Most haircuts, if properly cut, will just grow into a longer version of the original cut.   So your cut will be fine until you can get back to your salon. If you feel you need to trim your bangs, choose vertical small snips to create softer edges. 

2)    Wait for your stylist.  Buying box color in the grocery store may seem like a temporary solution, but keep in mind that those products are a “one size fits all” package with a pre-selected developer. Your professional stylist has spent years making decisions about specific developers for the new growth so that your gray new growth will not have hot roots, your stylist uses various products for various zones of your hair. There is no substitute for experience. If that isn’t enough to change your mind, know that CORRECTIVE COLOR–to fix a mistake–is a lot more work, and can be three times more expensive! 

3)    While you are waiting to return to your stylist, you may notice that new gray growth is suddenly frizzier than usual. When professionally pigmented color has an inch of new growth it may seem more unruly than before. That is because professional hair color can actually be very conditioning.  Your stylist has been “taming” the gray, as well as coloring it. 

4)    A healthy scalp is also very important. While you may be practicing your social distancing–and feel like you are isolated and no one is seeing you–you still need to shampoo as needed. Shampooing stimulates the circulation and cleans the sebaceous glands and follicles. When hair is dirty, the scalp develops a surface of grit that encourages unhealthy scalp conditions and possibly even hair loss. 

5)    Use this time during quarantine break to heavily condition your hair. Don’t be afraid to leave a conditioner in all day and rinse later. Give it a long drink of moisture and protein that it needs while you finally have the time. Your stylist will be proud that you respected your–and their canvas– while you were gone 

6)    When you finally return to your salon, know that stylists are working as hard as they can to get their schedules back to normal. Be patient. This quarantine has been a huge setback for their lifestyle and their livelihood. When they recommend products that they are passionate about, buy from them. Retail product sales are an important part of their income.  Now is the time you can proudly help support their recovery.

Susie Hopson is an exemplary hair care professional.  She never stops learning or trying to improve- no matter how excellent she is.

As one of her long time patrons remarked, “It’s Susie’s hair, she just lets us wear it.”

Thanks for your tips, dear Susie!