The Covid-19 pandemic has shut down most businesses all over the world, including grooming salons and the like. Because people were forced to stay indoors and work from home these last months, many are now wondering how we can maintain self care without going to the salon or spa. When it comes to hair, salons are often the go to for cuts and colors. But if you can’t afford a trip because you want to stay safe from contracting Covid-19, here’s how you can improve your hair even at home. Check out 3 tips on how to care for your hair during quarantine.
Choose the Right Shampoo and Conditioners for Your Hair
1. Madison Reed Shampoo and Conditioner Set
Designed for colored hair, the shampoo and conditioner set from Madison Reed locks in color and nourishes hair at the same time. Both products feature sulfate-free formulas that gently cleanse and hydrate hair while strengthening its natural proteins, resulting in incredible softness and shine. It also provides added fade-resistant UV protection for when you need to step out, especially this summer. This product does not contain sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and gluten. This product is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars at Madison Reed.
Promising review: “The shampoo smells really good and you don’t have to use a lot of it. The conditioner [is the] same thing. It works so well with the hair coloring, I feel confident using it and I don’t lose any color.” Jennifer W.
2. Kérastase Blond Absolu Anti-Brass Purple Shampoo
Colored hair needs extra maintenance to keep its color vibrant and vivid. This ultra-violet, color-correcting shampoo from Kérastase harnesses the power of Ultra-Violet Neutralizers to minimize brassy and yellow tones, Hyaluronic Acid to soften hair and calm sensitized fibers, and Edelweiss Flower to fill and strengthen damaged fibers from within. This purple shampoo effectively neutralizes brassy and yellow undertones while keeping hair soft and shiny. Customers have rated this product 4.2 out of 5 stars on Sephora.
Promising review: “I had a balayage last month and ever since I felt my hair dried up. After my first use of this absolute beauty, I saw and felt the difference! My hair is smooth and not much tangled while drying my hair. Brushing my hair was easy! And I love the smell too!” ZiGav
3. Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo
Damaged hair needs a little more extra care. That’s why there’s Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo, a rich, reparative moisturizing shampoo that features a luxe, creamy formula. It’s one of a kind formula is infused with argan oil, which is packed with antioxidants, and reconstructive keratin that aids in restoring hair elasticity, moisture, and shine. If your hair is weakened and damaged by chemical processing, color or heat styling, the Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Shampoo is perfect for your hair. Its nourishing formula gently cleanses and helps restore hair to reveal stronger, shinier, and more manageable hair. It also features the signature Moroccanoil scent, an exotic blend of spicy amber aromas and sweet floral notes. Customers rated this product 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
Promising review: “This shampoo does a great job on my hair. It smells great, light and not perfumey. I’ve never felt a consistency like this before…I don’t know what they put in this that makes it feel heavy to the hand but whatever it is works because my color treated hair looks and feels awesome.” Katharine R. Mueller
4. Herbal Essences Repairing Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo and Conditioner Set
Care for damaged hair the natural way with Herbal Essences Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner, which features a signature blend of real botanicals that cleanse and helps repair for smoother, more beautiful hair. This duo is color-safe and pH-balanced, with an energizing scent of fizzy citrus, exotic spices and creamy vanilla. This product is free of parabens and dyes and is made of at least 90% natural-origin ingredients. Customers have rated this 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
Promising review: “Love the scent and the quality. Really does make my hair feel better, and it has gone through many harsh hair dyes/bleach. I have curly hair and I’d say it enhances them.” Amber
5. Better Not Younger Wake Up Call Volumizing Shampoo
Designed for thin, fine, and medium hair, the Better Not Younger Wake Up Call Volumizing Shampoo is a shampoo that moisturizes as it adds fullness to thin, flat hair. It is powered by a unique blend of ingredients: Arctium Lappa (Burdock) Root Extract for nurturing hair follicles and delivering nutrients to the scalp, Bamboo for its silica that helps strengthen hair and supports moisture retention, and Humulus Lupulus (Hops), a nourishing antioxidant-rich oil that naturally conditions to smoothen and thicken hair. The best part of this product is that it’s free of sulfates SLS and SLES, parabens, formaldehydes, formaldehyde-releasing agents, phthalates, mineral oil, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclosan, and triclocarban. It is also cruelty-free. This product is rated 4.7 out of 5 stars, with a 96% recommendation rating at Sephora.
Promising review: “I am so impressed by the Wake-Up call Volumizing Shampoo. I have always [had] thin hair, but since my mid-40s, my hair has gotten thinner and more scarce. This product has exceeded my expectations – my hair feels healthier and fuller. It definitely brings life to my dull hair!” Terepaima
Go for Weekly or Monthly At-Home Hair Treatments and Masks
1. Madison Reed Bond Building Cleansing Treatment
For color treated hair, make sure that it gets the restrengthening support it needs. The Madison Reed Bond Building Cleansing Treatment is created to strengthen highlighted hair with its technology that rebuilds bonds inside the hair. It’s a once-a-week treatment that strengthens highlighted hair to prevent damage with its keratin, argan oil and ginseng root extract to protect and pamper hair. This product does not contain sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and gluten. Shop at Madison Reed.
Promising review: “Definitely worth purchasing if you are using one of the at-home highlighting kits. Adds a weekly dose of needed moisture and shine back to highlighted hair.” Kim T.
2. Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3
A concentrated treatment that goes deep down to strengthen hair from within, Olaplex Hair Perfector No. 3 addresses damaged and compromised hair, strengthens and protects the hair structure, and restores hair’s healthy appearance and texture. It is developed by two of the top PhD’s in chemistry and materials science and relies on scientific studies to find out what makes hair stronger. The secret behind this product is the patented, bond-building technology that relinks broken disulfide bonds caused by chemical, thermal, and mechanical damage to the hair. Formulated with parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. This product is rated 4.4 out of 5 stars, with an 85% recommendation rating at Sephora.
Promising review: “I noticed a significant change in my hair after just one use and instantly fell in love. I have now used this a few times and I could not tell you the last time my hair looked so smooth and healthy.” Brittany815
3. Kérastase Nutritive 8H Magic Night Serum
Your nightly ritual just got better. This overnight hair-treatment serum from Kérastase is absorbed by hair for up to 8 hours to moisturize it without the heavy feeling. The leave-in treatment is powered by Iris Root Extract that hydrates by coating hair fibers and a Five-Vitamin Blend that seals in nutrients and anchors roots for stronger and more satin-like hair. This product is rated 4.3 out of 5 stars, with an 80% recommendation rating at Sephora.
Promising review: “This product has completely changed my life! I had damaged, brittle, awful hair after over processing it with bleach. This product has literally completely strengthened and changed my hair for the better.” Landonhope
4. Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair!™ Deep Conditioning Hair Mask
Tired of dull hair from overprocessing? You’ll love this weekly habit! Don’t Despair, Repair!™ is a five-minute deep conditioning mask that restores essential hydration and natural vibrancy to hair that’s been dry, brittle, and damaged from processing. It is powered by a unique NOVA complex formulation made of 95% naturally-derived ingredients, including B vitamins, rosehip oil, argan oil, collagen, and silk. The result? Shinier, healthier, and more lustrous-looking hair. This product does not contain sulfates (SLS and SLES), parabens, phthalates, and other synthetic ingredients. Customers rated this product 4.2 out of 5 stars at Sephora.
Promising review: “This stuff is amazing. Been looking for a good hair mask to keep my locks healthy during this pandemic and OMG! I have very thick hair and it’s super frizzy when it dries naturally. This stuff is gold! My hair is drying beautifully and it feels insanely healthy.” Verons89
5. Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque
Go beyond daily maintenance and hair care with the Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque, a sulfate-free mask that helps eliminate frizz and fly-aways for better looking, healthier, shinier hair. Its unique formula deeply penetrates to reconstruct and rebuild stressed, damaged hair, resulting in better elasticity with zero weigh down plus better health and shine. It’s ideal for dry, damaged or color-treated hair, as it reconstructs and rebuilds and provides deep hydration. The secret behind its powerful formula is macadamia oil, which is a rich source of Omega 7, 5, and 3 fatty acids, vitamin E, and Camellia Oleifera Extract that together ourishes, repairs, hydrates, and smoothes hair. This product is color safe and free of added sulfates and parabens. Customers rated this product 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
Promising review: “This is the best hair product I have ever used. I just transitioned from red to blonde, so I have bleached my hair 3 times in a week and used toner. I put this masque on my hair twice a week for about 5 minutes in the shower, and my hair feels silky and smooth. I definitely recommend this product to anyone with dry, damaged hair. It smells amazing too!” Kristen Sonberger
Choose Hair-Friendly Hair Coloring Products
1. Madison Reed Dosolo Brown Medium Neutral Brown for Resistant Grays
Worried about not being able to go to the salon? Worry no more as Madison Reed offers a unique hair color that you can easily apply at home. This multi-tonal artisan-crafted salon color is packed with keratin, argan oil, ginseng root extract to nourish hair. This Italian-made hair color does not contain ammonia, PPD, resorcinol, parabens, phthalates, gluten, SLS, and titanium dioxide. The result is hair that’s healthy, conditioned, and shiny. Customers rated this product 4.5 out of 5 stars at Madison Reed.
Promising review: “I was very nervous about trying to color my hair myself, but it was easy and neat. There was no mess and no odor. The result was silky soft and evenly colored.” Barbara S.
2. Madison Reed Root Reboot in Livorno 6C
Want a quick fix for roots that tell your true age? Then this Madison Reed product is for you. The Root Reboot provides root coverage in just 10 minutes thanks to its precise drip-free sponge applicator and its unique nutrient-rich formula that’s packed with argan oil, keratin, and ginseng root extract. This single use demi-permanent hair color does not contain harsh odors and gradually fades in 2 weeks. This product is free of ammonia, parabens, resorcinol, PPD, phthalates, and gluten. Customers have rated this product 3.5 out of 5 stars at Madison Reed.
Promising review: “Root Reboot worked amazingly on my hair. I’ve been getting my hair professionally colored for years, but since beauty salons are closed in my state, I decided to try Root Reboot. Since my hair is long, it worked best to have my husband apply it for me…it turned out amazing. We were both really surprised and pleased. The color was a great match, it covered my gray, which tends to be pretty resistant.” Megan L.
3. Schwarzkopf Simply Color Hair Color in 4.68 Chocolate Cherry
Unlike other hair dyes that are painful on the scalp, Schwarzkopf’s Simply Color Hair Color has a caring formula that is dermatologist tested to be non-irritating to the skin. Its formula does not contain ammonia, silicone, and alcohol. Instead, it contains nourishing botanical oat milk, soy protein, and argan oil. It provides a beautiful vibrant color that stays, from root to tip, resulting in visibly healthy and gorgeous hair. Customers have rated this product 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
Promising review: “This is my new favorite brand of hair dye because it looks so natural. I adore the color and the lack of terrible ingredients that are used in other brands. It is a bit expensive but I think it is worth it for such a rich color that won’t toxify your body. I recommend it highly. 5/5!” Thraddash
4. Naturcolor 7R Turmeric Blonde Hair Dye
Hair colors that come in a box and sold at drugstores often come with a cheap price tag, but damaging results, causing dry and brittle hair. To avoid this, switch to Naturcolor Hair Color with Plant Extracts and botanicals. It is made with no ammonia, parabens, or resorcinol, and is handcrafted with the finest Italian pigments. The brand features four collections: Natural Series (N), Copper Series (R), Golden Series (D), and Mahogany Series (M). Pictured here is 7R from the Copper collection, which features auburn red and copper blonde shades. With as much as 31 shades to choose from, Naturcolor gives natural looking color variation and will not fade like other hair dyes. The best part? It can be used repeatedly without damaging hair. Customers have rated this 4.9 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
Promising review: “Lovely color. I have been using this product for a couple of years now and consistently receive compliments on my color. I mix with a little bit of 5R to get the color I like best.” JM
5. Lime Crime Unicorn Hair Dye in Lipstick, Pink-Red Fantasy Hair Color
Want to make a bold change? Now you can with Lime Crime’s Unicorn Hair Full Coverage Dye. Unlike other damaging hair dyes, Lime Crime features an ultra-conditioning formula that softens as it colors. It effectively deep-conditions hair while depositing color to protect strands and leave hair silky smooth with a deliciously sweet scent. Its damage-free formula does not contain harsh ingredients, ammonia, bleach or peroxide, and is safe to use at home. You don’t even need a developer! The result is a long-lasting gorgeous color that gradually washes out over time. This product is PETA verified vegan and Leaping Bunny certified cruelty free. Customers rated this product 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon.
Promising review: “I was worried this wouldn’t show up well on my dark brown hair, but I just made sure to leave it on for the full 2 hours and it showed up really well! It has stayed pretty vibrant through a couple shampoos so far as well. It’s a little messy to apply, but the result was exactly what I hoped for!” Joshua EP
Self-quarantine in the face of a global pandemic can be challenging for some. It makes us focus on what is essential. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t practice self care anymore. With this story, we hope you were able to pick up some tips on how to care for your hair during quarantine. For more on hair care, make sure to check out the stories from our archive in the links below. Don’t forget, sharing is caring!
Best Hair Care Products for Colored Hair at Sephora Right Now
7 Amazing Shampoos for Dry Hair with User Testimonials to Back Them Up!
5 Benefits of Castor Oil for Your Skin and Hair + Our Recommendations!
How to Prevent Your Hair from Drying
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