Comeback Cuts! Five Top Hairdressers Share Their Ultimate Re-Entry Hairstyle

After several somewhat dishevelled months (only us?), 12 April marks the day that our beloved hair and beauty salons can open their doors once more. And salon owners are preparing themselves for a spring filled with hair transformations. ‘After the previous lockdowns, so many of my clients were telling me how they’d grown tired of their hair and were up for a style overhaul,’ says salon owner and brand founder George Northwood, best known for styling Meghan Markle’s hair for her evening wedding reception. Legendary colourist Josh Wood agrees. ‘It’s time to embrace change. Hairdressers have been closed on and off for nearly a year and people want to experiment – they want to stand out and they want to feel good. Hair has the power to do this.’

So, whether you’re in it to trim it, fancy taking on a bold new look or finally want to try those intricate plaits you’ve had pinned on Instagram for years – get booking your appointment, pronto. ‘Now’s the time to invest in the haircut and colour you’ve always wanted,’ says salon owner and brand founder Larry King. ‘Pre-lockdown, many of us would spend a lot of money on a pair of shoes for a special occasion. Now, after spending months at home, we’re increasingly wanting to invest in our day-to-day selves. You wear your hair every day – so it’s a great place to start.’

Looking for inspiration? We’ve collated five feel-good haircuts and colours from some of the industry’s biggest names to help you on your way.

1. The Glazé Pink

By Josh Wood

THE LOOK

‘Glazé popsicle shades are soft, sophisticated and feminine and can work for any age and on any skin tone. It’s all about mixing multiple pastel tones together. While a more traditional one-tone look will give you a more extreme finish, blending the new Josh Wood Colour Glazes in two shades allows you to soften the overall effect – making it much more wearable.’

ASK YOUR HAIRDRESSER FOR...

‘To achieve a vibrant colour, your base needs to be either bleached, highlighted or lightened. Ask: am I blonde enough? Will it show up on my hair? How long will it last? Next, for this modern colour, the key thing to stipulate is for the colour not to be too solid. If you want it to be less punky and more glazé, it’s all about using multiple tones. (Or, if you love punky, then go for it!)’

WATCH: Josh Wood Create The Perfect Pastel Pink

HOW TO MAINTAIN IT AT HOME

‘Make sure your base blonde stays super-hydrated with Josh Wood Colour Miracle Mask, £19. To maintain the shade, keep using the Josh Wood Colour Pastel Glaze in Pink Quartz, £19 and Peach Blush, £19. They last up to six washes so you can really play around and experiment.’

2. The Flat Iron Bob

By George Northwood

THE LOOK

‘It’s a grungy, ’90s-inspired style that gives the bob a real modern update. The flat iron creates a subtle wave in the hair, producing a casual-yet- sophisticated undone style that doesn’t look too studied or contrived. It’s the opposite of big and bouncy waves – like no-make-up make-up, but for hair. We have a tutorial on how to achieve the FLOB on our George Northwood YouTube channel, so take a look.’

ASK YOUR HAIRDRESSER FOR...

‘A bob to be cut with quite a choppy texture. You don’t want anything too polished or precise. Ask them to style your hair in a loose wave using the straightening irons instead of a tong – making sure they bend in at the bottom. This gives a subtle, lived-in feel instead of a more defined curl.’

HOW TO MAINTAIN IT AT HOME

‘The great thing about this style is that it’s so easy to keep up. It looks great when it’s left undone – just leave it to dry naturally, which will add texture and volume to the style, and you can add in some waves throughout with a flat iron. Grown out, undone bobs look nonchalant yet still sophisticated.’

3. The Jumbo Plaits

By Charlotte Mensah

THE LOOK

‘I braided jumbo plaits into loose, chunky braids for a cool statement look. Braids are one of the most versatile ways to show off your hair. Wear them half-up, half-down, with a deep side-part, tucked behind the ear, in a low bun or topknot – they can be styled in countless ways.’

ASK YOUR HAIRDRESSER FOR...

‘Always start with a consultation about the colour, length and size of the braids you want. Next comes the prep: a deep-conditioning treatment is essential to strengthen and revitalise your natural hair (it will be tucked away for a few weeks, so you want it in its best condition). Your hair should also be thoroughly cleansed and detangled to get rid of any product build-up. A pre-braid blowout will ensure minimum frizz.

‘Then come the extensions, which are down to personal choice. Synthetic hair is more popular and lasts six to eight weeks, while human hair is softer and usually lasts two to three weeks. Make sure your stylist doesn’t install your braids too tightly, which can cause additional tension on the scalp.

‘If you’d like to go traditional, you could try box braids, microbraids or Senegalese twists. Alternatively, cornrows are braided to the scalp in straight lines, but they can also be styled in elaborate geometric designs.’

HOW TO MAINTAIN IT AT HOME

‘Braids are a great protective ’do as you don’t have to style your hair every day. But it won’t remain in good condition unless you nourish it. Manketti oil, £48, is unbeatable for hydration. Loaded with vitamin E and high in polyunsaturated fatty acids, it acts as a barrier to help prevent moisture loss.’

4. The Layer Cake Fringe

By Larry King

THE LOOK

‘This is the perfect style to introduce layers back into hair, as well as creating a chunky statement fringe. Adding just a few shorter, disconnected layers around the top and crown gives it that laid-back, rock’n’roll finish that doesn’t feel overly considered.’

ASK YOUR HAIRDRESSER FOR...

‘A heavy, rounded fringe with a solid, choppy baseline that really blends into the side – this is key – complemented by some shorter, disconnected layers through the top (not all the way through). It’s these shorter layers (think Chrissie Hynde) that give it that edgier, cooler and grungier feel.’

HOW TO MAINTAIN IT AT HOME

‘This style is ideal as it requires minimal upkeep and suits all hair types. It works particularly well with natural textures, so embrace any curls, waves and bends. A light texturising product is crucial for blow-drying and styling – something that’s not too rigid and which adds soft movement.’

5. The Curl Refresh

By Michelle Sultan

THE LOOK

‘Post-lockdown, curls will need to be hydrated in time for the warmer months. This is all about healthy, bouncy curls. Trimming off dry ends (ideally three to four times a year) creates a free-flowing shape, giving space for each curl to move while creating volume.’

ASK YOUR HAIRDRESSER FOR...

‘First, a dry curly cut (when hair is cut dry after it’s been detangled with a small amount of leave-in conditioner and left to dry naturally before coming to the salon). This should be carried out by trained curly cutters to create free-flowing shape without the need to stretch it first. In salon, ask for hair to be washed using a sulphate-free shampoo (so it doesn’t strip the curls of moisture) before applying a deep conditioning treatment (using a steam cap) to hydrate coils. Your stylist should finish with moisturising creams or gel stylers for curl definition.’

HOW TO MAINTAIN IT AT HOME

‘Always use products that are suitable for curly hair and that are curly girl compliant; this means that the products should be sulphate-free, as well as free of any harmful chemicals and ingredients.’

The Styling Tools

Photographs: Arven Colvin-Smith

Beauty Direction & Words: Joely Walker

Styling: Sophie Henderson

Make-up: Adam de Cruz

READ MORE: When Will Hairdressers Reopen After Lockdown 3.0?

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