DIY Haircuts and the #NewNormal
Millions of people have entered self-isolation, quarantine or lockdown around the world over the past few weeks.
One of the first collective worries? What to do with our relentlessly growing hair. Especially now that we spend 50% of our working life on video!
Two weeks out… no big deal.
Four weeks out… a bit scruffy.
Sixteen weeks out… full on big and feathered.What will your hair look like then?
— Dr. Mark Kubert (@DrMarkKubert) March 17, 2020
We’ve seen the conversation around haircuts more than double in size, as people come to terms with the fact that they might not get a chance to see their barbers, hairdressers and stylists anytime soon.
What’s interesting about this trend is that, over the past few years, DIY and YouTube tutorials have taken over many beauty and personal care categories, from makeup to nail care.
But haircare in general, and haircuts in particular, had mostly resisted this amateurization: the consensus seemed to hold that a proper haircut only happens when another human, possibly a professional, was executing it.
But might this wave of self-isolation change that?
Since mid-March, we observed a very sharp rise in people talking about just throwing in the towel and shaving their head or going for a buzzcut. This conversation has grown by 5x just over the past 10 days.
While many of those mentions may be simply comments or jokes, there are quite a few people who seem to be getting ready to strike the hair problem at the root..
I’ve never shaved my head.
But the combo of my receding hairline and no planned visits to get my hair cut bc of #COVID19, I’m strongly considering Claire shaving my head.
I’ll let Twitter decide.
— Mike Baumwoll ✌️ (@baumwoll) March 20, 2020
More trusting ones are relying on their partners’ skills and getting home haircuts. It’s going just as well as one would expect it to go…
I gave my husband a haircut today for the first time. 💇🏻♂️
Let’s just say he is lucky that we are not allowed to leave the house for a few weeks. 🤣🤭🤷🏻♀️ #quarantinelife
— Courtney Mares (@catholicourtney) March 15, 2020
While others are enlisting their kids…
Several others with a lot of time on their hands are talking about cutting their long hair into bangs, even with haircare professionals advising against…
My hair stylist just sent an email to all his clients that was just “please do not get bored or panic and try to give yourself bangs”
— Elizabeth Harper (@CadaverFormosus) March 14, 2020
.. but is the #newnormal DIY revolution is pushing the boundaries of what haircuts people are considering. We’ve seen a growing interest in (or worry about) Mullets, while Mohawk/Fauxhawks seem to be out
That said, there are mobile barbers out there doing business even in hotspots like NYC, with masks and gloves for both barber and customer, lysol sprays and “no talking” rules.
