There’s nothing quite like an at home salon sesh with your girls. It’s a great way to bond and save some cash, but when DIY goes wrong, it goes wrong. If you’re letting a friend take the shears or the dye brush to your hair, follow these tips to keep your hair healthy and your friendship intact.
1. The Big Cut: Manage Expectations
Unless your friend is a secret pro, stick to simple trims
- Tip: Always cut hair while it’s dry and in its natural state. This is especially important for curly and coily textures to avoid the “triangle” shape or cutting off more than intended due to shrinkage.
2. Dyeing: Safety First
Box dyes and bleach can be tricky.
- Tip: Never skip the patch test. Apply a small amount of dye behind your ear 24 hours before to ensure you don’t have an allergic reaction.
- Technique: Have your friend section your hair into four parts to ensure even coverage. Use a barrier like Vaseline around your hairline to prevent skin staining.
3. Heat Styling: The Golden Rule
Whether you’re going for a silk press or beachy waves, high heat is the enemy of your curl pattern.
- Tip: Use a high-quality heat protectant spray or serum on every single section before the tool touches your hair.
- Temperature Control: Remind your “stylist” to keep the tool moving—holding a flat iron on one spot for too long is a one-way ticket to heat damage.
4. Post-Salon Recovery
Even a successful home session can be stressful for your strands.
- Tip: Follow up with a deep conditioning treatment or a protein mask. This helps restore moisture lost during heat styling or the chemical process of dyeing.
Pro-Friendship Tip: Set up a “mirror checkpoint” every 10 minutes. If you aren’t feeling the direction things are going, it’s easier to pivot early than to fix a disaster at the end!