I don’t know about you but one of the things that I’m missing the most about pre-quarantine life is my hair and nail salon. I really loved those days when I would just go out to pamper myself and come home looking fresh and ready for anything that life threw my way.
I have to tell you, though, that there is no manicure or hairstyle that could have prepared me for a pandemic being thrown my way. If I had known that the last time I got my hair done was going to be the last time for MONTHS I definitely would have gotten something with a blended root.
Since I’ve been stuck at home, I’ve actually gotten pretty good at self-care and self-glam. If you need a little pick-me-up, keep reading because I’ve got some great tips for you to keep you looking and feeling good during quarantine from head to toe!
At-home Nail Salon
We’re all washing our hands a lot more than usual so that means dry cuticles and cracked skin. On top of that, if you’re used to getting regular manicures, your nails might need a little bit of TLC these days. There are tons of manicure kits on the market that are great to use but all you really need is a nail file, nail clippers and a buffer. If you think your cuticles could use some TLC, grab some cuticle oil and a wooden cuticle pusher.
- File your nails from the outside edge into the center with a fine emery board. If you go back and forth, you risk separating the layers of your nails and they’ll start to peel!
- If you’re going to paint your nails, buff them with a buffer that’s a bit on the coarse side. If you’re going to leave your nails naked, buff them with the finest side until your nails are nice and shiny.
- Apply some cuticle oil and soak your fingertips in some warm, soapy water for a few minutes.
- With a wooden cuticle pusher, gently push back your cuticles
- If you’re going to paint your nails, allow them to dry completely before you add a strengthening base, a few layers of color, and a top coat. Let them dry completely and you’re all set!
I love to do my nails while I watch one of my favorite true crime shows. It keeps me just distracted enough so I don’t mind sitting down for 20-30 minutes to complete my nail-care routine and allow them to dry. By the time the podcast ends, I’m usually good to go!
At-home Skincare
With all this extra time in quarantine there’s plenty of opportunity to really focus on getting your skin right. You can make the biggest difference with just a few small and easy adjustments to the way you care for you skin
Clean your makeup brushes
I’ll say it again. Clean your makeup brushes! This is a cheap beauty tip that will save your skin from breakouts and the risk of infection.
- Take a small amount of your face wash or antibacterial soap in your palm
- Wet your bush and swirl it around in your palm
- Rinse the brush under warm water
- Repeat the steps until the water clear
- Rinse all of the soap from the brush and lay it flat on a towel to air dry
Go through your makeup stash
Once you do this, you might be surprised at home much makeup you’ve been holding onto for years. Old makeup can also put you at risk of infection and contribute to acne so combing through your collection to get rid of old stuff is really important.
While you’re sitting at your makeup desk, check out my podcast Murder Speaks! It really helps to pass the time and make the whole process more enjoyable.
Give yourself a facial
This is my favorite quarantine beauty tip. I can’t tell you how much I love kicking back in one of my favorite hoodies with a nice hydrating mask on my face! If you’re missing your regular facial sessions, a nice mask once or twice a week will hold you over until you can get back to the spa. Treat yourself to a nice glass of wine while you’re at it!
The most important thing to remember when it comes to skincare is to wear SPF. Even if you’re inside all day long you should be applying a moisturizer that contains SPF. You’ll thank yourself down the road when you’re 60 with glowing skin!
At-home Hair Care
One great thing about being stuck inside all the time is you have the chance to give your hair a break especially if you’re used to styling your hair with heat every day. Of course, you should do what feels right to you and if you want to continue to blow dry, straighten and curl your hair because it keeps you looking good in quarantine, then by all means, do it! But your hair (and stylist) will thank you if you give it a break.
Otherwise, here are a few other tips to hold you over until you can get to the salon.
Use a hydrating hair mask
There are tons of great hair masks on the market that you can use but if you’re looking for a budget-friendly solution, you can melt some coconut oil and apply it directly to your scalp and then comb it through to the ends. Put on a shower cap and watch a movie or organize your closet and then wash your hair (twice if you feel it’s necessary), condition it, and let it air dry!
Another way to keep your hair beautiful on a budget is mayonnaise. It sounds gross but the result is incredible.
Skip a few washes
If you’re not going anywhere anytime soon, what’s the harm in skipping a day or two of washing your hair? Shampoo strips your hair of natural, necessary oils. When you give it a break from shampoo it helps to keep your hair moisturized and saves your color!
Don’t cut your bangs
For some reason, a couple glasses of wine, quarantine, and a pair of scissors compels people to want to cut their bangs. I’m here to give you a gentle reminder that your haircuts are best left to the professionals! I know it can be hard when you’re really itching for a haircut because it’s been a few months since you’ve been able to go to the salon, but please, drop the scissors and back away!
At-Home Waxing
There’s no time like the present to try your hand at waxing your body! You can make a cheap and easy sugar wax with just some sugar, lemon juice and hot water.
- Pour 1 cup up sugar into a saucepan
- Add ¼ cup of water and ¼ cup of lemon juice
- Turn the stove to medium heat and keep a very close eye on the mixture so it doesn’t burn
- You won’t need to stir the mixture often, just give it a quick swirl to combine the ingredients
- Let it boil until it turns dark brown and starts to thicken and then remove it from the heat
- Once your sugar wax is cool enough, grab a handful and start to knead it until it becomes opaque
Once you’ve got your sugar ball ready to go, you can apply it to your skin and push the wax down in the opposite direction of your hair growth. Count to three and rip it off in the direction of your hair growth.
You can repeat the hair removal process with the same sugar ball until it’s not sticky anymore!
If the DIY route is a little too complicated for you, there are tons of wax kits that make the process even easier. If you need a little moral support, FaceTime one of your girlfriends so they can cheer you on during the process!
Spoil yourself
Most of these quarantine beauty hacks are things that you can do for very little to no money. You deserve to splurge a little bit on yourself especially since you’re not hitting the salons as regularly! Grab yourself a pair of my super cute leggings and a big cozy hoodie to really tie your quarantine self-care routine together.
The most important thing to do in quarantine is to be really kind to yourself. Give yourself positive affirmations in the mirror and remind yourself that you’re beautiful with or without the regular trips to the salon. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and things are tough enough right now. You don’t need to give yourself any more grief!
If you’ve got any quarantine beauty hacks that you’d like to share please reach out! I’d love to see what’s working for other people and maybe give a few new things a try.