Quarantine Detox – Ditch your beauty routine while you #stayhome

Thanks to the COVID-19 global pandemic, we’re deep into several weeks of shelter in place orders, business closures of anything not considered essential, and a general feeling of worry, through to panic, hangs in the air.  Just a month ago life was very different; we could still leave the house whenever we wanted, we could go about our lives in the world, and we could visit our various beauty professionals to have our aesthetic needs and wants met.

*photo by Shiny Diamond

Fast forward to mid March, and services we previously called essential (to our appearances) are no longer available to us. Our hair professionals, manicurists, waxers and other caretakers of beauty have ceased operations due to the global pandemic.  Depending on your personal grooming schedule, you may be ready for some professional assistance right about now.  Unfortunately, the pursuit of that assistance has just become frowned upon, if not very, very illegal.

There are lots of different ways to cope, for those of us who are used to getting our hair, nails and other things done on the regular.  Today, I’d like to advocate my favorite way: to embrace the au natural beauty vibe, and give your body a break from its usual beauty regime.

 

Free your Face

None of us are leaving the house aside from for the most necessary of tasks.  If you’re up for putting on a full face of makeup to hit the grocery store, then have at it.  But for the rest of the time, consider going makeup free while in quarantine.  This has the combined benefit of saving your skin, and saving you time.  Depending on how much or how often you normally wear makeup, your skin may welcome the chance to breath freely, and not be subjected to a deep clean every night.  Instead of putting on your favorite foundation, consider trying out one of the skin treatments you have languishing in your medicine cabinet and have a little spa night at home.  I’ve been going back and forth between my Rodan & Fields Detox mask for exfoliation and my Laneige Firming Sleeping Mask for moisture and firmness (for real, it’s anti-gravity in a jar).

Turn the heat off

Another part of you that could use a break from daily primping?  Your hair.  If you’re a daily hot tools user, or a bi-weekly blowout die hard, consider putting down the heat source and embracing a more room temperature styling aid:  air.  This is another daily time and an hair saver – keeping heat away from hair will let it recover from the daily damage of its pre-COVID life, preventing increased dryness and further breakage.  No hair tools doesn’t have to mean all bad hair days in quarantine.  Depending on your hair texture, you could tackle an air dry in a few different ways and achieve a cool casual look with just a little product and minimal effort.  For longer, straight hair folks your hair may just behave on its own.  Others may try putting damp hair in a bun and seeing what waves shake out when it dries.  Braids can create an interesting texture depending on how tight they are or how many you weave in your mane.  Personally, this short haired gal is embracing the slicked back look with less product these days – just a bit of serum and a light hold gel, and my hair is already shinier, softer and happier as a result.

 

Cool off on color

Unless you’re a hair stylist by trade or a super talented and well stocked hobbyist, chances are none of us are going to rock a fresh color look until this pandemic simmers down.  Instead of lamenting the length of your roots, embrace the chemical hiatus and indulge in self care of the hair care variety.  Dig around and see what hair treatments you may have hiding in your bathroom cupboard and tuck into a hairmask while you watch another Netflix show.  If you can’t find anything in the bathroom, try your kitchen – many household ingredients can be turned into a DIY hair mask, including coconut or olive oil, eggs, mayonnaise and even beer.  Check out some ideas here, or just do a quick google search with the ingredients you have on hand and see what you come up with.

 

Natural nails now

Nail maintenance in the time of pandemic is definitely a challenge, especially if, like me, your nails are on the weaker side and require an overlay (think shellac, biogel, etc) to maintain any length.  None of us are going to be making our standing nail appointments these days, so now is a great time to embrace our natural nails.  Bite the bullet (not your nails), remove your polish or overlay, and trim your talons down to avoid breakage.  Make sure you have acetone, cotton pads or paper towel and nail files to help remove whatever may be on your nails now (here’s a guide to help remove different kinds of overlays).  Then, indulge in creams and oils to nourish your newly naked nails, like CND’s Rescue Rxx Treatment with keratin.

Let your brows grow wild

Many of us will be suffering without our regular brow routines, but this may be just the right time to grow in your bald patches or embrace a more luscious brow altogether.  Put the tweezers down for anything beyond basic upkeep and see what a little patience and a lot of time indoors yields for your brows.  If tinting is your usual treatment, there are many home tinting products available to give you comparable look without breaking quarantine.  Before microblading my own brows (read about that here), I loved Maybelline’s Tattoo Brow Peel Off Tint, a super simple one step product that makes your brows look lush and full.

 

Light up on your lashes

If you’re a lash extensions regular, you may be feeling a little less than full in the lash department lately.  Like every other part of you, your lashes deserve a break from time to time too.  Do NOT attempt to pull your lash extensions off – either let them fall out on their own, or gently apply an oil based makeup remover to loosen the glue (extensions should slide right off – do not force them).  You may feel naked, but your lashes will thank you for lightening their load.  If you have castor oil on hand, apply some to your lash line for a home made lash serum for extra oomph during quarantine time, or check out the many options available for purchase online.

What are you beauty routines are you taking a break from as we hide at home?  Share them with us on social today!

 

Nadia Elkharadly

Nadia Elkharadly

Nadia Elkharadly is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of Addicted Magazine. Her myriad of addictions include music, fashion, travel, technology, boxing and trying to make the world a better place. Nadia is also a feminist, an animal lover, and a neverending dreamer. Keep up with her on social media through @thenadiae.
Nadia Elkharadly