The worst nightmare of hairdressers is unfolding across the country as Canadians with no access to stylists or barbers are attempting to cut their own hair.
Many businesses, including barbershops, are closed as a result the COVID-19 pandemic.
But with no end in sight and their locks getting longer, Canadians are taking matters into their own hands, cutting and dying their hair.
It’s not something that all hairdressers recommend.
“Put the kitchen scissors down and walk away from them,” said Stephanie Douthwright, a stylist in Riverview, N.B.
READ MORE: B.C.’s top doctor admits to home hairdo amid coronavirus salon ban
Douthwright said she has been getting calls on a daily basis from panicked clients whose roots are showing and whose hair is getting out of control.
Some clients, she said, are vowing to go it alone.
“The clients I fear for the most are the ones who are going to cut their bangs or give themselves one or two layers,” Douthwright said.
People across the country have been posting their homegrown hair cuts and dye jobs to social media. The results are not always ideal.
Kids can be seen shedding a few tears as parents do their best to give their kids a trim. Most are clearly not professionals.
Lawren Campbell of Moncton, N.B., cut his son’s hair over Facebook live.
“It was time. It was growing in and losing its shape and definition and it needed to get done,” he said.
The results were not too bad, he said, and his relationship with his teenage son remains intact.
But, if you want to maintain a good connection with your stylist, Douthwright said you might want to hold off on breaking out the kitchen scissors just yet.
“If you put box dye in your hair and it turns green, I am not going to fix it. When it does come time to when we can fix it, I am going to charge you triple,” she said jokingly.
But she said all jokes aside, leave the hairstyling to the professionals and if you can, “put the scissors down.”
Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:
Health officials caution against all international travel. Returning travellers are legally obligated to self-isolate for 14 days, beginning March 26, in case they develop symptoms and to prevent spreading the virus to others. Some provinces and territories have also implemented additional recommendations or enforcement measures to ensure those returning to the area self-isolate.
Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.
To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out.
For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.