Hair care move into homes

When hair salons closed in response to COVID-19, many people discovered that cutting their own hair was not as difficult as it seemed.

Jessie Blevins is among those who decided to turn her home into a personal salon. Blevins started by doing the hair of her spouse and two boys. She isn't a licensed professional but said she was able to figure out the basics through trial and error — and by watching hairstylist Brad Mondo on YouTube.

One bonus to doing hair herself: She knows for sure what she wants.

"We're less frustrated with the results doing it ourselves," Blevins said. "Every time I went to a stylist, I was frustrated that they wouldn't listen to my request."

Blevins feels confident she will continue to do her family's hair from home, even after the pandemic.

Even pros are seeing the benefits of doing hair from home. Sierra Smith Hannibal is a licensed hairdresser who has been doing hair in her home for three years. When she moved to Utah from Texas over the summer, she was worried about losing her clientele — but the pandemic worked in her favor.

During the pandemic, Smith Hannibal said, people seem to feel more comfortable going to her home than a crowded salon.

"Doing your highlights or balayage isn't as easy as slapping on an all-over color, and it can be extremely damaging if it is not done by a professional who knows what products to use and what not to do," Smith Hannibal said. "I think people who get their hair colored will almost always go to a professional.”