Shobie's Problem Page
Shobie Lee, of Shobiz Hair Salons in Sidcup, possesses 30 years of expertise as a hair stylist. In addition to running her successful salons, which currently employ 38 team members, she also travels as a lecturer so that she can share her experience and knowledge with the hairdressing community.
SHOBIE SAYS...
“ Your hair is the gown you never take off; it is an individual’s crowning glory. And as women no longer have the time to visit their salon on a weekly basis it is important to invest in a designer haircut that can be maintained at home. That’s why at Shobiz, we offer a designer haircut with a home management programme. ”
SHOBIE'S TOP 5 TIPS FOR HEALTHY HIGHLIGHTED HAIR
1 - Apply a deep conditioning treatment to your hair a few days before highlighting - the better conditioned your hair is, the more easily the colour will take and the longer it will last.
2 - Select a highlight colour that is compatible with your lifestyle - if you don’t have time to retouch your roots every 6-10 weeks choose a shade that isn’t too dissimilar from your own so roots aren’t obvious too soon.
3 - Use a colour enhancing shampoo and conditioner to bring out and maintain the tones of your highlights.
4 - To prevent fading, avoid using very hot water when you shampoo or shampooing too frequently.
5 - Avoid exposing your hair to the sun or chlorine which may change the tones and damage your hair.
Questions and Answers
Q
I have medium brown hair and am about to get it highlighted. Is there a certain amount of time I should stay out of the sun?
SHOBIE SAYS...
The biggest risk you run from sun exposure on highlighted hair is the potential that the sun will further lighten the hair, either blurring the difference between your base and highlight tones or simply lightening your highlights even more than you intended. This problem is slightly greater for red tone highlights, as many red hair colours are prone to fading more readily than their counterparts. The effect varies from person to person and even natural hair colour can be effected, giving that ‘sun-kissed’ look so there isn’t a specific amount of time you should wait before venturing into the sun. My advice would be to use professional hair care products which protect your hair from the stressing effects of sun exposure and guard against potential harm as well as fading. Schwarzkopf’s Bonacure Sun Guardian range is particularly effective with its moisturising agents, UVA & UVB filters, Vitamin E and Aloe Vera extracts.Pop into Shobiz for some more advice about our hair care range.
Q
I spent my entire weekend in the sun and my hair feels sunburned! Is this possible?
SHOBIE SAYS...
Your hair may feel “fried” after a day in the sun but it can’t technically burn, no. I would hazard a guess that your scalp may well be burned, however, seeing as you are still feeling the sun’s effects some time later, and, if this is the case, I would also assume that your hair may be sun damaged. Exposure to the sun makes your hair dry, dull, fragile and brittle which is caused when too much heat begins to break the physical bonds of the hair. Prevention is better than cure, so when venturing into the sun for long periods it is good practice to use hair products which contain sun screens, which not only protect your hair but your scalp also. As you are already suffering however, my advice at this stage is to wait until you are sure the skin on your scalp is no longer sunburned (avoid using heat stylers or sharp bristle brushes for a while and seek advice from your pharmacist if necessary) then have a deep conditioning treatment to increase moisture, shine and elasticity. Pop into Shobiz for more information and advice.
Q
My hair seems to be getting drier as I get older and as I have highlighted my hair for many years I wondered whether this has been a contributing factor? Should I stop having highlights?
SHOBIE SAYS...
It is reasonable to think that your repeated highlighting has contributed to your hair becoming drier over the years. Chemical services typically leave the hair more porous and allow moisture to seep away more easily. However, one of the most common signs of aging is the skin losing much of its ability to retain moisture and since hair grows from the skin, it is natural that the it would be affected by this. Your best course of action is to re-evaluate the products your use to condition your hair - be sure that the shampoo and conditioner formulas are high in moisture content and that you condition daily even if you don’t shampoo. Weekly deep conditioning treatments will also help to replenish lost moisture. In time your hair should return to it’s healthy state and as long as you maintain this new routine there is no reason why you can’t continue to have your hair highlighted.
Q
I have long colour treated hair and am plagued constantly with split ends. What causes them and how can I stop them?
SHOBIE SAYS...
You need to explain your predicament to your hairdresser because you need a new colour consultation before you have your hair treated again. It is a common mistake to continue having the same hair colour applied time and again when the overall colour of your hair has clearly changed over time and, therefore, so has the effect of the treatment. The solution is to only highlight your roots and apply a colour similar to your natural tone through the rest of your hair (lowlighting) which will even out the shade of blonde and bring you back to the colour you were originally trying to achieve. For more personal advice pop into Shobiz to speak to one of our professionals.
SHOBIE'S TOP 5 TIPS FOR BEAUTIFUL HEALTHY HAIR
1 - Avoid using synthetic brushes - boar bristles are much kinder - and don't brush your hair when it's wet as it is easily damaged.
2 - Try to wash your hair with luke warm or tepid water and rinse with cold which will close the cuticles.
3 - Be gentle with your hair: brush before washing, shampoo gently, comb conditioner through & squeeze dry rather than rubbing. Ideally leave your hair to dry naturally.
4 - Protect your hair from prolonged exposure to sunlight by staying in the shade or using hair products with SPF protection. Also try to avoid overusing hair dryers and irons.
5 - Remember: season, age, gender, diet and tobacco all have a big influence on your hair. Leading a healthy lifestyle will improve the health of your hair.
Questions and Answers
Q
I don’t colour or heat style my hair but it still always looks lifeless and grows really slowly. What can I do to get healthy hair?
SHOBIE SAYS...
To make hair healthy you must consider many different factors - not just the way you specifically treat your hair. For example your diet and lifestyle will have an impact on the way your hair looks and feels, in exactly the same way that this effects other parts of your body, such as your skin. To begin with therefore, start to look after your whole self by concentrating on eating a good, balanced diet, including fruit and vegetables and plenty of water, and take regular exercise. In addition to this, there are also many supplements which are useful for the hair such as vitamin A, vitamin E, a number of the B vitamins and more - ask for further advice in your local health shop. Finally, I would suggest you visit a salon for regular trims - to keep the hair ends smooth and thick which improves the condition and texture - and have conditioning treatments with massage, which stimulates the blood supply to the scalp, improving circulation and providing much needed nutrients to the follicles.
Q
I have long colour treated hair and am plagued constantly with split ends. What causes them and how can I stop them?
SHOBIE SAYS...
Split ends occur anywhere along the hair shaft when the hair cuticle is damaged and fibres unravel. They are generally caused by over perming or colouring, insufficient conditioning, too much brushing (especially with poor quality brushes) or excessive heat styling. They cannot be mended and the only cure is to have them snipped off, although some serums and conditioners can temporarily seal them and give an overall better appearance. If you do opt for the cut-them-off option, what is lost in length will be gained in quality and by rectifying your hair care routine you should be able to prevent, or lessen, their appearance in the future. Along with my tips for beautiful healthy hair (left) you should perhaps try shampooing less often, which can over stress the hair causing damage, and have your hair trimmed regularly blunting and strengthening the ends, which are most prone to splitting. For more personal advice, pop into Shobiz for a chat with one of our stylists.
Q
I have highlighted blonde hair which looks great when I leave the salon but starts to turn yellow after the first couple of washes at home. How do I stop this?
SHOBIE SAYS...
“ My advice would be to purchase a silver shampoo, such as Bonacure Color Silver Reflex Shampoo from Schwarzkopf. This helps to neutralise the yellow tones of lightened or bleached hair and should solve your problem. ”
Q
How can I stop my expensive salon colour treatment fading in between visits?
SHOBIE SAYS...
“ So many people encounter this problem which is caused simply by daily wear and tear. Try Alterna Repair Shampoo and Conditioner which combats every day problems and guarantees an extra 65% colour retention. It also prepares your hair for future colour treatments by rebuilding essential hair enzymes that can be damaged between salon visits. ”
Q
I am naturally a brunette but have been having my hair highlighted for some time. Recently my regrowth seems to be getting darker and darker. Why is this?
SHOBIE SAYS...
“ Don’t worry, your hair is not getting darker and this is more likely an optical illusion. This often occurs when the highlight colour is applied along the whole length of the sectioned hair rather than just to the root area in need of touching up. In effect more and more hair is being highlighted each time you have it done, making the contrast between coloured hair and natural hair more severe. Next time, make sure you match the highlight colour being applied to the area closest to the regrowth and have some natural colour lowlights applied through the length of the hair. This will make the appearance of regrowth less obvious to the eye. ”
Q
I have noticed that I am starting to get a few white hairs and I am really keen to get rid of them. Can I use a semi-permanent colour to successfully cover them up as I am nervous about the idea of using a permanent colour?
SHOBIE SAYS...
“ It’s very difficult to give advice on the best course of action when it comes to colouring hair without seeing the hair it is to be applied to. The number of white hairs you have and the colour of the rest of your hair are just two contributing factors to how the resultant colour will appear. A permanent colour will obviously give better coverage than a semi-permanent but a semi may well produce the desired effect in certain circumstances. You basically need a colour consultation with a qualified hair stylist to establish what will work best for you to achieve the result you want so why not come into Shobiz for a no obligation chat about your needs. ”
