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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 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
My hair is getting blonder and blonder every time I have my hair highlighted which makes my roots look darker and makes me feel I need my hair done more often. How can I stop this?
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 orginally trying to achieve. For more personal advice pop into Shobiz to speak to one of our professionals and why not try out our highlighting promotion starting which ends on Friday 9th March 2012.
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.
Q
I love having painted nails but they chip after only a couple of days - what can I do to keep them looking fresher for longer?
OUR THERAPIST SAYS...
The most important tip I can give you for painting your own nails is to ensure you apply a base coat. This will not only treat any nail problems but also provide a strong and solid base for the nail colour itself so it lasts longer. Otherwise, I would highly recommend the Jessica Geleration treatment which provides durable colour with a chip resistant finish that helps to strengthen nails and can last for up to 3 weeks.
Q
I colour my hair a lovely red colour but it keeps fading after shampooing. Is there anything I can do to make the colour last longer between applications?
SHOBIE SAYS...
It is a known problem that red dye leaves the hair rather rapidly compared with other dyes and while one of the solutions is to wash your hair less often there are other steps you can take to prolong your colour. To begin with I would consult a salon colourist because expertly applied professional colour will undoubtedly last longer than a home solution. Secondly wait up to 48 hours before washing your hair after the initial application and when you do use cold water which will help to seal the cuticle and retain the colour. Colour safe shampoos and conditioners are also an absolute must, such as Paul Mitchell's Silver Shampoo or other sulphate free products and make sure you keep your hair out of direct sunlight to prevent fading. For more advice why not pop into Shobiz for a free consultation.
Q
I home-coloured my hair too dark which I then visited a salon to help me correct. My hair is now really brittle and dry. What can I do to improve it's condition?
SHOBIE SAYS...
Having exposed your hair to two colour treatments in quick succession I'm not overly surprised to hear that you are suffering from these problems. It will take time for your hair to fully restore itself however there are some steps you can take in the meantime to encourage it back to health. To begin with make sure you purchase some salon professional hair products such as the Alterna Caviar shampoo, conditioner and weekly treatment. This luxurious range of products provide exceptional moisture, hydrating, nourishing and repairing dry and brittle hair. Secondly, try a Brazilian Blow-dry treatment which provides nourishiment to frizzy, damaged hair giving you instantly healthy looking and shiny hair. For more information about this exclusive treatment please come in to see us at Shobiz.
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.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR BRAZILIAN BLOW-DRY
Q - WHAT IS BRAZILIAN KERATIN THERAPY?
A. - Essentially, this treatment is a non-damaging, non-chemical anti-frizz therapy which tames unruly hair giving you beautifully sleek hair for up to five months! Now available at Shobiz, Eternity Liss is the latest innovation in the world of Brazilian Blow-dry treatments that combines speed and nourishment to give your hair strength, smoothness, shine and vitality. Ideal for those who live a hectic lifestyle and wish to have perfect, low maintenance hair in a flash.
Q - Is this a straightening treatment?
A. - Primarily, this is a frizz fighting treatment however, yes, a straightening effect will occur although it will vary from person to person. Hair will benefit from a light curl reduction to becoming very straight depending on how porous and curly the original hair is. With subsequent applications you will get a cumulatively greater straightening result.
Q - Is it OK to use on coloured or chemically treated hair?
A. - Yes this treatment is suitable for any hair type including coloured and chemically treated hair.
Q - How often can I have the treatment?
A. - As often as you like but about every 3 months is recommended.
Q - How long does the result last?
A. - Between two and five months depending on hair type, shampoo frequency and choice of homecare products. You will find the results last longer the more often you have Brazilian Blow-Dry treatments and if you use the specially formulated Eternity Liss homecare shampoo and conditioner.
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.
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. ”
Q
I would like to have highlights but have been told by a friend to wait until Spring as the cold weather will make my hair more prone to damage after a chemical process. Is this true?
SHOBIE SAYS...
While it is true that your hair is affected by the weather and general climate changes, as well as the current constant shifting from the outside cold to the indoor warmth of heated environments, there is absolutely no reason why you need to wait for warmer weather to have the colour treatment you want. Consider those people around the world who permanently live in cold environments - I'm sure they still visit their hair stylists! These days we have fantastic professional products which are designed to moisturise and protect hair from the elements and if you visit a good salon, with stylists who can personally advise you about the best treatment for your hair and who can evaluate it's condition in the first place, you really do have nothing to worry about. So why not pop into Shobiz to talk to one of our professsionals in more detail?
Q
Now it's become much colder, I use my hair dryer more and more rather than letting my hair dry naturally. Trouble is it leaves my hair feeling dry and frizzy. What can I do to stop this?
SHOBIE SAYS...
Hair dryers, curling irons and straighteners can all be very harsh to your hair unless you use the right protective products to prevent damage. To begin with, make sure you use a moisture-rich shampoo and conditioner and even a leave-in spray conditioner as well before blow drying. Anti-frizz serums, applied when the hair is still wet, will also offer extra protection and a deep conditioning treatment containing protein once a week will help to keep hair healthy and strong. Next make some heat adjustments to your styling appliances. When your hair is wet, use high heat but as the hair becomes dryer switch to cooler settings to finish your style. Also, keep the dryer at least 8 inches away from the hair to keep the air flow moving. It may take a little longer to style your hair this way but the benefits to your hair will be well worth it.
