Hairy Stuff Q&A

Welcome to Hairy Stuff where you can submit all your styling and haircare questions to our resident hair guru Nigel.

Nigel is an experienced hairdresser and Trichologist (hair and scalp expert) and he's always happy to help you out! Simply click on the button below to ask Nigel your hairy questions!

DON'T FORGET! nzgirl readers get a 30% discount off their first haircut and 10% off follow-up appointments when they see Nigel at Servilles Takapuna, Auckland. Call (09) 489 3936 to book and let them know that you're coming for the nzgirl discount cut. 

 

The best idea is protection and prevention before you go out into the sun. There are many products now on the market that act in a similar way to a sun screen as the hair and the skin are basically the same and both need protection from the elements.

 

Applying a UV type conditioner to the ends before going into the pool or ocean will cut down potential damage and help to stop your colour from fading too. Kerestase Soleil range covers before and after sun conditions, as does the Redken UV range. LOreal have a range that takes the chlorine build up out of the hair as well, so ask your stylist for their recommendations.

 

Is it true that some shampoos contain a drug which makes your hair addicted to it?!
 

That is a new one to me . It would be highly unlikely because hair is keratinised, which means it is hardened once it has grown from the scalp. The closest thing to this concept would be hair loss products applied to the scalp that help to stimulate the growth, but addiction would not be the word I would use.

Often when you try a new shampoo your hair responds really well to it, with lots of bounce and shine but over time the effect wears off and the hair no longer is as great and this is due to what we call “shampoo burn out”. This is caused by the hair eventually getting used to it, so I advise to rotate your shampoo’s every six months or have a few different types and alternate them through the week.

The bob still seems to be hanging in there but it is now taking on a more page boy shape with rounded edges. The fringe is still popular but is starting to be grown out and swept to one side. I have seen a return of soft movement waves and the beach curls are always the most practical for summer; they can take you easily from the beach to pool side parties.

There still seems to be soft undercut shapes that give a close crop underneath but a long sweepy look that can be tucked behind one ear to expose the deeper colours and block panels of colour are taking over from highlights. 

Blonde still owns summer, from platinum to champagne, soft gold’s to sandy and especially on longer hair that has been either set into soft waves or loose curls done with irons. Shine is king so keep the health and maintenance of your hair a top priority and remember the money you try to save today using cheaper, inferior products will be the money you spend later trying to repair the toll of a summer in the sun.

 

If it is done properly then it is fine to have it thinned out, but my advice is to have the layers underneath thinned so the top still stays longer and smoother as you do not want short little layers through the outside.
 
I would not razor the hair, but if the correct texturising technique is used and the ends left fairly thick and blunt, then there should not be a problem with split ends.

 
What can I do with dark hair?
I’ve got dark hair that is really matte and black, I was wondering if I should get highlights or something to make it seem less like one solid colour. But is this hard to do on dark hair? Am I just destined to just have boring dark hair for ever.

Yes I would certainly avoid trying to lighten too much, but you could go for low lights that would produce either a deep copper red or a light blond effect through the hair. It needs to be done using a high lift colouring technique and then a toner used to cut out any brassy effect. Again you need to be diligent with good leave in conditioner s and doing a hair mask every week to keep it looking good.