A career in hairdressing brings each of you into contact with clients of all ages and stages. We’ve talked recently with salon owner Daniel Rice about his experiences with clients suffering a change in their hair which could be related to menopause. Heading up a busy salon in London’s Chelsea area, Daniel has an impeccable eye for colour and a reputation for delivering luxe, healthy looking hair. How does he support clients through change?
Daniel Rice: the consultation
“Hair is tied to how we feel about ourselves and during menopause it is often linked to identity as it starts to feel finer, thinner and more unmanageable. That’s why every consultation starts with a conversation about hair and scalp health, general wellbeing, and any medication that could be affecting colour, growth cycles or density.
“Scalp and follicle health should always come first. A clean, healthy scalp gives hair the best chance to grow well as trapped sebum, dead skin and product build-up can suffocate the roots and weaken growth. That’s often compounded by the dryness and brittleness that comes with menopausal hair.
“When clients notice hair shedding, it can be part of the natural hair cycle, or linked to stress, nutrition or hormonal changes. I always start by asking how they feel about their hair, and look for patterns such as thinning at the crown, recession at the temples and hairline.
“If it’s persistent, I’ll recommend a trichologist, or a GP where HRT may be involved.”
Moving foward
“It’s now always easy to have these conversations – the language has to be considerate and empathetic. Clients need to feel you’re on their side and that you’re addressing it quickly.
“For physiological hair loss, regrowth treatments to nourish the hair bulb can help. Day-to-day, I recommend keeping colour well-maintained to plump the hair and add fullness, using clear gloss treatments for shine, and fuller blow-dries for body and bounce. Go easy on dry shampoo and root touch-up sprays, as they can clog the follicles.”
Help where needed
For more information visit: thehairmovementsalon.com
And follow @daniels_salon_chelsea
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