I am an Asian with naturally black hair with a brown tinge to it. I have a shoulder-length layered hair with a side fringe. I want to get highlights, what colour would suit me best (my skin is naturally tanned with a yellow undertone)? And for an oval face shape, what type of highlighting would be best?

Your hair sounds gorgeous as it is but?

I would recommend soft tones of copper or toffee blonde. Given that your hair is layered I would ensure you have fine weaved sections to ensure you keep a soft natural look.

DO NOT be tempted to have them placed on the top sections around your parting otherwise you will always see the re growth coming through every 4-6 weeks.

Only have them applied 2" below your parting and the remaining hair below this. This will give you a beautiful natural effect that will last and prevent you from having to return to the salon for upkeep.

My hair felt very damaged and dry. So I have for the last six months used shampoos and conditioners for dry and damaged hair (I have been colouring it for a few years) but now my ends (and 10 cm up) are almost fine but the roots gets so greasy so fast. HAVE to wash it every day.

Should I change my shampoo?

The two important things to remember are to use a shampoo specifically for oily hair/scalp and use a repair or hydrate conditioner on the ends.

Also make sure when you wash your hair it is with luke warm water not hot, as this makes the scalp produce oil quicker.

I sort of have a few challenges all in one which is frustrating! I have very fine hair, I have a double crown and my hair gets greasy very easily too. I wear my hair short because when I try to grow it, it tends to get a bit straggly, limp and again greasy. The double crown doesn’t help because when I wake up in the morning it’s sticking up all over the place and when trying to grow it I still have to wash it and blow dry it every single day. I’d love to have feminine, long luscious hair - is there any way I can achieve this? Or will I always have short hair? And if I will always have short hair that’s fine but how do I combat the double crown and grease! I feel so yucky and not like a lady at all! Though it does look great when freshly washed and blow dried, but disastrous the next morning! Thanks heaps for your help!

Ok let’s try to sort the oily hair out first. Firstly invest in a specific oily scalp shampoo and always wash your hair with luke warm water and not hot is this makes the scalp produce more oil.

As far as the double crown is concerned I’m afraid that will always be a problem with short styles but just as a suggestion you could consider Racoon International’s hair extensions to make your hair thicker and also the length you’ve been after.

I have naturally blonde red hair which is unusually fine and not very thick. It is poker straight and sits flat even after blow drying with volume boosters and using straighteners at the roots to provide lift - also wind moisture etc totally flattens it out again. I use to have a great hair stylist who managed to cut a shape into my hair which meant it didn’t flatten within two hours (it lasted all day even in poor weather) and still held its shape when I went for my next eight week cut - however this stylist left the salon and they won’t tell me where she went! I have tried to explain to at least six different stylists at various country wide salons who charge a lot for a cut (which I am happy to pay if I get a good cut) that my hair needs shape cutting in - what term should I use. My old stylist use to "thin" my hair which gave more ummph - when I tell them this they use those texurising scissors on the layer ends which just makes it flyaway and this doesn’t give any lift or volume. Also after two weeks it’s sitting flat to my head again! Could you please tell me what technique I should be asking for - as the "senior" stylists I have come across appear to have a total lack of understanding/knowledge on how to cut my type of hair - I can’t believe I’m the only one! My hair use to be jaw length and cut up into the back to provide bulk and we would alter the longish fringe to the side depending on the mood and or define layers around the face - as styles changed. I am getting really desperate as I am a 43 yr old who can not afford to look like a drowned rat or disaffected teenager! Please help!!

I wish I could tell you that this was the first time I have heard this, but it could not be further from the truth.

Under no circumstances let a stylist attack your hair with texturising/thinning shears, it will make your hair FLAT and FRIZZY.

You will definitely get the best results with a soft razoring technique "internal diffusion" which gives you soft supporting volume to prolong the volume and lift you need.

In all my years this is the only technique that truly works.

Please ensure you use a very experienced stylist competent in this technique, as in the wrong hands it will result in your hair been thinner and flatter.

Good luck

I have fine long hair, my wedding will be on March and I’m a small size, I think it would be better an up hair style, what would you recommend?

I would suggest, if you are petite to wear your hair either half up half down or all down to frame your face rather than all up which can make you look even more petite! Have fun

Recently I had a permanent colour mid brown as quasis washed out after 3 weeks it is 5 weeks since having it done and it is going lighter I am 59 my hair is fine and I have been told permanents can damage your hair. I found it expensive as well Last November I had blonde highlights so that is why I decided to have a permanent as I don’t want my hair to go to light too quickly What do you recommend?

Permanent colour will not damage your hair is done correctly.

Ensure you use good quality/professional shampoos and conditioners for colour treated hair. These will maintain the condition and moisture content to prolong the life of your hair colour investment.

The worst thing for causing colour fade is electrical styling product, for example hairdryers as they dehydrate your hair which in turn increases colour fade.

I would strongly recommend the FHI 1900 Hairdryer as this will help maintain the moisture and hair condition helping prevent colour fade.

You can also try using shampoos with a hint of colour too them to maintain your hair colour between salon visits.

Good luck

I’m a guy with short fine hair who’d want a afro curl or something that would change the texture so it would be easier to style, cause as it is now it grows straight out from the head (stands up). It’s too short to get on rollers, so some chemical that changes the texture of the hair or weights it down maybe.

Thanks you so much if you could help me! I’ve had a life long problem with my hair so far.

This is a common problem with strong straight hair. Yet the fact that it is too short to go around a roller makes it very difficult.

Depending on how experienced your hair stylist is you could ask them to try pipe cleaners in your hair that are really small and will give you an afro look that is cool.

You could then apply clay or matt paste for extra texture. Ensure your stylist has done this process before.

I have very thick hair, with long layer cut in the back, layered to my face in the front with side bangs, I am naturally a brunette and want to dye it brown with burgundy low lights and dark blonde highlights what do you think? My eyes are blue and skin is olive.

I think a deep chestnut brown with deep and fine amber highlights would be much better, forget the blonde.

I’m writing on behalf of my friend, before I begin I must say he has amazing hair - its between his shoulder blades and his shoulders and really suits him, but it is in a bad condition and he doesn’t know why because he conditions it and I have never known him to blow dry it. Recently his hair has been looking increasingly split and an ongoing problem is this strange thing where if he so much as sleeps on it or touches it, it becomes horribly knotty and the knots simply won’t come out, and if you touch his hair when it is wet it makes the problem so much worse. It’s kind of frizzy and flyaway but quite fine and there is a lot of it! It’s very fragile he is half Greek half; white Caucasian if this helps you with a solution for his type of hair? He will get it trimmed an inch or two but wouldn’t cut any more off. At the minute it is one length, he says he doesn’t want layers but obviously if this helps then I guess he would consider it, his hair is long and very big and he wouldn’t want to change that aspect of it, just the condition, knotting and the frizz.

The best thing to do is to make sure that he uses a leave in conditioner. Such as razzamatazz bio plus leave in conditioner. It will keep the hair detangled. Make sure that he uses it liberally underneath where it will get most tangled.

I have fine dark blonde/mousey bob style hair and pale skin. It looks dull and boring, so I would like to lighten it slightly, especially round the fringe and face. I want inexpensive and low maintenance with my hair looking as natural as possible. What would you suggest?

The good thing is you know what you want. Wanting to lighten up around the front are of the hair is a nice way to open the face shape up. Also your hair being ’mousey’ is the ideal tone to have blonde and not show such a strong regrowth, so you have that going for you too.

I would suggest consulting with a local hairdresser you feel comfortable with and let them know that you are looking at possibly hi-lighting around the front area; but just a couple of shades lighter than your natural tone. This way you brighten the overall look, but won’t have to worry about a strong regrowth.

Also remember ’The lighter you go the more the regrowth will show. If you like the results may be you will begin to lighten a bit more over the summer; but at least it will be on your terms...Enjoy!