Please Help Me! I have been losing my hair since I was 25 and now I am 4 weeks away from my wedding and over the years (I am now 42) my hair loss is getting worse, especially on top and the sides. I want to feel like a woman, sexy and feminine on my wedding day but I keep crying and I am in despair!

I am so sorry for your obvious distress. Hair loss for anyone is very upsetting and especially as you are about to have your "big day". Do not despair. Firstly I would highly recommend an appointment at the Philip Kingsley clinic in London who specialise in hair and scalp problems. You could get a simple blood test done at your doctors to check your iron levels which is the most common cause of hair loss in women and is easily rectified with prescribed iron supplements.

Try not to panic, there are experts out there to help you. You are very welcome to come to my salon in Muswell Hill, North London, for a complimentary consultation for ideas concerning your wedding hair.

Good luck!

2 years ago I had my son. Normally I have naturally curly hair but it has gone straight and thin. My hair is shoulder length. I would love to know what to do with it as I love my curls and want them back

There are a few ways to make hair glossy and curly but, because of your hair loss, you need to be particularly careful with your choice and I would definitely avoid having a harsh treatment like a perm. Racoon International’s hair extensions are proven to be gentle to hair - they can even be suitable for people who have lost their through medical treatment such as chemotherapy. The Racoon extension bonding is made using natural extracts and doesn’t damage your hair so it’s a brilliant way to have full bodied hair. The 100% human hair extensions can then be styled and curled as your own. Top hairdressers use them for wedding styles because they are so great at holding curl.

I want the shine and gloss that I get from a semi permanent hair colour, but don’t want the colour. Is there any products that do this that I could buy online or get at the hairdressers? Someone mentioned diacolor clear would have the desired effect!

Everyone wants to keep that ’I just got out of the salon’ glossy shine but sadly just like colour, this glass-like effect can fade over time. Frustratingly, climate, pollution and heated styling tools all tend to decrease the natural shine of your hair.

But getting that shine back is not impossible- in fact it is quite simple and won’t add any hassle to your hair care regime. My Lee Stafford Shine Head range is designed to bring some serious shine to your locks. It contains tiny light reflecting sparkles within to give multi-faceted shimmering hair. After shampooing and conditioning give your hair a final rinse off with cold water- this will help prolong the natural shine on hair.

Another great trick to get double the shine is to mix together a small amount of serum with root lifting mousse in the palm of your hand before rubbing the mixture into your hair from root to tip. After Blow drying smooth another 50 pence sized amount of serum over your hair- this will enhance the natural gloss of your hair and keep it beautifully shiny all day long!

I have very hard, dry and zigzag (meander) hair. Really I hate my hair because I can’t make any style so for that every time I just make my hair very small. Can you suggest something for my hair it’s curly. very dry, very hard with no shine.

I think all the things you dislike about your hair stem from it being dry. And ’dry’ literally means that - a lack of moisture inside the cortex, or inner fibers of the hair (the cortex makes up about 80-90% of the hair). A hair in good condition will have a moisture content of about 10% but for one reason or another (environmental, chemical etc.) the moisture levels commonly drop much lower than this. When that happens the cortical fibers start to break up, the cuticle scales on the surface of the hair ’open’ and become vulnerable to damage which then causes further surface disruption and damage and so on.

In your case the hair has become dry it loses it’s shine because the rough surface of the hair no longer reflects light off it as (presumably) black hair will when in good condition. There is probably quite a bit of breakage due to the loss of elasticity in the hair and it’s looking frizzy because as the hair breaks the broken ends stick out in all directions which interferes with the sleekness of the hair.

Because the structure internal fibers of hair, because of the reduced moisture level, is disrupted the hairs commonly take on a slightly ’disfigured’ shape meaning that the spaces between aligned dry hairs are usually greater than when well conditioned hairs are aligned, so the overall appearance of the hair is less smooth and sleek. With your hair, even though, it is curly, if it was in good condition the curls would be smooth because all the hairs would be aligned and close to each other forming a smooth curl.

So how can you improve your hair?

• Wash your hair at least twice a week, more if possible.
  Washing the hair is the perfect opportunity to put back moisture. It’s a myth that washing hair is bad for it.
• Use good quality products on it and condition it every time with the best conditioner you can afford.
• Use a treatment conditioner once a week until the condition improves then use it once a month to maintain it.
• Use a good quality wide-toothed comb (saw cut if possible, it will say on the comb) to comb his hair and minimize the use of a brush. This is because a comb will cause less breakage while hair is in a fragile state.
• Make sure that his diet is well balanced and nutritious - our hair is a product of what we eat, eat rubbish and you may well get rubbish!

I want to be able to keep my hair wet and smooth looking all day. I currently straighten my hair and use conditioner regularly. Is there any product I can use after a flat iron to give it a manageable, wet, smooth shine? One example is Craig Mabbitt of Escape The Fate.

There is a product by Nicky Clarke called shimmer spray, this is similar to a serum however it is fine and contains an extremely high gloss.

10 days ago I noticed a significant amount of hair loss by my crown. I have recently also had a burning sensation and the last 2 days a itchy scalp. I have begun to use a hair loss shampoo and conditioner and started to use Regaine as it contains Minixol, which is meant to help the follicles. My GP thinks it’s just normal hair loss, but I know it’s not. I think it’s deeper.

I suggest you go to a specialist Thricologist they will be able to determine what this problem is whether it’s normal or not.

I have one question for you. I have been using Wellastarte to straighten and calm the curl in my hair but I am afraid if I use it too often I will be bald or experience hair loss. At the moment I use it every 3 weeks, is that ok? Thank you in advance

My advice is that I certainly wouldn’t use any more often than that.

Really you should be using it between 4-6 weeks, but if your hair is thick and strong and providing you keep your hair well conditioned you should be fine.

For the last 6 months I have been losing my hair. I have always had very thick hair so I am quite concerned. When I gave blood last month they said to ask the doctor to check my iron. I had a full blood count and was told I need further tests as I am anemia. would this cause my hair loss?

This could account for your hair loss. You could always visit a specialist hair salon or a Tricologist for advice as some specialised ones have machines and treatments for stimulating blood flow to the hair follicle (root).

Now, Lexington International have developed and patented the HairMax Laser Comb to miniaturize the internationally established technology of laser hair care. So now you can bring effective hair care technology into the comfort and privacy of your home, office or hotel - at a fraction of the cost charged by hair clinics.

The results are fantastic you only have to look at the review.

Since I stopped sewing in extensions to my hair I have massive hair loss and it was growing when I braided and sewed it before now it is less than a inch in the back and I can’t think to braid anymore loss is all over me when I brush it and I use conditioners, my head get dry again every day and very itchy after washed.

Maybe at some point whilst having weaves this has effected the hairs growth, I suggest you give it time without extensions or weaves and take high sea kelp products or vitamins to help strengthen the hair and promote hair growth.

I have really natural blonde hair and I want to use a spray or dye to semi dye it brown. I once had this spray which washed out in the rain and I can’t remember what it was. I wondered if you had any products which I could use to dye it semi and would it wash out.

Dying your hair in general is an important decision. So my first piece of advice to anyone planning on changing their hair colour dramatically (to whatever colour) is to think it through- why not ask the advice of your hair stylist first or go online to check out different shades on celebrities with similar skin tones and features to yourself

Blonde to brunette sounds a more drastic transition than it actually is just check out Reese Witherspoon, Ashlee Simpson and Britney, who have all taken the plunge from blonde to brunette with gorgeous results

Finding a good colourist is important as colouring your hair a darker shade may require the colourist to "fill" your hair first then the desired colour formula is applied. (A "fill" is like a "primer" before you apply your foundation). For those with a more nervous temperament- why not try lowlights, which allows you to see a more gradual change in colour

Once you achieved the right shade of brunette, it is important to keep your brand new colour in good nick! Using a specialist shampoo and conditioner will prevent undesired colour fade.

For more high maintenance hair over the New Year party season, try my new 4 Brunettes glossing glimmer serum from my new BLING party range. Smooth the serum onto dry hair for a shimmering finish, keeping flyaway hair under control. It’s packed full of vitamins too, to give colour vitality and shine!