Hairdressing and general hair care topics 

1. Sometimes I suffer from bald patches on my head and it’s very embarrassing. What is it, and what can I do?

Firstly stay calm, (stress can make it worse) it's non life threatening, and your family and friends can’t catch it, and that’s good news! Sadly that won’t make you feel any better about how it makes you look and feel, but there is treatment available for you.

This condition is called ‘Alopecia Areata’ which virtually means, baldness in patches and spots. It is generally considered to be hereditary and often related to an autoimmune disorder, but additional stress can also contribute to this condition. Happily for 90% of sufferers (even if left untreated) the hair will grow back in approximately 12 months. This condition is sometimes treated with steroids.

We would definitely recommend consulting your doctor for treatment in the first instance. This particular hair loss condition is also often treated by hair and scalp specialists known as ‘trichologists’. In the past we have referred many clients to Dr. David Salinger at Glenelg. For more information visit the web site www.trichology.edu.au/ds, or phone him for an appointment on 8296 4098. (No medical referral is required)
You can find him and other qualified trichologists in the Yellow Pages.  We do not suggest you ignore this problem as it may worsen if left untreated.

At Scamps Hair Studio we are happy to do an initial consultation for you, FREE of charge. 

 2. I recently had a baby and now I seem to be losing more hair than usual every day. Is this normal?

After childbirth the hormones in our bodies are often out of kilter. This can result in a higher loss of hair (natural hair fall) than you had previously noticed.

Average hair shedding per day is approx 50-100 hairs. As your body adjusts to the massive changes that have occurred, the increased loss should abate and return to the usual amount of loss you experienced prior to your pregnancy.  If the increased loss persists (after 12 months) you may be wise to consult your doctor or a qualified trichologist. During, and after pregnancy, we girls have to endure all sorts of changes to our body, hair, skin, nails etc, but don’t worry too much, everything will eventually return to normal.

At Scamps Hair Studio we can recommend qualified professionals who can help you.  

3. I am sick and tired of my children coming home from school with head lice. What can I do to prevent this?

There are some very good products on the market that assist in the prevention of head lice, but unfortunately at some time in their lives most kids will inevitably get a dose of the ‘little devils’. It is usually more prevalent when they are at primary school, because when they’re younger they seem to have closer contact with their friends during play time. Head lice cannot fly or jump from one head to another. They need direct ‘head to head’ contact to infest another person.

More often that not, if the lice return in the short term, it is usually because they have not been completely eradicated with the first treatment. Eggs take 6-7 days to hatch, so it is vital that you repeat the treatment in 6-7 days time. Also make sure you wash their pillow cases in hot water or tumble dry them on hot. By the way, you can usually judge how long the lice have been there by how far down the length of the hair the eggs are visible, because they are usually laid very close to the scalp, where it’s nice and warm.  

OPTION 1 (If infestation is not too great)

The most cost effective way to remove head lice is with conditioner and a very fine toothed ‘lice comb’. The conditioner (preferably a fairly thick one) should be liberally applied starting at the scalp area at the nape and work it all the way through the whole head (roots to tips). This works because the conditioner stuns the lice a bit (so you don’t have to chase them) and makes the hair slippery so their claws can’t grip the hair as well and that gives you enough time to remove the lice and their eggs. Comb all the conditioner out onto a white paper towel so you can see what is being removed.  Repeat this process every couple of days until no lice or eggs are visible on the paper towel.

OPTION 2 (Heavier or repeated infestation)

If your first efforts to remove the ‘little devils’ have been frustrated, then it’s time to bring in the big guns!

You will need to purchase a specific product to kill the lice and remove the eggs. A lot of these products contain harsh chemicals which some parents may find unacceptable for use on their children.

Our hairdressing salons at Morphett Vale and Aberfoyle Park both stock two excellent brands of MILD head lice products. Eco for Kids, and PPS.  AND THE GOOD NEWS IS, we have ‘THE BOMB’. (Eco approved, and Australian made and owned).

In the ‘Eco for Kids’ range, (all natural and made from pure organic indigenous Australian oils) they have ‘the bomb’ which is specifically made to kill the lice, and by using the special ‘lice’ comb you can remove them and their eggs. Again we recommend retreating the hair in 6-7 days. 

NO chemicals, NO sulphates, NO parabens, NO silicone, No artificial preservatives, NO artificial colours and NO synthetics.

Eco for Kids also has a daily leave-in conditioner, designed to assist in the prevention of head lice.

PLEASE NOTE: 'Eco for Kids' is not just for kids.

For the discerning consumer who wants only guaranteed natural organic shampoos and conditioners, Eco for Kids has other shampoos and conditioners (not just for lice problems) that can be used by adults as well as children. Go Green Now!

 4. My girls go to swimming lessons regularly and now they look like the ‘Jolly Green Giants’ with their weird green hair. Why is this happening, and how can I get rid of it?

Most public swimming pools really UP the dose of chlorine to ensure no bacteria/bugs, etc can negatively affect their customers, and this is what turns the hair that lovely shade of pale green. Commercial pool owners are also legally required to maintain a higher safety chlorine level than would be needed/required at a private pool. I am assuming that the girls have light coloured hair because the ‘greening’ affect is usually more noticeable in blondes.

Firstly, prevention is better than cure, so make sure in future they wear a cap (whether they like it or not).

Secondly, apply some conditioner to the ends of the hair that may escape from under the cap and will still soak up that chlorinated water.

If they absolutely protest about the not so pretty cap, you could try to prevent future greening by applying a heavy conditioner/treatment to all the hair and then tying it up prior to swimming. The conditioner will act as a barrier to prevent too much penetration. It is also vital that you shampoo their hair immediately after swimming.  A good deep cleansing (clarifying) shampoo should do the trick in future. 

TO REMOVE EXISTING (MINOR) GREEN COLOUR

Firstly shampoo using a paste mixture of a good quality deep cleansing (clarifying) shampoo and bicarb soda. Apply thoroughly to all the hair and massage/rub well for a few minutes into the green areas. Leave for 5 minutes, rinse out and then repeat the process. Condition as normal. If green is still visible you have two more options after the initial shampooing is finished.

OPTION 1 (Mum’s old fashioned remedy)

After the paste mixture shampoo process, apply tomato sauce, (YES, I do mean regular tomato sauce, and home brand will do) to all of the remaining green areas and rub well in. Keep massaging the sauce into the ends until it reduces the green look. It usually works because the colour red, (found in good old fashioned tomato sauce) counteracts/neutralises the colour green. Unfortunately if the green is still visible you have to go to plan B.

OPTION 2 (Plan B)  

Use the initial paste shampoo technique (to remove excess green) and then shampoo again using a RED coloured shampoo. (Remember red counteracts green). Really work the shampoo through the green areas of hair for two or three minutes, then leave it in the hair for 5-10 minutes, repeat if necessary.

Condition using a leave-in conditioner. You can find out more about coloured shampoos in our FAQ Colour section. If all this fails because the green is too strong, or has been there too long, you may need to have a semi-permanent toner colour done at the salon.

At Scamps Hair Studio we are happy to assist in ‘Green’ removal

5. I suffer a lot of embarrassment from dandruff flakes showing on my clothes. I have tried several dandruff shampoos but it always comes back. What else can I do?

Firstly let me say that you may not really have dandruff. Dandruff is a pale lemon/yellowy colour and most people actually suffer from a dry flaky scalp condition commonly known as scurf, which has small white flakes. Sometimes if you use a specific dandruff product (which can sometimes strip the natural oils and dry the scalp out) it can often make the problem worse, not better. Consult your stylist to ascertain which condition you really have before treating the problem again. If it is simply a dry flaky scalp I recommend you buy a good bristle brush and brush your hair/scalp regularly to remove the excess flakes before shampooing with the correct shampoo. The skin on your scalp is just like the skin on your body, in as much as the dry dead skin cells need to be removed and this can be achieved with regular ‘on scalp’ brushing. After a few good regular brushings you will notice a marked improvement. If however, you do have true dandruff then seek professional advice as to the appropriate mild dandruff product (that actually works) which is just right for you.

At Scamps we stock the SP specialty range of products which has several shampoos and treatments that will solve both conditions.

6. I am about to undergo chemotherapy and I have been told I will probably start to lose my hair very soon. Is there anything I can do to prevent this?

It is very sad that you are about to experience this extreme life-saving treatment, but unfortunately your crowning glory will (in most cases) have to pay the ultimate price, and no, there is nothing you can do to prevent it and the only good thing about that is, IT WILL GROW BACK! 

After your course of chemo is finished, the follicles (the hair root) will automatically start to regenerate new growth. There is an excellent product called ‘Nioxin’ that will help to promote a more rapid recovery of healthy hair growth. It is generally used to assist in preventing hair loss, but works really well to promote new growth too.    

We wish you well with your treatment.

A TRUE STORY YOU OR A FRIEND MIGHT RELATE TO

I thought I would share some more info re this all too common problem facing more and more of us these days. I have a really good girlfriend who was undergoing chemo a few years ago, and she was particularly distressed to wake up and see lots of hair on her pillow each morning. To overcome this very traumatic daily occurrence she ‘bit the bullet’ and asked me to clipper it all off, in one hit. It was important to her to not have to look at clumps of her lost hair every day, (because it just reminded her of what lay ahead) and she said, by clippering it all off herself, she would have control over at least one thing that was happening to her.   

Then off we went wig shopping. Three places that provide a reasonable choice of styles and prices are ‘Hairific’ Hair and Wig consultants, located in the Royal Adelaide Hospital, (they will also cut your new crowning glory to suit you), ‘Arturo Taverna’ salon at Torrensville and ‘Bonnie Wigs’ in the Adelaide Arcade.  I have to add we did have a bit of a laugh (sometimes if you don’t laugh you might just cry, instead) at the ‘trying on stage’ of the wigs, because lots of them looked like a tea cosy was perched on my friend’s newly bald head. But eventually we succeeded in getting something suitable, but we were still a bit disappointed at the affordable variety on offer.  

If you, or a loved one, have to undergo treatment which results in hair loss, we hope you find this information helpful.

If you do suffer hair loss and you’re not into the whole wig thing and would rather adopt the turban/head scarf approach, then don’t be too disappointed at the shortage of (attractive) choices available locally. At the time we found it to be sadly lacking in Adelaide. My friend commented, tongue in cheek, ‘I wouldn’t be caught dead in that ugly thing’.

BUT we did find a fantastic web site in the USA, www.headcovers.com  and they have all sorts of reasonably priced, cute, funky, modern head gear (and wigs)  that may help to brighten up your day, so if you can’t source anything you like locally, have a look there. 

If you have any problems/questions that your regular hairdresser can't solve/answer, or, that aren’t aready addressed on our web site, please send us an email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   and we’ll do our best to help you.