The ‘Hairdresser Stroke’ – should I be concerned?

You would be forgiven for thinking that a wash, cut and blow dry should be a safe experience as there’s relatively little that can go wrong, particularly if you’re not having a colour applied and as such don’t have to worry about the often noxious chemicals used. However, there is a key health risk involved, and one which is not widely known about.

Colloquially, this is known as ‘Hairdresser’s Stroke’. Thankfully it’s rare, but it certainly can happen; Evidence is more anecdotal than scientific at this stage, but some hairdressers – and clientele – have reported suffering from strokes shortly after attending an appointment.

The thinking behind this suggests that the issue occurs whilst your hair is being washed. Anyone familiar with salons will of course be used to leaning their head back so that their neck rests against the specially-shaped hairdresser’s sink, whilst your hair is washed.

It’s believed that this is the cause – pressure damage to the arteries in your neck caused by having your neck at the wrong angle, which can then lead to clots developing which in turn cause the stroke.

At this stage, there’s little scientific study so it’s hard to advise how to avoid it, but we would strongly recommend that you only rest your neck lightly.

How to Keep your Hair Beautiful all day Long

You can spend hours doing your hair in the morning, especially if it is a hair washing day- we all understand how long that process can take! When you invest time and effort, you want your hair to continue to look beautiful. Here are some tips:

• Use a good hair spray. If your hair is prone to being messy, choose one that gives extra strong hold.
  Use a smoothing cream. This will help protect your hair from damp weather, preventing frizz.
• Invest in a quality shampoo. Hair that is healthy will be less flyaway.
• Choose a style that will last. If it is a rainy or windy day, go for a tousled, curly look and seal it in with firm holding hair products.
• Carry a hair brush with you at all times. You never know when you might need it.
• Keep your hair dry. Use a hood or umbrella to keep hair free from moisture.

Donating your Hair to Charity

If you are thinking of having your hair cut shorter, it might be nice to donate it to a charity. This will usually then be used to make wigs for people who might be unwell. These wigs will be very high quality, as they will be made from real human hair and will look much more realistic.

Talk to your stylist before your haircut if you are thinking of donating your hair. They will be able to cut your hair in such a way as to make it suitable to send off to charity. It will need to be a certain length – check with the charity you are going to send it to. If you hair is too short, it probably cannot be used to make a wig.

You will also need to make sure you hair is in good condition. If you have very fine hair or lots of breakage, improve the condition before considering a cut.

Are Hair Extensions Right for you?

Hair extensions are a good choice for people who want to increase the length of their hair or make it look thicker. They are a way of changing your hair quickly and relatively permanently without having to wait for it to grow. However, they can be a lot of hard work and you need to be fully aware of how to care for your hair extensions before deciding to have them fitted.

If you are committed to looking after your hair extensions, you are much more likely to enjoy having them. You will need to use specific shampoos, conditioners and hair products to complement your particular extensions. You will also need to visit your hair extension salon for a maintenance appointment every few weeks or months. This will give your stylist the chance to replace any bonds and refresh your extensions. Extensions can be great but just make sure you are fully prepared for them.