With 50 years in hairdressing behind him, Trevor Sorbie is following his passion helping women with medical hair loss

This year Trevor Sorbie is celebrating a half century in hairdressing, he has won the prestigious BHA British Hairdresser of the Year title four times, and in 2004 he was awarded an M.B.E. from the Queen for his dedication and services to hairdressing.

The Trevor Sorbie salons and products have made him a household name and he’s achieved countless awards and accolades, but what stands Trevor Sorbie apart is not his unrivalled success; it’s his desire to help every woman, real women, and especially those suffering from medical hair loss.  In June 2006 Trevor Sorbie launched the charity My New Hair inspired by his own experience of helping a family member through her cancer treatment.

My New Hair ensures that women who lose their hair can maintain their confidence and pride while undergoing medical treatment.  Dedicating much of his time to train a network of hairdressers across the country, Trevor Sorbie is determined that woman should feel as comfortable as possible before, during and after their treatment.  Whether it’s information about obtaining the right wig, where to have it styled or how to care for it, My New Hair is helping women to cope with devastating hair loss. 

We asked Trevor about his career and a little more about his charity My New Hair

Congratulations on celebrating your 50th year in hairdressing.  Over the years you have seen and created some of the most iconic styles, which decade do you feel was the most stylish and creative?

For me the very late 60s and the 70s was the most inspiring and creative time, when new blood was coming through, trying to emulate what Sassoon had achieved and his success

It must give you so much satisfaction and pleasure to be able to use your skills helping women suffering from hair loss, how are you building the My New Hair network so more women can benefit?

Once a month L’Oréal very kindly allow me to use their academy to train 15 hairdressers, and over a 7 year period we’ve trained over 600 hairdressers, which means that within a 30 minute drive of anywhere in the country there is a hairdresser who has been taught to cut and style wigs by me.

What advice would you give a woman who has just found out that her treatment is likely to result in losing all her hair?

My advice for anyone who’s just been diagnosed – the first question you should ask, and they do know the answers to this, is will I lose my hair, when, and how quickly?  If the answer is yes, my first suggestion is to actually go to a reputable wig company.  Trendco would be my first choice – they have branches in Brighton, London, Birmingham and Manchester.  The reason I choose Trendco is because they are not just sales people, they are experts at dealing with people with medical hair loss, and they have a big enough range of wigs, not only in style but also in colours, to satisfy the majority of people’s needs.  Ideally purchase, and have your wig styled, before you lose your hair or chemotherapy starts, to ease the transition.

After chemotherapy should hair be treated any differently when it regrows?

It is extremely common for hair to come back with a different texture and even a different colour.  Over a period of time this will rectify itself, not in every case, but in most cases it will go back to the way it was before.  The medical profession will say that your hair cannot be coloured for six months, and I have to agree with them, but as far as products are concerned make sure you don’t use any harsh chemicals especially close to the scalp, but styling products are not a problem.

Are modern wigs more comfortable to wear and do you have any tips for choosing a suitable wig?

The technology with wigs today is a far cry from 20 years ago.  It is virtually impossible to tell the difference nowadays between a synthetic wig and a real hair wig.  The downside of a wig, especially in the summer, is your head can get very hot because the wig traps the heat at the scalp.  So, it’s advisable only to wear the wig when you’re out and about, then wear a scarf when at home, which will be more comfortable.

How can people get involved in supporting My New Hair?

For hairdressers – L’Oréal produces an educational brochure annually, and the My New Hair seminars are listed in this brochure, which you can then book directly through L’Oréal.  My New Hair is also a registered charity, so one of the best ways to support it and get involved is to fundraise.

For more information visit My New Hair