real results 

alix

Alix has been coming to my salon since 2020. She’s always had fine hair and worn her hair in a  short bob that really suits her. Always happy and chatty when she comes in. 

But when she came in for her appointment in 2024, I noticed something had changed. She wasn’t her usual cheery self. There was a heaviness about her, like the sparkle had gone. She was quieter, more withdrawn, and I could sense an anxious, maybe even slightly depressed energy.

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As always, I began our consultation by asking what she wanted to do with her hair that day. But she answered in a flat, distant and not really engaged way, and I knew it just wasn’t her. So I took a moment, pulled up a stool, and gently asked if she was okay. I told her she didn’t seem herself, and asked if she wanted to talk.

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That’s when it all spilled out. “I think I’m perimenopausal,” she said. “I just don’t know what to do. I don’t feel like myself anymore. I’m feeling lost and my hair feels blah, which isn’t helping.”

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We sat together for a while, talking about what she was going through. I shared a bit of my own menopause journey, so she knew she wasn’t alone. We chatted about going to the GP, the benefits of putting a name to what you’re feeling and, even small things like taking care of your hair, can make a big difference to how you feel day to day. This kind of validation can feel truly empowering, offering relief from that sense of being lost which is felt by so many women.

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Before we’d even made it to the backwash, we were already making a plan, not just for her hair, but for helping her feel a bit more like herself again.

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We talked about switching up her haircare routine at home, and I suggested a few scalp serums and products that could help bring back some vitality. For her in-salon look, we decided on a short bob with no layers to help give the illusion of thickness. We also added a soft scattering of highlights for texture and light reflection, subtle, but uplifting.

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The rest of the appointment was full of honesty, laughter, and those “oh my thats me!” moments that come when you’re finally able to talk about menopause with someone who gets it. We bonded over hot flushes, brain fog, and the weird sense of invisibility that sometimes creeps in.

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Before she left, I set her up with a few products to support her at home:

• Maria Nila Volume Shampoo & Conditioner – for body and fullness

• Hairburst Volume & Growth Elixir – to encourage healthy growth and thickness

• Maria Nila Salt Spray – perfect for adding light, natural texture

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This wasn’t just a hair appointment. It was a turning point for Alix, a chance to say “something’s not right,” and to start reclaiming a bit of herself again.

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A word from Alix.

“That appointment changed everything for me. I walked in feeling low, lost, and invisible and I left feeling heard, supported, and just a little more ‘me’. Claire didn’t just cut my hair, she saw me, she listened, and she helped me feel human again. The products she recommended have made such a difference, but more than that, I’ve started to feel like I’m coming back to myself. I’m so grateful for that chat, and for knowing I’m not alone.”
– Alix