Hairdresser Trevor Sorbie helps women in York cope with the trauma of hair loss (From York Press)

Hairdresser Trevor Sorbie helps women in York cope with the trauma of hair loss

9:40am Tuesday 22nd September 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

BETTY Brown’s wig shop in York is an unlikely venue to meet Trevor Sorbie, arguably the best hairdresser in Britain.

The 58-year-old stylist to the stars – who was made an MBE for services to hairdressing and has won the British Hairdresser of the Year award an unprecedented four times – is more used to staging international hair shows or conducting miracle makeovers on morning TV.

But all that changed three years ago when Trevor set up My New Hair, a not-for-profit organisation offering practical advice and support to people suffering hair loss either from cancer treatment or alopecia.

My New Hair, which will become a charity in November, offers specialist training to hairdressers in how to work compassionately with clients suffering hair loss, how to choose the correct wig and cut it in an appropriate style.

To date, Trevor has trained 200 hairdressers across the UK, but wants to at least double that so the service will be available nationwide. He is also forging links overseas to establish similar programmes.

Trevor first realised the impact on a woman of losing her hair when his sister-in-law, Jackie, began treatment for cancer.

“She knew she was going to lose her hair, but still wanted to look attractive to my brother. I told her I’d get her a wig, but when she put it on, it didn’t look very good. So I cut it into a style and when she looked in the mirror, she burst into tears.”

Sadly, Jackie lost her battle with cancer, but she inspired Trevor to help other women suffering medical hair loss.

“I realised the power I had to help her through the most difficult time of her life,” said Trevor.

Today, Trevor no longer cuts hair at £200 a time, and instead dedicates his time to My New Hair, which he says is hugely rewarding.

“The gratification you get working with someone who has been through such a difficult time is far greater than doing anyone’s hair.”

Trevor has now helped thousands of women through the venture. “I call it psychological medicine. Once the doctors have done their job, this is the bit at the end that no one is addressing. There’s a lady who is hopefully getting well, but has no hair. That’s why I want to set up a national network of hairdressers so that within a 30 or 40-minute drive someone can find a salon where I have trained a stylist and can receive help.”

Women in York are already benefiting from the expertise of Emma Romans, who took over Betty Brown Wigs, in Clarence Street, just a year ago and has been trained by Trevor through the My New Hair project.

A former hair stylist who has also worked in the care sector, Emma wanted to offer a compassionate and contemporary service to clients. She has installed a private consultation and fitting area in the shop and can customise wigs to suit individual clients.

She said: “My New Hair is such a great idea because it offers more choice to people.” Emma added women could choose wigs – the average of which costs between £100-£200 – and have them cut into a style similar to what they had before losing their hair, or have a new cut, which suited their face shape, skin tone and personality.

Emma is also planning to set up a support group for local sufferers of alopecia, hopefully next month.

Janis Broadhurst, of York, lost her hair in 2000 and was diagnosed with alopecia. Going bald had a devastating effect, she said. “When I lost my hair, I lost my self esteem and put on lots of weight.”

She began wearing a wig, but felt it looked unrealistic. Things are different now. Emma has cut her latest wig – a dark brown base with blonde highlights – into a funky, modern style, with lots of layers. “It’s wonderful,” said Janis, beaming.

Liz Walker is another of Emma’s customers. She lost her hair through alopecia four years ago when she was 36. “At first, I could not wear a wig. I felt by wearing a wig I was hiding who I was. I got very depressed about it and took a month off work – I couldn’t cope any more.

“I went to a counsellor and never looked back. I had felt like a freak, but the counselling brought my assertiveness back. I lost weight and started to feel better about myself.”

Liz began wearing a wig – again styled by Emma into a choppy, spiky, modern look – and although she is happy with it, it doesn’t make up for the hair she lost.

“When I had hair, I used to go to the hairdressers every six weeks,” said Liz. “I could have it coloured, have it cut a different way. But you are only allowed two wigs on the NHS every year and it is not enough.”

Paul Mayor, the cancer care co-ordinator at York Hospital, provides support services for patients, including help and advice with coping with hair loss.

He said that for women, losing their hair was “a heavy burden” at a time when they were coping with the shock of diagnosis and treatment and that My New Hair was a welcome initiative.

The hospital already referred most patients to Emma for wigs, he said. “This addition will enhance the service for local women.”

• Betty Brown Wigs, Clarence Street, York. Tel: 01904 674242

• Find out more about Trevor’s project at mynewhair.org

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)