FAQs

At Glow with Alison, I strive to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for anyone looking for hair replacement.

I am dedicated to providing personalised services that cater to each client's unique needs, regardless of their gender identity. I understand the importance of creating a safe space where everyone can feel comfortable and respected, and I actively promote this in all my interactions with clients.

My private home salon offers a gender-neutral environment, and I am trained to be sensitive to the concerns and needs of all my clients. At Glow with Alison, I embrace diversity and am committed to creating a positive salon experience for everyone who comes to see me.

You must be aged 16 years or over to book a consultation and receive services from Glow with Alison. Those aged 16 or 17 will need parental consent and be required to bring a parent, care giver or responsible adult (aged 18+) to the appointment.

At Glow with Alison I specialise in hair toppers – a low commitment, low maintenance option for those with thin hair or hair loss looking to add coverage and thickness through the top of the head.

The hair used at Glow with Alison is 100% human double drawn remy hair.

'Double drawn' hair has been carefully selected and processed to ensure that the majority of the hairs in a bundle are of the same length. Shorter hairs are removed by hand leaving only long hairs, so the hair used has a consistent thickness and fullness from root to tip.

'Remy hair' refers to human hair that has been prepared in a specific way to keep the cuticle layer of the hair shaft intact and aligned in the same direction. This results in hair that looks and feels natural, is easy to style and doesn't tangle easily.

More than 80% of hair for toppers comes from Asia. The hair is cut from the donor in its natural state, meaning it hasn’t been dyed, permed or chemically treated beforehand. Once collected, it’s professionally refined and coloured to create soft, wearable shades and textures.

If your hair is less than around 4 inches long (collar-length), please WhatsApp a photo to me here. Hair toppers need some length to blend naturally, so this allows me to check whether one will work for you, or to suggest other options.

All clients need to have a consultation before committing to a clip-in hair topper. Not only does it allow me to thoroughly assess your hair and suitability, but it also gives you the opportunity to ask questions and decide whether my services are right for your needs. Because I need to evaluate the texture, thickness, overall condition and colour, I am unable to accept photos or videos except to give you an idea of what might be possible before your consultation. I need to see you in real life, meaning we can also have a chat and get to know each other too.

The health of your natural hair is my top priority. During the consultation, I will assess its condition, identify any issues, and suggest improvements to your haircare routine.

And finally, colour. Achieving a seamless blend between your own hair and the hair topper is vital for a natural-looking result. At the consultation, I will examine your hair colour in person and determine the best match for you against my many hair colour swatches. This part is especially fun!

If you'd like to book your consultation, simply click here and choose a date and time that suits.

Prior to your consultation, if you usually colour your hair this will need to be done at least a week before to allow accurate colour matching of your clip-in hair topper. The dye needs time to settle into its long-term colour. Hair should also be clean and free from any products.

No, fitting appointments are for the hair topper not your natural hair.

For your consultation, it's best to have your natural hair in your chosen style and colour so the hair topper can be matched. If you're ordering a custom topper, your hair should still be a close match at the fitting (about 6-8 weeks later).

The time varies between clients but on average it takes around one hour. My salon is very friendly and homely, and you are encouraged to ask as many questions as you need to in order to feel ready to wear your new clip-in hair topper with pride.

Yes of course, but it's advised to only use products that are sulphate-free as some products can shorten the lifespan and quality of hair. Sulphates are chemicals that are added to hair products to make them foam up, however, they strip the natural oil from your hair and create tangling, knots and breakage. A big no-no for hair toppers.

A full aftercare guide will be provided for your clip-in hair topper once you have booked in for your first fitting. Check out the Alison Loves page for the low-down on the products I recommend.

This is a tricky one… the amount of conflicting information out there about sulphates in haircare products is bonkers… so it’s not surprising you may be feeling a bit bamboozled! Let’s break it down…

What are sulphates?

In simple terms, sulphates are a type of salt that foam up and grab on to both oil and water molecules and wash them away - making them a very effective ingredient in cleaning products

But they sound like a good thing to have in shampoo?

Well, they are a bit too good, and that can be a problem. Having squeaky clean hair is great in theory, but they can strip away the natural oils from your scalp, leaving your hair prone to dryness, dehydration and the dreaded frizz. There are lots of other reasons why hair becomes dry of course (heat styling, bleaching etc), but sulphates can play their part too.

Why are they not recommended for hair toppers then?

Hair toppers aren’t attached to your scalp, so they miss out on natural oils being distributed down the hair shaft. Add to that a shampoo that potentially already has a drying effect, and you could be left with dry, brittle hair on the topper. They can also cause your topper hair to fade in colour.

So what’s the final verdict?

Well, whilst there isn’t any official proof that sulphates will damage your hair topper, there is plenty of experiential evidence stacked against them. If you go sulphate-free you’ll still need a shampoo that cleanses thoroughly, rinses out easily and doesn’t leave a build up.

Ultimately your choice of aftercare products will greatly affect how long your hair topper will last. So choose wisely, you want to protect your investment. Check out the Alison Loves page for my recommendations.

Yes, you can style your clip-in hair topper – they can be styled in many different ways, just like your natural hair. However, it's important to use your hairdryer and heat styling tools carefully and take extra care when brushing or combing the topper to avoid damaging it. Always use a heat protector spray, ensure your hairdryer is set to a low heat setting and keep heated tools away from the base of your topper.

Always style your clip-in hair topper when it's attached to a block head. This is to ensure there's no tugging or pressure on your natural hair.

You will be provided with a full aftercare guide when booking your fitting.

Clip-in toppers are a temporary hair enhancement solution, meaning they shouldn’t be worn all the time.

Any attachment to your hair – whether that's clips, extensions, or anything else – has the potential to cause traction alopecia over time. The key is to minimise that risk with a proper fit and by varying how you secure your hair topper. I also make sure that the toppers I offer use cushioned clips with long teeth to provide a secure hold while being gentler on your natural hair.

Alongside clips, I offer alternative attachment methods like combs, topper grips, hair velcro, and even styling suggestions like headbands or colourful headscarves.

Changing things up and finding what works for you is the best way to keep your natural hair happy and healthy.

You will be provided with a full aftercare guide when booking your fitting.

Sleeping whilst wearing a clip-in hair topper is not advised at all as the clips will damage your natural hair.

Swimming whilst wearing a clip-in hair topper is not advised at all as the water will damage the base and hair, and cause damage to your natural hair at the point where it is attached.

Sun cream can potentially cause damage to a clip-in hair topper if it comes into direct contact with it. The chemicals and oils in sun cream can cause the hair to become dry, tangled, or discoloured, which can be difficult to repair. The ingredients to look out for are Avobenzone and Octocrylene so make sure your choice of sun protection does not contain these.

Fake tan can also cause hair on a topper to become discoloured. Being cautious during application and taking steps to minimise contact between the tanning product and the topper is essential.

If your topper comes into contact with suncream or fake tan and subsequently turned pink, Malibu C Hard Water sachets are the best way to remove the discolouration.

Full details are provided in the aftercare guide you receive when booking your fitting.

I recommend a number of products to keep your hair topper in tip-top condition, check those out on the Alison Loves page here. In addition to these, I sell the following in my home salon:

• Detangling brush

• Wide-tooth comb

• Knot Blur Pen

The lifespan of clip-in toppers can vary depending on several factors like the quality of the hair, aftercare, and the amount of wear and tear they experience.

At your topper fitting appointment you will receive a comprehensive guide to aftercare, but in the meantime, take a look at this page of the website.

Clip-in toppers are expected to last up to 12 months+ with the correct aftercare.

Because clip-in hair toppers are tailored so specifically to you as an individual, prices vary greatly according to your needs and preferences, and of course availability. The type of base, length, density and colour all make a difference to the overall cost.

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This means that there is no one-size-fits-all pricing structure, and a consultation is required to talk through the solution that would work for you before a price can be given. However as a guide, please head over to this page.

I take card payments that are collected through my booking software or bank transfers.

Consultations take 60 mins – we will talk about your hair journey and what you'd like to achieve with your Clip-in Hair Topper (coverage, length, colour etc). and determine what might work best for you. If there is a topper in stock that fits the bill, your consultation will incorporate purchase, fitting and styling of the topper for you to take away.

A non-refundable £15 booking fee guarantees your time slot, and is then taken off the balance of your topper if you decide to go ahead with a purchase.

If you do not turn up, you cancel, or you change the date of your appointment within 48 hours of the original time/date, a new deposit will be required to rebook. If you reschedule or cancel more than 48 hours in advance, your £15 deposit will be refunded or transferred to your future booking.

If your topper needs to be made, after a quote is obtained and agreed, a non-refundable deposit of 85% is payable. The remaining 15% is payable on the day of the fitting appointment once the piece is received. Regrettably, once your deposit has been paid and order placed, if you decide to cancel you will not receive a refund due to your item being handmade to your specific requirements.

If your chosen topper is in stock, full payment will be required before the topper is styled and cut. If an advanced cut is required, a further appointment will be made at Glow with Alison where a trusted hairdresser will attend at no extra cost to you.