Frequently Asked Questions
Click the relevant topic below for help with your query.
{SALON} has a firm focus on keeping our clients and team safe. As well as maintaining a spotless salon, we also adhere to all of the Government guidelines regarding Covid, including social distancing and personal hygiene. Read about our Covid safety measures here {COVID}
We love welcoming clients old and new into {SALON} in {LOCATION}. You can see our opening times here {CONTACT}
It's very easy to book a hair appointment at {SALON}. You can call us on {PHONE}, book online here {BOOK} or download our apps {APPS}
Our stylists are highly trained and experienced in cutting and styling hair. We can create a wide range of looks including short chic haircuts, mid-length styles, bobs and lobs, and long hairstyles for women. We also offer a haircutting and styling service for men.
Yes. Our highly trained hair colour technicians are experts in balayage and ombre hair colour. Find out more about balayage here {COLOUR}
Yes, we offer free hair consultations to help you find the perfect haircut, style or colour for you. During a detailed hair consultation we will analyse your hair, discuss your daily hair routines and come up with some ideas of hairstyles and colours that will suit you.
We are a unisex salon offering haircutting and styling for men and women. Find out more about our men's hair services here {MENS}
All our stylists are highly trained but some have more experience than others which is reflected in their job titles and our pricing structure. If you are looking for a complex hair colour such as balayage, ombre or even a colour correction, we recommend you book in with one of our more experienced colourists. If you are unsure, please call the salon on {PHONE} and we can help match the right stylist to your hair needs.
Our prices vary depending on which level of stylist you choose and whether you are booking in for a trim or a restyle. You can check all of our prices here {PRICES}
We are the top hairdressers in {LOCATION} and have dozens of five star salon reviews from delighted guests. You can read some of our reviews here {REVIEWS} to find out why we are the number one salon in {LOCATION} for cutting, styling and hair colour.
We open late (until 8pm) Monday to Friday at both of our Stoke Newington salons. Check out our opening times here.
Our clients tell us we are the best hair salons in Stoke Newington because we offer such a great range of hair services as well as five star customer service. Check out our 5 star client reviews here.
We offer a wide range of hair styling services at both our North London salon locations including; expert hair colour, balayage, gents cuts, hair treatments, grey hair coverage, hair colour correction and creative colours.
Yes! We have a team of highly trained hair colour technicians at each Shine hair salon who are real masters of the balayage hair colouring technique. You can find out more about balayage services at Shine here.
We have fantastic Late Deals at both of our Stoke Newington hair salons, which are updated weekly. Check them out here.
Yes. We are official suppliers of Davines haircare, due to their dedication to sustainability and quality. Your Shine Hairstylist will recommend the best products to match your individual hair type.
Though they use many of the same techniques and depth of pressure, a Sports Massage would focus on a specific injury, if that is what you have booked in to get help for. Depending on your injury your Practitioner at Shine health salons in North London would potentially include resisted stretches and other mobilisation techniques to help you.
A Sports Massage would not be a holistic full body treatment. Whereas a Deep Tissue massage can still focus on a specific issue, but you can also have an all-over treatment with deep tissue. However, you may be advised to keep the focus on key areas of tension, as you need time for your muscles to allow the deep tissue work to take place. Each treatment is tailor-made to your needs. Your Practitioner can advise you accordingly. Feel free to email our Practitioners directly to ask about your condition or symptoms.
Anxiety can be treated in different ways, so it depends on your preference. If you enjoy the power of touch, then massage, reflexology or craniosacral therapy can be amazing at easing the nervous system. However perhaps you want to look at the cause of your anxiety through what you are putting into your body, so we could recommend seeing a Nutritionist, Naturopath or Homeopath to see if there is some form of imbalance to address.
Another option is to look holistically through Acupuncture, to see if you have any blockages of Chi and are dealing with overstimulation in your kidneys for example. Finding the right treatment can be like an adventure, as you get to ask yourself, what do I feel I could really do with? Do I need to be more physically relaxed? Or do I just really need to talk to someone? We have great counsellors at hand also.
Feel free to email our Practitioners directly to ask about your condition or symptoms, else you can contact the clinic manager sophie@shineholistic.co.uk. Also see our blogs below for more guidance: How to relieve anxiety and stress with Meditation, A naturopathic approach to stress, anxiety and depression, The Gut: The Gateway to Health? Polyvagal Theory Explained.
Yes! We are blessed to have two highly skilled women who have been practising for over 20 years each, who often treat people through their whole fertility journey. Meet Marian Fixler and Valeria Frank, our two resident experts in the field of Acupuncture for Fertility. It can also be amazing to include Reflexology into your journey and pregnancy.
Feel free to email our Practitioners directly to ask about your condition or symptoms, else you can contact the clinic manager sophie@shineholistic.co.uk.
We need up to 24 hours notice for you to cancel. If you cancel within 24hours of treatment, you will be asked to pay the full amount of your treatment as the cancellation fee. Find all of our Contact information here.
Getting to the bottom of what is happening can feel overwhelming, especially when there may be a few things going on within your current health that are adding to the sense of fatigue. From hormonal changes, dietary concerns to long covid, we have experts on hand to help you better understand what is happening.
As a first port of call we would recommend seeing a Nutritionist, who may suggest certain tests to review your gut. Also we would recommend seeing an Acupuncturist who can check in with your overall well being and check for any blockages in energy throughout your whole system. You can also visit a Cranial Osteopath if you'd prefer to not have Acupuncture, or if you'd like a bodywork component added to your care. If you have a sense of needing more emotional or mental health support, we have a wealth of Talk Based therapies such as Counselling on hand.
As always you can email our Clinic Manager today sophie@shineholistic.co.uk if you would like further guidance.
We are always open to offering space to the right people. At Shine we have such a high calibre of Practitioners that we always ask for at least 5 years of experience in your chosen field. We do not simply rent rooms, you would be joining a team of professionals and will be supported by a highly trained front of house team. Email your CV to our Clinic Manager today sophie@shineholistic.co.uk.
We would suggest that you book either with a Cranial Osteopath or with a Craniosacral Therapist. Both of which offer similar techniques and incredible expertise. See who is available for the time that suits you and your baby best.
Cranial Osteopathy for Pregnancy, explained by Rehana Kapadia.
Cranial Osteopathy is very much concerned about the balance of the body and this means attention to the spine, certainly, but also extends from the head to the pelvis, limbs and includes the internal organs.
During pregnancy, the early surges of hormones can be very demanding on the new mum-to-be and may result in first trimester fatigue and possible nausea. Subsequent softening of ligaments, through hormonal (relaxin) influence and increasing size of the growing foetus, will alter the mechanics of the body. Pregnancy is, of course, a natural and dynamic process and the female body is designed to adapt accordingly.
The approach taken by the cranial osteopath is to assess and support the body, as it changes, to ensure continuity of health for both mum-to-be and growing baby. For some women, the change of posture from the increasing weight of the baby can create so much tension or increased curvature in the mum’s lower spine, that it causes backpain. Also, the abdominal organs are progressively pushed toward the diaphragm and ribs to provide space for the baby and may result in breathlessness or heartburn. Increasing pressure on the bladder often leads to increased urgency (especially at night) and ligament strain in the pelvis can manifest in SPD or symphysis pubic dysfunction. Osteopathic treatment is geared toward encouraging overall health and specifically to good pelvic balance, release of pressure on the spine and internal organs and ease of movement of the diaphragm and pelvic floor, to allow full engagement for the baby in later stages and optimise a normal labour and delivery.
Ideally, Cranial Osteopaths like to see new babies and mums soon after the birth, as it gives us an invaluable opportunity to provide a check up.
We are trained to examine neonates in both a medical context to check muscle tone, primitive reflexes, assess hips for dysplasia and feet for possible talipes (rotated feet), and also consider the conception, pregnancy and birth history to be part of the babies health story. Seeing a new baby, taking it’s history and carrying out an assessment allows the cranial osteopath to ascertain whether, for example, a baby who is very unsettled was affected by a very quick or prolonged delivery, or whether a baby who is struggling to latch on, may have had the cord around it’s neck and affected it’s ability to coordinate sucking and breathing efficiently.
Cranial Osteopathy for Baby
The balance of the head on the neck is of crucial significance to the development of the overall posture of the body and in many cases the position of the baby in the uterus and the stresses placed upon it during the birth can imprint a pattern into which it will grow.
One such pattern, that we are seeing more of, is that of the ‘flat head syndrome’ where babies have an asymmetry or ‘plagiocephaly’, which, if left untreated, can go on to manifest into a scoliosis and pelvic torsion.
For osteopaths, if a pattern of compression, asymmetry or postural imbalance is left unchecked, even at a subtle level, the baby’s capacity to meet the normal developmental milestones, such as teething, rolling, sitting, crawling and walking can be compromised.
Rehana Kapadia, Osteopath at Shine Holistic
As primary care practitioners, cranial osteopaths feel that being able to ‘check in’ intermittently throughout a patient’s life will ensure a preventative and proactive approach to health.
In addition, if a person can be treated to correct imbalances arising from birth issues, childhood falls, illness, orthodontics, pubertal growth spurts, work strains and accidents, thus promoting health, it can only give the body a better chance of coping with the stresses that are an inevitable part of life.
Speak to your Practitioner to be advised how often to have treatment. It will depend upon what you are dealing with, be it an acute injury, chronic health condition, stresses and strains, or post pregnancy. They will let you know after your 1st appointment how regularly to come and see them for optimum results. When you are in a much better balance within your body, they will let you know and will be happy to see you as and when required.
We are proud to have a team of skincare experts at Shine who offer an excellent range of high-performing facial treatments from industry-leading brands such as CACI, Dermalogica and Comfort Zone.
Your Shine beauty therapist will identify your skin type, the condition of your skin and recommend the most suitable facial for you during your consultation. Until then, click here to read more about our range of facial treatments.
Yes. We have an in-house aesthetician, Dr Martinez, whose approach to anti-wrinkle injections and dermofillers is based on “less is more”. He has a subtle approach to these cosmetic procedures and believes a thorough consultation is key to fully understand client’s expectations and develop a personalised treatment. For more information, including pricing, click here.
We sure do. Our 'Shine Signature Packages' have been lovingly created for the ultimate pampering experience! They include everything from Manicure & Pedicure combinations to relaxing Facial, Massage & Nail combinations. Discover the range here.
All our Beauty Packages are also available to buy as GIFT VOUCHERS for your loved ones.
Yes, we are fully trained in all the very latest brow techniques including brow and lash lamination which can transform your look in an instant! Find out more about our full range of brow and lash treatments here.
Yes. Whether it's a Hollywood, Brazilian, Lip or Chin wax - we've got you covered. For maximum results with minimum discomfort, we use only the best quality tea tree wax, or for the more delicate areas choose our Lycon hot wax.
You can also buy 5 sessions of the same waxing services and receive the 6th FREE! Click here to find out more.
Cranial Osteopathy for Pregnancy, explained by Rehana Kapadia.
Cranial Osteopathy is very much concerned about the balance of the body and this means attention to the spine, certainly, but also extends from the head to the pelvis, limbs and includes the internal organs.
During pregnancy, the early surges of hormones can be very demanding on the new mum-to-be and may result in first trimester fatigue and possible nausea. Subsequent softening of ligaments, through hormonal (relaxin) influence and increasing size of the growing foetus, will alter the mechanics of the body. Pregnancy is, of course, a natural and dynamic process and the female body is designed to adapt accordingly.
The approach taken by the cranial osteopath is to assess and support the body, as it changes, to ensure continuity of health for both mum-to-be and growing baby. For some women, the change of posture from the increasing weight of the baby can create so much tension or increased curvature in the mum’s lower spine, that it causes backpain. Also, the abdominal organs are progressively pushed toward the diaphragm and ribs to provide space for the baby and may result in breathlessness or heartburn. Increasing pressure on the bladder often leads to increased urgency (especially at night) and ligament strain in the pelvis can manifest in SPD or symphysis pubic dysfunction. Osteopathic treatment is geared toward encouraging overall health and specifically to good pelvic balance, release of pressure on the spine and internal organs and ease of movement of the diaphragm and pelvic floor, to allow full engagement for the baby in later stages and optimise a normal labour and delivery.
Ideally, Cranial Osteopaths like to see new babies and mums soon after the birth, as it gives us an invaluable opportunity to provide a check up.
We are trained to examine neonates in both a medical context to check muscle tone, primitive reflexes, assess hips for dysplasia and feet for possible talipes (rotated feet), and also consider the conception, pregnancy and birth history to be part of the babies health story. Seeing a new baby, taking it’s history and carrying out an assessment allows the cranial osteopath to ascertain whether, for example, a baby who is very unsettled was affected by a very quick or prolonged delivery, or whether a baby who is struggling to latch on, may have had the cord around it’s neck and affected it’s ability to coordinate sucking and breathing efficiently.
Cranial Osteopathy for Baby
The balance of the head on the neck is of crucial significance to the development of the overall posture of the body and in many cases the position of the baby in the uterus and the stresses placed upon it during the birth can imprint a pattern into which it will grow.
One such pattern, that we are seeing more of, is that of the ‘flat head syndrome’ where babies have an asymmetry or ‘plagiocephaly’, which, if left untreated, can go on to manifest into a scoliosis and pelvic torsion.
For osteopaths, if a pattern of compression, asymmetry or postural imbalance is left unchecked, even at a subtle level, the baby’s capacity to meet the normal developmental milestones, such as teething, rolling, sitting, crawling and walking can be compromised.
Rehana Kapadia, Osteopath at Shine Holistic
As primary care practitioners, cranial osteopaths feel that being able to ‘check in’ intermittently throughout a patient’s life will ensure a preventative and proactive approach to health.
In addition, if a person can be treated to correct imbalances arising from birth issues, childhood falls, illness, orthodontics, pubertal growth spurts, work strains and accidents, thus promoting health, it can only give the body a better chance of coping with the stresses that are an inevitable part of life.
Speak to your Practitioner to be advised how often to have treatment. It will depend upon what you are dealing with, be it an acute injury, chronic health condition, stresses and strains, or post pregnancy. They will let you know after your 1st appointment how regularly to come and see them for optimum results. When you are in a much better balance within your body, they will let you know and will be happy to see you as and when required.
Alfredo explains that, many times pregnant mums come for CST after the first trimester presenting with lower back pain, aching legs and feet and a sense of discomfort. Other complaints often include water retention, constipation and occasional headaches or dizziness. These physical ailments can be addressed using CST.
The holistic approach of CST can be extremely powerful in connecting with the body's innate ability to relieve imbalances, tensions, compressions and patterns of stress. During a session mums feel their bodies relax: they can now let go and sink into a deeper and more fluidic sense of being. Many times this experience can feel so moving that it helps mums to spontaneously connect with the baby within them. This can foster a new awareness of the connection and relation between mother and baby.
Craniosacral therapists are skilled at tuning into the connective tissue of the body. This can relax intrauterine pressures, making more space for the growing baby to get into an optimal position for birth. It can also help to release tensions on the spine while supporting the Central Nervous System (CNS) and letting the very important cranial nerves flow at ease. This is of great significance as soft muscle and tissue tone is essential for a smooth pregnancy and easy birth. A soft and connected CNS will help mum and baby to feel spacious, connected, nourished and essentially relaxed.
Once the CNS reaches its crucial state of ease, connection and flow, homeostasis can be aimed for. Homeostasis is the condition where the internal environment is perfectly balanced and still. At this point a balance of hormones, PH, temperature and other vital body systems can begin to be reached starting from within each cell and integrating all the major organs and systems of the body.
After a course of CST sessions mums to be often feel more in tune with their bodies and better prepared for the process of giving birth. The healing experience of CST sets them on the path for a calm, centred and relaxed approach to the birthing process. In this state of mind, the body is relaxed, in optimum health and full of energy and vitality.
Once the baby is born, follow up sessions are highly recommended, as the gentle approach of CST is ideal during this sensitive and emotional time.
After a difficult birth babies can present signs of stress, which of course will translate onto their mum’s sense of ease and wellness. In these cases the healing journey during sessions would be a three person process: mum, baby and therapist. Healing takes place at a soft and nurturing pace, letting mums and babies come back to a state of ease, stillness, rediscovering the original nurturing healthy relationship between the baby and its mum.
Alfredo Hunter works at Shine, Newington Green on Fridays 10 – 3pm for mothers and babies.
As debilitating as it is, it does usually resolve itself. It is uncommon for this pain to persist longer than a couple of months after an acute injury.
Of the cases that do persist the majority of these (around 85%) are what is termed non-specific lower back pain.
One of the main reasons for pain persisting is the development of faulty movement patterns and postures which create repetitive stress on the back. This repetitive strain is what leads to the vicious cycle of pain.
Examples of factors which might influence lower back pain include:
- Use of repetitive postures or movements such as sitting for people with a desk-based job or lifting for nurses/health care assistants
- Muscle strains or sprains
- Lack of exercise resulting in a stiffening of the spine
- Lack of exercise resulting in deconditioning which means you are more likely to strain the back during the performance of everyday activities such as lifting and bending
- Correcting faulty movements and postures will improve the way you load and use your back. However, this alone may not resolve your pain: there are other factors that influence pain and need to be considered and addressed.
Other examples of why back pain may persist are listed below.
- Physical factors (such as altered postural and movement patterns)
- Lifestyle factors (such as chronic stress, activity levels, conditioning and sleep disturbance)
- Cognitive factors (such as beliefs, fear, negative emotions, anxiety and low mood)
- Nervous system factors (such as sensitised structures, reduced pain thresholds, altered pain processing and stress response)
- Structural pathology (which is significant for a small group of people)
Different combinations of the above examples are present for each person with back pain and combine together to cause a vicious cycle of pain.
Research shows that focusing on one aspect of pain alone such as physical influences (posture and movement) is ineffective, especially when pain is long lasting. We have to look at the complete picture as you may be experiencing many different aspects in your bodily systems that can affect your condition, such as your nervous system being on high alert, which can tighten your muslces more and exacerbate the problem more.
An approach to address all of the things which contribute to pain will give the best results. Find out more at our North London Holistic Health Clinics with Expert Osteopaths on hand to help you as well as Massage Practitioners.
Our Resident Osteopath, Andrew Doody, has written a blog dedicated to this very topic!
The essence of a holistic approach is to identify the underlying issues, resolving them, and ensuring you enjoy not just symptom relief but also long-term well-being. It’s about empowering individuals to understand their bodies better and embark on a journey toward holistic wellness.
Read Leon's blog to understand how a combination of Osteopathy and AiM which offers scientific postural analysis can move you into a better range of motion and alleviate painful habituary motion.
Read Sarah's blog if you are interested in seeing how the Alexander Technique can help you to shift into better patterns.
A good night’s sleep is essential to your health, and an important part of your overall well-being. Back pain can significantly affect a person’s ability to get the quality and amount of sleep they need. Furthermore, poor bed posture can worsen or even be the cause of backache in the first place. This is because certain positions can place unnecessary pressure on the neck, hips, and back.
Here are some pointers of how to maximise the quality of sleep you get if you are suffering from back pain.
