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A Color Specialist

Styling Professional operating from the West Coast who specialises in grey hair. Among his clientele are celebrated actors and well-known figures.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

I highly recommend a gentle drying cloth, or even a smooth cotton shirt to remove moisture from your strands. Many are unaware how much harm a regular bath towel can do, notably with lightened or dyed strands. A simple switch can really minimize flyaways and damage. Another inexpensive must-have is a broad-toothed comb, to use in the shower. It shields your locks while detangling and helps maintain the integrity of the hair shafts, especially after lightening.

Which investment truly pays off?

A top-tier thermal appliance – made with advanced materials, with adjustable temperature options. Silver and light-coloured hair can yellow or burn easily without the proper tool.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

Self-applied color lifting. Internet videos often simplify it, but the truth is it’s one of the most hazardous actions you can do to your hair. I’ve seen people melt their hair, experience breakage or end up with striped effects that are incredibly challenging to remedy. I also don’t recommend chemical straightening processes on bleached or silver hair. These formulations are often excessively strong for weakened hair and can cause lasting harm or discoloration.

Which typical blunder stands out?

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their hair type or colour. Some overuse toning shampoo until their lightened locks looks flat and dull. A few overdo on strengthening conditioners and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. The other major issue is using hot tools sans safeguard. When applying flat irons, curling irons or blow dryers without a heat protectant, – especially on pre-lightened hair – you’re going to see discoloration, dehydration and damage.

What would you suggest for thinning hair?

Shedding demands a multifaceted plan. Topically, minoxidil is still one of the most effective treatments. I also recommend scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to boost blood flow and promote root strength. Incorporating a clarifying shampoo regularly helps eliminate impurities and allows treatments to work more effectively. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown great results. They enhance overall health for hair benefits by correcting endocrine issues, anxiety and dietary insufficiencies.

For those seeking higher-level solutions, blood-derived therapies – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be effective. That said, I always suggest seeing a dermatologist or trichologist first. Thinning can be linked to medical conditions, and it’s important to identify the source rather than pursuing temporary solutions.

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A Trichology Expert

Trichologist and leader in hair health services and items for shedding.

What’s your routine for trims and color?

I schedule cuts every ten to twelve weeks, but will snip damaged ends myself every two weeks to preserve strand health, and have lightening sessions every eight weeks.

Which low-cost item is a game-changer?

Toppik hair fibres are absolutely amazing if you have areas of scalp visibility. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a range of colors, making it seamlessly blended. I personally applied it after childbirth when I had significant shedding – and also now while experiencing some marked thinning after having a bad infection previously. As hair isn’t an essential tissue, it’s the earliest indicator of health issues when your nutrition is inadequate, so I would also recommend a balanced, nutritious diet.

Which premium option is truly valuable?

For those with genetic thinning in women, I’d say medicated treatments. When dealing with temporary hair loss, known as TE, buying an non-prescription item is fine, but for FPHL you really do need medicated treatment to see the optimal outcomes. From my perspective, minoxidil combined with additional ingredients – such as hormones, anti-androgens and/or anti-inflammatories – works best.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

Rosemary extracts for shedding. It doesn’t work. This idea originated from a limited 2015 research that compared the effects of a low-dose minoxidil with rosemary oil. A mild formula such as 2% is inadequate to do much for genetic balding in men, so the study is basically saying they are equally minimal in effect.

Additionally, excessive biotin. Hardly anyone is biotin deficient, so consuming it probably won't help your locks, and it can skew thyroid readings in blood tests.

What blunder stands out often?

Personally, I prefer "scalp cleansing" over "hair washing" – because the main goal of cleansing is to clear away sebum, debris, sweat and pollutants. I notice clients skipping washes as they think it’s bad for their hair, when in fact the opposite is true – particularly with flaky scalp, which is intensified by sebum accumulation. If oils are left on your scalp, they decompose and cause irritation.

Unfortunately, what your scalp needs and what your hair likes don’t always align, so it’s a balancing act. However, if you cleanse softly and treat damp strands kindly, it won’t be damaging to your strands.

Which product, treatment or supplement would you recommend for hair loss?

For FPHL, your core treatment should be minoxidil. It has the most robust evidence behind it and tends to work best when compounded with other hair-supportive actives. If you then want to try other things to support minoxidil’s effect, or you simply don’t want to or can’t use it, you could try collagen induction therapy (with a specialist), and perhaps injections or laser devices.

For TE, you need to do some detective work. Increased hair loss often stems from an underlying issue. Occasionally, the reason is temporary – such as flu, Covid or a period of intense stress – and it will improve spontaneously. Alternatively, endocrine issues or nutrient shortages may be the cause – the typical deficiencies involve iron, B12 and vitamin D – and to {treat the hair loss you need to treat the cause|address shedding, target the underlying issue|combat thinning, focus