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A Color Specialist

Hair Color Expert operating from the West Coast who excels at silver hair. Among his clientele are Jane Fonda and well-known figures.

Which budget-friendly product is a must-have?

I swear by a soft fabric towel, or even a smooth cotton shirt to remove moisture from your strands. Most people don’t realise how much damage a regular bath towel can do, notably with lightened or dyed strands. This minor adjustment can really reduce frizz and breakage. Another affordable staple is a large-gap comb, to use while conditioning. It protects the hair while smoothing out tangles and helps maintain the integrity of the individual hairs, particularly post-bleaching.

Which investment truly pays off?

A top-tier thermal appliance – ceramic or tourmaline, with smart temperature control. Grey and blonde hair can develop brassy tones or get damaged without the correct device.

Which popular practice is a definite no-go?

At-home lightening. Online tutorials can be misleading, but the actual fact is it’s one of the biggest gambles you can do to your hair. There are cases where individuals melt their hair, break it off or end up with bands of colour that are incredibly challenging to remedy. It's best to steer clear of chemical straightening processes on color-treated or grey hair. These chemical systems are often overly harsh for delicate locks and can cause chronic issues or color changes.

What frequent error do you observe?

People using the wrong products for their hair type or colour. Some overuse violet-based cleansers until their blonde or grey strands looks flat and dull. Some depend excessively on protein-rich treatments and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. The other major issue is thermal styling minus a barrier. If you’re using styling appliances without a defensive spray or cream, – especially on pre-lightened hair – you’re going to see discoloration, dehydration and damage.

Which solutions help with shedding?

Thinning requires a comprehensive strategy. Externally, minoxidil remains a top choice. I also recommend follicle treatments containing stimulants to stimulate circulation and aid in hair growth. Applying a cleansing scalp wash often helps remove residue and allows products to perform better. Oral aids like specialized formulas have also shown notable improvements. They enhance overall health for hair benefits by balancing body chemistry, stress and nutritional deficiencies.

For people looking for something more advanced, PRP therapy – where a concentration from your blood is administered – can be beneficial. Still, my advice is to consulting a skin or hair specialist initially. Thinning can be linked to medical conditions, and it’s important to get to the root cause rather than chasing surface-level fixes.

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A Hair and Scalp Specialist

Follicle Expert and head of a renowned clinic clinics and product ranges for hair loss.

How often do you get your hair cut and coloured?

I get my hair cut every 10 to 12 weeks, but will snip damaged ends myself fortnightly to maintain tip integrity, and have lightening sessions every eight weeks.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Hair-thickening particles are remarkably effective if you have thinning spots. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a range of colors, making it almost invisible. I used it myself in the postpartum period when I had noticeable thinning – and also now while experiencing some marked thinning after having awful flu a few months ago. Since hair is non-vital, it’s the first part of you to suffer when your nutrition is inadequate, so I would also recommend a balanced, nutritious diet.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

For those with genetic thinning in women, I’d say doctor-recommended solutions. For excessive daily hair shedding, AKA telogen effluvium (TE), buying an over-the-counter product is fine, but for FPHL you really do need prescription-strength formulas to see the optimal outcomes. From my perspective, minoxidil combined with additional ingredients – such as endocrine regulators, blockers and/or soothing agents – works best.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

Using rosemary essential oil for thinning. It shows no real benefit. The whole thing stems from one small study done in 2015 that compared the effects of 2% minoxidil to rosemary oil. A low concentration like 2% is insufficient to do much for male pattern hair loss, so the study is basically saying they work as little as each other.

Additionally, excessive biotin. Few individuals have biotin insufficiency, so taking it is unlikely to do your hair any good, and it can skew thyroid readings in blood tests.

What’s the most common mistake you see?

I think the term “hair washing” should be changed to “scalp cleansing” – because the primary purpose of washing is to remove buildup, flakes, perspiration and dirt. I see people avoiding shampooing as they think it’s bad for their hair, when in fact the reverse is correct – particularly with flaky scalp, which is intensified by sebum accumulation. When sebum remains on the skin, they break down and become inflammatory.

Sadly, scalp requirements and hair preferences may conflict, so it’s a careful compromise. Provided you wash delicately and manage wet locks gently, it won’t be damaging to your strands.

Which options help with shedding?

With female pattern loss, minoxidil is essential. It's backed by strong research and tends to work best when compounded with other hair-supportive actives. Should you wish to enhance minoxidil's benefits, or you prefer not to use it or are unable, you could try micro-needling (under professional care), and perhaps PRP or low-level laser therapy.

For TE, you need to do some detective work. Increased hair loss often stems from an underlying issue. In some instances, the trigger is short-term – such as sickness, virus or emotional strain – and it will improve spontaneously. Alternatively, endocrine issues or nutrient shortages may be the cause – the most common being ferritin (stored iron), vitamin B12 and vitamin D deficiency – and to {treat the hair loss you need to treat the cause|address shedding, target the underlying issue|combat thinning, focus