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A Color Specialist

Hair Color Expert operating from California who specialises in silver hair. He works with Hollywood stars and renowned personalities.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

My top pick is a gentle drying cloth, or even a gentle tee to dry your hair. Many are unaware how much harm a regular bath towel can do, particularly for grey or color-processed hair. This one small change can really lessen brittleness and splitting. Another inexpensive must-have is a large-gap comb, to use during washing. It protects the hair while removing knots and helps maintain the integrity of the hair shafts, notably following coloring.

Which investment truly pays off?

A professional-grade heat styling tool – ceramic or tourmaline, with smart temperature control. Silver and light-coloured hair can yellow or burn easily without the proper tool.

What style or process should you always avoid?

At-home lightening. Internet videos often simplify it, but the truth is it’s one of the most hazardous actions you can do to your hair. There are cases where individuals cause irreversible harm, snap their strands or end up with bands of colour that are nearly impossible to correct. I would also avoid long-term smoothing services on pre-lightened strands. Such treatments are often too aggressive for delicate locks and can cause long-term damage or discoloration.

What’s the most common mistake you see in your salon?

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their hair type or colour. Some overuse violet-based cleansers until their silver or blond hair looks lifeless and muted. Others rely too much on protein-rich treatments and end up with rigid, fragile strands. Another significant problem is heat styling without protection. In cases where you employ 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. For direct application, minoxidil is highly proven. I also recommend scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to enhance nutrient delivery and support follicle health. Using a scalp detox shampoo weekly helps remove residue and allows treatments to work more effectively. Supplements such as Nutrafol or Viviscal Pro have also shown positive outcomes. They work internally to benefit externally by balancing body chemistry, tension and lack of vital nutrients.

For those seeking higher-level solutions, platelet-rich plasma treatments – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be successful. Still, my advice is to getting a professional diagnosis beforehand. Thinning can be linked to medical conditions, and it’s important to determine the origin rather than chasing surface-level fixes.

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A Hair and Scalp Specialist

Scalp and Hair Scientist and leader in hair health services and items for shedding.

How often do you get your hair cut and coloured?

I schedule cuts every ten to twelve weeks, but will snip damaged ends myself fortnightly to keep my ends healthy, and have lightening sessions every eight weeks.

Which low-cost item is a game-changer?

Hair-thickening particles are truly impressive 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 personally applied it after childbirth when I had a lot of hair fall – and also currently as I’m going through some significant shedding after having awful flu a few months ago. Because locks are secondary, 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 medicated treatments. For excessive daily hair shedding, AKA telogen effluvium (TE), buying an retail solution is fine, but for FPHL you really do need prescription-strength formulas to see the most effective improvements. From my perspective, minoxidil combined with additional ingredients – such as hormones, anti-androgens and/or anti-inflammatories – works best.

Which popular remedy is ineffective?

Rosemary oil for hair loss. It doesn’t work. The whole thing stems from one small study done in 2015 that compared the effects of a low-dose minoxidil with rosemary oil. A 2% strength minoxidil isn’t enough to do much for genetic balding in men, so the study is basically saying they provide similarly low results.

Likewise, mega-doses of biotin. Few individuals have biotin insufficiency, so consuming it probably won't help your locks, and it can skew thyroid readings in blood tests.

What’s the most common mistake you see?

Personally, I prefer "scalp cleansing" over "hair washing" – because the real aim of shampooing your hair is to rid your scalp of old oils, dead skin cells, sweat and environmental pollution. Many individuals refrain from cleansing as they think it’s bad for their hair, when in fact the opposite is true – notably in cases of dandruff, which is worsened by the presence of excess oils. If natural oils stay on the head, they deteriorate and lead to inflammation.

Sadly, scalp requirements and hair preferences may conflict, so it’s a delicate equilibrium. But as long as you are gentle when you shampoo and handle wet hair with care, 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. Scientific support is substantial and tends to be most effective combined with additional ingredients. If you're interested in complementary therapies, or you prefer not to use it or are unable, you could try collagen induction therapy (with a specialist), and perhaps injections or laser devices.

With telogen effluvium, investigation is key. Excessive daily shedding occurs in response to an internal factor. In some instances, the trigger is short-term – such as flu, Covid or a period of intense stress – and it will resolve on its own. Sometimes, hormonal problems or dietary gaps are responsible – the frequent culprits include iron stores, B12 and D insufficiency – and to {treat the hair loss you need to treat the cause|address shedding, target the underlying issue|combat thinning, focus