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A Color Specialist

Hair Color Expert located in the Golden State who excels at grey hair. His clients include Jane Fonda and well-known figures.

Which budget-friendly product is a must-have?

I highly recommend a soft fabric towel, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to dry your hair. Most people don’t realise how much stress a regular bath towel can do, particularly for silver or chemically treated hair. This minor adjustment can really minimize flyaways and damage. A second budget-friendly essential is a broad-toothed comb, to use while conditioning. It shields your locks while removing knots and helps keep the health of the hair shafts, notably following coloring.

Which investment truly pays off?

A professional-grade heat styling tool – featuring innovative technology, with precise heat settings. Silver and light-coloured hair can become discolored or suffer heat stress without the correct device.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

DIY bleaching. Social media makes it look easy, but the actual fact is it’s one of the riskiest things you can do to your hair. I’ve seen people cause irreversible harm, experience breakage or end up with striped effects that are extremely difficult to fix. I would also avoid keratin or permanent straightening treatments on pre-lightened strands. Such treatments are often excessively strong for delicate locks and can cause long-term damage or undesired tones.

Which typical blunder stands out?

People using the wrong products for their hair type or colour. Some overuse toning shampoo until their lightened locks looks lifeless and muted. Others rely too much on protein-rich treatments and end up with rigid, fragile strands. The other major issue is heat styling without protection. If you’re using styling appliances without a protective product, – especially on pre-lightened hair – you’re going to see yellowing, dryness and breakage.

What would you suggest for thinning hair?

Thinning requires a comprehensive strategy. Topically, minoxidil is still one of the most effective treatments. I also recommend follicle treatments containing stimulants to stimulate circulation 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 correcting endocrine issues, anxiety and lack of vital nutrients.

For those seeking higher-level solutions, platelet-rich plasma treatments – where a concentration from your blood is administered – can be effective. However, I consistently recommend consulting a skin or hair specialist initially. Thinning can be linked to medical conditions, and it’s important to identify the source 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 frequently do you schedule salon visits?

I schedule cuts every ten to twelve weeks, but will remove split ends personally fortnightly to maintain tip integrity, and have highlights done every eight weeks.

What affordable find is essential?

Toppik hair fibres are truly impressive if you have thinning spots. The fibres cling electrostatically to your own hair, and it comes in a range of colors, making it almost invisible. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had noticeable thinning – and also currently as I’m going through some considerable hair loss after having awful flu a few months ago. As hair isn’t an essential tissue, it’s the initial area to show decline when your intake is insufficient, so I would also recommend a balanced, nutritious diet.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

In cases of hereditary hair loss in females, I’d say doctor-recommended solutions. For excessive daily hair shedding, AKA telogen effluvium (TE), buying an non-prescription item is fine, but for FPHL you really do need prescription-strength formulas to see the optimal outcomes. I believe minoxidil mixed with supporting compounds – such as balancing elements, inhibitors and/or calming components – works best.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

Rosemary extracts for shedding. It shows no real benefit. This idea originated from a limited 2015 research that compared the effects of 2% minoxidil to rosemary oil. A low concentration like 2% is insufficient to do much for hereditary thinning in males, so the study is basically saying they are equally minimal in effect.

Additionally, excessive biotin. Few individuals have biotin insufficiency, so consuming it probably won't help your locks, and it can alter thyroid level measurements.

What’s the most common mistake you see?

In my view, we should rename "hair washing" to "scalp cleaning" – because the real aim of shampooing your hair is to rid your scalp of old oils, dead skin cells, sweat and environmental pollution. I notice clients skipping washes as they think it’s bad for their hair, when in fact the contrary is accurate – especially if you have 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 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 show optimal results when mixed with supporting compounds. Should you wish to enhance minoxidil's benefits, 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.

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. Noticeable thinning usually relates to a health trigger. Sometimes, the cause is transient – such as flu, Covid or a period of intense stress – and it will clear up naturally. In other cases, thyroid imbalances or vitamin/mineral deficiencies are the driving factor – 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