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An Expert Colorist

Colourist located in the Golden State who excels at platinum tones. He works with Jane Fonda and well-known figures.

What affordable item can't you live without?

My top pick is a microfibre towel, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to towel-dry your locks. Most people don’t realise how much harm a regular bath towel can do, particularly for lightened or dyed strands. This one small change can really reduce frizz and breakage. Another inexpensive must-have is a wide-tooth comb, to use while conditioning. It safeguards your strands while removing knots and helps maintain the integrity of the individual hairs, notably following coloring.

Which investment truly pays off?

A professional-grade heat styling tool – made with advanced materials, with precise heat settings. Lightened strands can yellow or burn easily without the proper tool.

What style or process should you always avoid?

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 melt their hair, experience breakage or end up with bands of colour that are nearly impossible to correct. It's best to steer clear of keratin or permanent straightening treatments on bleached or silver hair. These formulations are often excessively strong for weakened hair and can cause long-term damage or discoloration.

What frequent error do you observe?

Individuals choosing unsuitable formulas for their specific hair needs. A number of people misuse colour-correcting purple shampoo until their lightened locks looks flat and dull. Others rely too much on strengthening conditioners and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. A further common mistake is using hot tools sans safeguard. If you’re using styling appliances without a heat protectant, – especially on pre-lightened hair – you’re going to see yellowing, dryness and breakage.

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

Hair loss needs a multilayered approach. Externally, minoxidil remains a top choice. I often suggest scalp formulas with active ingredients to enhance nutrient delivery and support follicle health. Using a scalp detox shampoo weekly helps clear out buildup and allows solutions to be more efficient. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown notable improvements. They support the body from the inside out by addressing hormonal imbalances, tension and dietary insufficiencies.

For people looking for something more advanced, blood-derived therapies – where a concentration from your blood is administered – can be successful. 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 Trichology Expert

Scalp and Hair Scientist and brand president of Philip Kingsley centers and lines targeting thinning.

How often do you get your hair cut and coloured?

I schedule cuts every ten to twelve weeks, but will trim off splits at home fortnightly to maintain tip integrity, and have highlights done every eight weeks.

What affordable find is essential?

Toppik hair fibres are absolutely amazing if you have thinning spots. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a range of colors, making it seamlessly blended. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had significant shedding – and also presently during some considerable hair loss after having awful flu a few months ago. Because locks are secondary, it’s the initial area to show decline when your nutrition is inadequate, so I would also recommend a well-rounded, nutrient-rich diet.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

If you have female pattern hair loss (FPHL), I’d say prescription hair-loss topicals. For excessive daily hair shedding, AKA telogen effluvium (TE), buying an retail solution is fine, but for FPHL you really do need medicated treatment to see the most effective improvements. I believe minoxidil mixed with supporting compounds – such as balancing elements, inhibitors and/or calming components – works best.

What should you always skip?

Rosemary oil for hair loss. It shows no real benefit. The whole thing stems from one small study done in 2015 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 provide similarly low results.

Likewise, mega-doses of biotin. Few individuals have biotin insufficiency, so using it may not benefit your strands, and it can skew thyroid readings in blood tests.

Which error is most frequent?

Personally, I prefer "scalp cleansing" over "hair washing" – because the main goal of cleansing is to remove buildup, flakes, perspiration and dirt. I see people avoiding shampooing as they think it’s damaging to their locks, when in fact the contrary is accurate – particularly with flaky scalp, which is aggravated by oil buildup. If oils are left on your scalp, they decompose and cause irritation.

Sadly, scalp requirements and hair preferences may conflict, so it’s a careful compromise. However, if you cleanse softly and treat damp strands kindly, it shouldn't harm your hair.

Which options help with shedding?

With female pattern loss, minoxidil is essential. Scientific support is substantial and tends to be most effective combined with additional ingredients. If you then want to try other things to support minoxidil’s effect, or you choose to avoid it or cannot tolerate it, you could try collagen induction therapy (with a specialist), and perhaps injections or laser devices.

With telogen effluvium, investigation is key. Noticeable thinning usually relates to a health trigger. In some instances, the trigger is short-term – such as illness, infection or high stress – and it will clear up naturally. Alternatively, endocrine issues or nutrient shortages may be the cause – 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