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A Color Specialist

Hair Color Expert located in the West Coast who specialises in platinum tones. His clients include Jane Fonda and well-known figures.

What affordable item can't you live without?

My top pick is a gentle drying cloth, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to dry your hair. It's often overlooked how much harm a typical terrycloth towel can do, particularly for silver or chemically treated hair. This one small change can really reduce frizz and breakage. A second budget-friendly essential is a wide-tooth comb, to use during washing. It shields your locks while detangling and helps keep the health of the hair shafts, notably following coloring.

Which investment truly pays off?

A top-tier thermal appliance – featuring innovative technology, with precise heat settings. Grey and blonde hair can become discolored or suffer heat stress without the correct device.

What style or process should you always avoid?

At-home lightening. Online tutorials can be misleading, but the truth is it’s one of the biggest gambles you can do to your hair. I’ve witnessed clients severely damage their locks, break it off or end up with uneven tones that are incredibly challenging to remedy. I also don’t recommend long-term smoothing services on bleached or silver hair. Such treatments are often overly harsh for already fragile strands and can cause chronic issues or color changes.

Which typical blunder stands out?

People using the wrong products for their specific hair needs. A number of people misuse violet-based cleansers until their blonde or grey strands looks lifeless and muted. A few overdo on protein-rich treatments and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. Another significant problem is thermal styling minus a barrier. When applying flat irons, curling irons or blow dryers without a protective product, – especially on pre-lightened hair – you’re going to see brassiness, lack of moisture and splitting.

Which solutions help with shedding?

Shedding demands a multifaceted plan. Topically, minoxidil is still one of the most effective treatments. I also recommend follicle treatments containing stimulants to enhance nutrient delivery and support follicle health. Using a scalp detox shampoo weekly helps clear out buildup and allows products to perform better. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown great results. They support the body from the inside out by addressing hormonal imbalances, tension and nutritional deficiencies.

For people looking for something more advanced, blood-derived therapies – where a personalized serum is applied – can be successful. However, I consistently recommend 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 Trichology Expert

Trichologist and head of a renowned clinic services and items for shedding.

How often do you get your hair cut and coloured?

My trims are every couple of months, but will trim off splits at home bi-weekly to maintain tip integrity, and have highlights done every eight weeks.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Toppik hair fibres are truly impressive if you have areas of scalp visibility. The fibres cling electrostatically to your own hair, and it comes in a assortment of tones, making it almost invisible. I used it myself in the postpartum period when I had significant shedding – and also now while experiencing some considerable hair loss after having a severe illness recently. As hair isn’t an essential tissue, it’s the first part of you to suffer when your intake is insufficient, so I would also recommend a healthy, varied eating plan.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

If you have female pattern hair loss (FPHL), 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 best results. In my opinion, minoxidil compounded with other hair-supportive actives – such as hormones, anti-androgens and/or anti-inflammatories – works best.

Which popular remedy is ineffective?

Rosemary oil for hair loss. It's ineffective. The whole thing stems from one small study done in 2015 that compared the effects of a mild minoxidil solution versus rosemary extract. A low concentration like 2% is insufficient 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 using it may not benefit your strands, and it can alter thyroid level measurements.

What blunder stands out often?

I think the term “hair washing” should be changed to “scalp cleansing” – because the main goal of cleansing is to remove buildup, flakes, perspiration and dirt. Many individuals refrain from cleansing as they think it’s bad for their hair, when in fact the reverse is correct – especially if you have dandruff, which is intensified by sebum accumulation. If oils are left on your scalp, they decompose and cause irritation.

Regrettably, follicular health and strand desires can differ, 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.

What solutions do you suggest for thinning?

For genetic thinning in women, start with 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 prefer not to use it or are unable, you could try collagen induction therapy (with a specialist), and perhaps PRP or low-level laser therapy.

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. Increased hair loss often stems from an underlying issue. Sometimes, the cause is transient – such as illness, infection or high stress – and it will resolve on its own. 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