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A Color Specialist

Styling Professional based in the West Coast who excels at grey hair. His clients include Hollywood stars and Andie MacDowell.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

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 harm a standard towel can do, particularly for silver or chemically treated hair. This one small change can really lessen brittleness and splitting. Another inexpensive must-have is a broad-toothed comb, to use during washing. It shields your locks while removing knots and helps maintain the integrity of the hair shafts, notably following coloring.

What item or service justifies the extra cost?

A professional-grade heat styling tool – ceramic or tourmaline, with precise heat settings. Lightened strands can become discolored or suffer heat stress without the correct device.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

DIY bleaching. Online tutorials can be misleading, but the actual fact is it’s one of the most hazardous actions you can do to your hair. I’ve witnessed clients melt their hair, snap their strands or end up with uneven tones that are nearly impossible to correct. I also don’t recommend long-term smoothing services on pre-lightened strands. These chemical systems are often overly harsh for delicate locks and can cause long-term damage or color changes.

Which typical blunder stands out?

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their specific hair needs. A number of people misuse violet-based cleansers until their silver or blond hair looks lifeless and muted. A few overdo on protein-rich treatments and end up with rigid, fragile strands. A further common mistake is thermal styling minus a barrier. In cases where you employ flat irons, curling irons or blow dryers without a defensive spray or cream, – especially on pre-lightened hair – you’re going to see discoloration, dehydration and damage.

What would you suggest for thinning hair?

Hair loss needs a multilayered approach. For direct application, minoxidil is highly proven. My advice includes scalp formulas with active ingredients to stimulate circulation and aid in hair growth. Incorporating a clarifying shampoo regularly helps eliminate impurities and allows solutions to be more efficient. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown positive outcomes. They enhance overall health for hair benefits by correcting endocrine issues, stress and nutritional deficiencies.

For those seeking higher-level solutions, blood-derived therapies – where a concentration from your blood is administered – can be effective. Still, my advice is to getting a professional diagnosis beforehand. Hair loss is often tied to underlying health issues, and it’s important to identify the source rather than pursuing temporary solutions.

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A Trichology Expert

Scalp and Hair Scientist and head of a renowned clinic services and items for shedding.

How frequently do you schedule salon visits?

I get my hair cut every 10 to 12 weeks, but will remove split ends personally fortnightly to preserve strand health, and have lightening sessions every eight weeks.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Building fibers are truly impressive if you have see-through sections. 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 presently during some marked thinning after having a severe illness recently. As hair isn’t an essential tissue, it’s the earliest indicator of health issues when your diet is lacking, so I would also recommend a balanced, nutritious diet.

Which premium option is truly valuable?

In cases of hereditary hair loss in females, I’d say doctor-recommended solutions. Regarding increased shedding, or telogen effluvium, buying an retail solution is fine, but for FPHL you really do need clinical interventions to see the best results. In my opinion, minoxidil compounded with other hair-supportive actives – such as balancing elements, inhibitors and/or calming components – works best.

What should you always skip?

Using rosemary essential oil for thinning. 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 mild formula such as 2% is inadequate to do much for hereditary thinning in males, so the study is basically saying they are equally minimal in effect.

Additionally, excessive biotin. Rarely do people lack biotin, so consuming it probably won't help your locks, and it can affect thyroid test results.

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 clear away sebum, debris, sweat and pollutants. I notice clients skipping washes as they think it’s bad for their hair, when in fact the reverse is correct – particularly with flaky scalp, which is worsened by the presence of excess oils. When sebum remains on the skin, they decompose and cause irritation.

Unfortunately, what your scalp needs and what your hair likes don’t always align, so it’s a careful compromise. Provided you wash delicately and manage wet locks gently, it won’t be damaging to your strands.

What solutions do you suggest for thinning?

With female pattern loss, minoxidil is essential. Scientific support is substantial and tends to work best when compounded with other hair-supportive actives. If you're interested in complementary therapies, or you prefer not to use it or are unable, you could try microneedling (see a dermatologist), and perhaps platelet-rich plasma or light treatments.

For TE, you need to do some detective work. Noticeable thinning usually relates to a health trigger. Sometimes, the cause is transient – such as illness, infection or high stress – and it will resolve on its own. 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