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A Color Specialist

Colourist based in California who focuses on grey hair. He works with Hollywood stars and well-known figures.

Which budget-friendly product is a must-have?

I highly recommend a gentle drying cloth, or even a smooth cotton shirt to remove moisture from your strands. Most people don’t realise how much stress a typical terrycloth towel can do, notably with silver or chemically treated hair. A simple switch can really minimize flyaways and damage. Another affordable staple is a broad-toothed comb, to use in the shower. It safeguards your strands while removing knots and helps maintain the integrity of the individual hairs, notably following coloring.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

A high-quality styling iron – featuring innovative technology, with smart temperature control. Grey and blonde hair can develop brassy tones or get damaged without the correct device.

What style or process should you always avoid?

DIY bleaching. Social media makes it look easy, but the truth is it’s one of the riskiest things you can do to your hair. There are cases where individuals melt their hair, break it off or end up with striped effects that are incredibly challenging to remedy. I also don’t recommend chemical straightening processes on color-treated or grey hair. These chemical systems are often excessively strong for weakened hair and can cause chronic issues or discoloration.

What frequent error do you observe?

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their hair type or colour. Some overuse toning shampoo until their lightened locks looks drab and lacking shine. A few overdo on strengthening conditioners and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. The other major issue is heat styling without protection. 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 yellowing, dryness and breakage.

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

Hair loss needs a multilayered approach. Topically, minoxidil is still one of the most effective treatments. I often suggest scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to boost blood flow and aid in hair growth. Applying a cleansing scalp wash often helps eliminate impurities and allows solutions to be more efficient. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown notable improvements. They work internally to benefit externally by balancing body chemistry, anxiety and nutritional deficiencies.

For those seeking higher-level solutions, platelet-rich plasma treatments – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be successful. However, I consistently recommend consulting a skin or hair specialist initially. Shedding may relate to internal factors, and it’s important to determine the origin rather than pursuing temporary solutions.

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A Trichology Expert

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 get my hair cut every 10 to 12 weeks, but will remove split ends personally fortnightly to keep my ends healthy, and have highlights done every eight weeks.

Which low-cost item is a game-changer?

Toppik hair fibres are absolutely amazing if you have thinning spots. The fibres cling electrostatically to your own hair, and it comes in a assortment of tones, making it almost invisible. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had significant shedding – and also presently during some marked thinning 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 nutrition is inadequate, so I would also recommend a healthy, varied eating plan.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

In cases of hereditary hair loss in females, I’d say medicated treatments. When dealing with temporary hair loss, known as TE, 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 hormones, anti-androgens and/or anti-inflammatories – works best.

What should you always skip?

Rosemary extracts for shedding. 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 2% strength minoxidil isn’t enough to do much for male pattern hair loss, so the study is basically saying they work as little as each other.

Also, high-dose biotin. Hardly anyone is biotin deficient, so taking it is unlikely to do your hair any good, and it can skew thyroid readings in blood tests.

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 harmful to their strands, when in fact the reverse is correct – particularly with flaky scalp, which is worsened by the presence of excess oils. If natural oils stay on the head, they decompose and cause irritation.

Unfortunately, what your scalp needs and what your hair likes don’t always align, so it’s a balancing act. However, if you cleanse softly and treat damp strands kindly, it won’t be damaging to your strands.

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

For genetic thinning in women, start with minoxidil. It has the most robust evidence behind it and tends to show optimal results when mixed with supporting compounds. 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 micro-needling (under professional care), 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. Occasionally, the reason is temporary – such as flu, Covid or a period of intense stress – and it will improve spontaneously. Alternatively, endocrine issues or nutrient shortages may be the cause – the most common being ferritin (stored iron), vitamin B12 and vitamin D deficiency – and to {treat the hair loss you need to treat the cause|address shedding, target the underlying issue|combat thinning, focus