🔗 Share this article

An Expert Colorist

Colourist based in California who excels at silver hair. His clients include Hollywood stars and Andie MacDowell.

Which budget-friendly product is a must-have?

I highly recommend a microfibre towel, or even a gentle tee to remove moisture from your strands. It's often overlooked how much stress a regular bath towel can do, particularly for grey or color-processed hair. A simple switch can really minimize flyaways and damage. Another affordable staple is a wide-tooth comb, to use during washing. It protects the hair while smoothing out tangles and helps preserve the strength of the strands, notably following coloring.

Which investment truly pays off?

A high-quality styling iron – featuring innovative technology, with precise heat settings. Grey and blonde hair can become discolored or suffer heat stress without the right iron.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

Self-applied color lifting. Social media makes it look easy, but the reality is it’s one of the most hazardous actions you can do to your hair. There are cases where individuals severely damage their locks, break it off or end up with bands of colour that are incredibly challenging to remedy. I also don’t recommend chemical straightening processes on pre-lightened strands. These formulations are often overly harsh for weakened hair and can cause lasting harm or discoloration.

Which typical blunder stands out?

People using the wrong products for their hair type or colour. Certain clients overapply violet-based cleansers until their blonde or grey strands looks flat and dull. A few overdo on protein-rich treatments and end up with rigid, fragile strands. Another significant problem is using hot tools sans safeguard. If you’re using hot tools or dryers without a heat protectant, – notably with color-treated strands – you’re going to see discoloration, dehydration and damage.

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 enhance nutrient delivery and aid in hair growth. Incorporating a clarifying shampoo regularly helps eliminate impurities and allows treatments to work more effectively. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown positive outcomes. They work internally to benefit externally by addressing hormonal imbalances, tension and lack of vital nutrients.

For people looking for something more advanced, PRP therapy – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be beneficial. However, I consistently recommend getting a professional diagnosis beforehand. Shedding may relate to internal factors, and it’s important to determine the origin rather than seeking quick fixes.

---

A Trichology Expert

Trichologist and leader in hair health clinics and product ranges for hair loss.

What’s your routine for trims and color?

My trims are every couple of months, but will trim off splits at home fortnightly to keep my ends healthy, and have color touches every two months.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Building fibers are truly impressive if you have see-through sections. These particles bond to your existing hair, and it comes in a variety of shades, making it virtually undetectable. I personally applied it after childbirth when I had a lot of hair fall – and also now while experiencing some significant shedding after having a severe illness recently. 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 well-rounded, nutrient-rich diet.

What justifies a higher investment?

In cases of hereditary hair loss in females, I’d say medicated treatments. For excessive daily hair shedding, AKA telogen effluvium (TE), buying an over-the-counter product is fine, but for FPHL you really do need clinical interventions to see the best results. 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 mild minoxidil solution versus rosemary extract. A low concentration like 2% is insufficient to do much for male pattern hair loss, 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?

In my view, we should rename "hair washing" to "scalp cleaning" – because the main goal of cleansing is to remove buildup, flakes, perspiration and dirt. Many individuals refrain from cleansing as they think it’s damaging to their locks, when in fact the opposite is true – especially if you have dandruff, which is aggravated by oil buildup. When sebum remains on the skin, they decompose and cause irritation.

Regrettably, follicular health and strand desires can differ, so it’s a careful compromise. Provided you wash delicately and manage wet locks gently, 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 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 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 improve spontaneously. Alternatively, endocrine issues or nutrient shortages may be the cause – 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