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An Expert Colorist

Styling Professional operating from the West Coast who focuses on platinum tones. His clients include celebrated actors and well-known figures.

What affordable item can't you live without?

I highly recommend a soft fabric towel, or even a smooth cotton shirt to dry your hair. Many are unaware how much damage a standard towel can do, notably with lightened or dyed strands. This minor adjustment can really minimize flyaways and damage. Another affordable staple is a large-gap comb, to use during washing. It shields your locks while detangling and helps preserve the strength of the individual hairs, notably following coloring.

What item or service justifies the extra cost?

A top-tier thermal appliance – featuring innovative technology, with smart temperature control. Lightened strands can develop brassy tones or get damaged 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 witnessed clients cause irreversible harm, snap their strands or end up with bands of colour that are extremely difficult to fix. It's best to steer clear of long-term smoothing services on pre-lightened strands. These chemical systems are often excessively strong for delicate locks and can cause lasting harm or undesired tones.

Which typical blunder stands out?

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their specific hair needs. A number of people misuse violet-based cleansers until their blonde or grey strands looks flat and dull. Others rely too much on high-protein masks and end up with rigid, fragile strands. The other major issue is thermal styling minus a barrier. If you’re using styling appliances without a protective product, – especially on pre-lightened hair – you’re going to see discoloration, dehydration and damage.

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

Shedding demands a multifaceted plan. Topically, minoxidil is still one of the most effective treatments. My advice includes follicle treatments containing stimulants to enhance nutrient delivery and support follicle health. Using a scalp detox shampoo weekly helps eliminate impurities and allows products to perform better. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown great results. They work internally to benefit externally by balancing body chemistry, tension and dietary insufficiencies.

In cases requiring advanced options, PRP therapy – where a concentration from your blood is administered – can be successful. Still, my advice is to getting a professional diagnosis beforehand. Shedding may relate to internal factors, and it’s important to get to the root cause rather than seeking quick fixes.

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A Trichology Expert

Follicle Expert and leader in hair health clinics and product ranges for hair loss.

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 maintain tip integrity, and have color touches every two months.

What affordable find is essential?

Hair-thickening particles are truly impressive 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. I used it myself in the postpartum period when I had significant shedding – and also now while experiencing some significant shedding after having awful flu a few months ago. Since hair is non-vital, 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?

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. From my perspective, minoxidil combined with additional ingredients – such as endocrine regulators, blockers and/or soothing agents – works best.

Which popular remedy is ineffective?

Rosemary oil for hair loss. It's ineffective. This belief comes from a minor study from 2015 that compared the effects of 2% minoxidil to rosemary oil. A low concentration like 2% is insufficient to do much for genetic balding in men, so the study is basically saying they work as little as each other.

Likewise, mega-doses of biotin. Rarely do people lack biotin, so taking it is unlikely to do your hair any good, and it can alter thyroid level measurements.

What blunder stands out often?

Personally, I prefer "scalp cleansing" over "hair washing" – because the main goal of cleansing is to clear away sebum, debris, sweat and pollutants. I see people avoiding shampooing as they think it’s damaging to their locks, when in fact the contrary is accurate – especially if you have dandruff, which is worsened by the presence of excess oils. 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 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're interested in complementary therapies, or you choose to avoid it or cannot tolerate it, you could try micro-needling (under professional care), and perhaps platelet-rich plasma or light treatments.

For TE, you need to do some detective work. Excessive daily shedding occurs in response to an internal factor. 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 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