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An Expert Colorist

Styling Professional operating from California who focuses on platinum tones. He works with celebrated actors and well-known figures.

Which budget-friendly product is a must-have?

I highly recommend a soft fabric towel, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to dry your hair. Many are unaware how much harm a regular bath towel can do, particularly for grey or color-processed hair. This minor adjustment can really lessen brittleness and splitting. Another affordable staple is a wide-tooth comb, to use while conditioning. It shields your locks while smoothing out tangles and helps keep the health of the strands, especially after lightening.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

A top-tier thermal appliance – ceramic or tourmaline, with adjustable temperature options. Silver and light-coloured hair can yellow or burn easily without the right iron.

Which popular practice is a definite no-go?

DIY bleaching. 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 cause irreversible harm, snap their strands or end up with uneven tones that are incredibly challenging to remedy. I would also avoid keratin or permanent straightening treatments on color-treated or grey hair. These chemical systems are often overly harsh for weakened hair and can cause long-term damage or discoloration.

Which typical blunder stands out?

People using the wrong products for their particular strand characteristics. Certain clients overapply colour-correcting purple shampoo until their silver or blond hair looks lifeless and muted. A few overdo on high-protein masks and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. The other major issue is heat styling without protection. In cases where you employ 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?

Hair loss needs a multilayered approach. Externally, minoxidil remains a top choice. I often suggest scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to boost blood flow and promote root strength. Using a scalp detox shampoo weekly helps eliminate impurities and allows treatments to work more effectively. Supplements such as Nutrafol or Viviscal Pro have also shown notable improvements. They work internally to benefit externally by balancing body chemistry, stress and dietary insufficiencies.

In cases requiring advanced options, blood-derived therapies – where a concentration from your blood is administered – can be effective. That said, I always suggest 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 Hair and Scalp Specialist

Scalp and Hair Scientist and brand president of Philip Kingsley clinics and product ranges for hair loss.

How often do you get your hair cut and coloured?

I schedule cuts every ten to twelve weeks, but will snip damaged ends myself fortnightly to keep my ends healthy, and have lightening sessions every eight weeks.

What affordable find is essential?

Hair-thickening particles are absolutely amazing if you have areas of scalp visibility. These particles bond to your existing hair, and it comes in a range of colors, making it almost invisible. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had significant shedding – and also presently during some considerable hair loss after having a severe illness recently. Because locks are secondary, it’s the earliest indicator of health issues when your diet is lacking, so I would also recommend a well-rounded, nutrient-rich diet.

Which premium option is truly valuable?

For those with genetic thinning in women, I’d say medicated treatments. Regarding increased shedding, or telogen effluvium, buying an over-the-counter product is fine, but for FPHL you really do need clinical interventions to see the best results. 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 extracts for shedding. It doesn’t work. This idea originated from a limited 2015 research 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 provide similarly low results.

Additionally, excessive biotin. Rarely do people lack biotin, so using it may not benefit your strands, and it can skew thyroid readings in blood tests.

Which error is most frequent?

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. Many individuals refrain from cleansing as they think it’s harmful to their strands, when in fact the contrary is accurate – especially if you have dandruff, which is aggravated by oil buildup. If natural oils stay on the head, they deteriorate and lead to inflammation.

Regrettably, follicular health and strand desires can differ, so it’s a careful compromise. 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. 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 simply don’t want to or can’t use it, you could try microneedling (see a dermatologist), and perhaps injections or laser devices.

With telogen effluvium, investigation is key. Excessive daily shedding occurs in response to an internal factor. Occasionally, the reason is temporary – such as flu, Covid or a period of intense stress – and it will clear up naturally. 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