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An Expert Colorist

Colourist operating from the Golden State who focuses on platinum tones. Among his clientele are Jane Fonda and Andie MacDowell.

Which budget-friendly product is a must-have?

I swear by 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, notably with grey or color-processed hair. This minor adjustment can really lessen brittleness and splitting. Another affordable staple is a broad-toothed comb, to use while conditioning. It shields your locks while smoothing out tangles and helps keep the health of the individual hairs, especially after lightening.

Which investment truly pays off?

A top-tier thermal appliance – featuring innovative technology, with smart temperature control. Grey and blonde hair can become discolored or suffer heat stress without the proper tool.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

At-home lightening. Online tutorials can be misleading, but the actual fact is it’s one of the most hazardous actions you can do to your hair. There are cases where individuals cause irreversible harm, break it off or end up with uneven tones that are extremely difficult to fix. I also don’t recommend keratin or permanent straightening treatments on bleached or silver hair. These formulations are often excessively strong for delicate locks and can cause long-term damage or discoloration.

Which typical blunder stands out?

Individuals choosing unsuitable formulas for their specific hair needs. A number of people misuse colour-correcting purple shampoo until their blonde or grey strands looks drab and lacking shine. Others rely too much on protein-rich treatments and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. Another significant problem is heat styling without protection. In cases where you employ hot tools or dryers without a defensive spray or cream, – particularly on bleached locks – you’re going to see brassiness, lack of moisture and splitting.

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. I often suggest scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to enhance nutrient delivery and support follicle health. Incorporating a clarifying shampoo regularly helps remove residue and allows treatments to work more effectively. Oral aids like specialized formulas have also shown great results. They enhance overall health for hair benefits by balancing body chemistry, anxiety and lack of vital nutrients.

For people looking for something more advanced, platelet-rich plasma treatments – where a concentration from your blood is administered – can be successful. That said, I always suggest getting a professional diagnosis beforehand. Hair loss is often tied to underlying health issues, and it’s important to determine the origin rather than chasing surface-level fixes.

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A Hair and Scalp Specialist

Scalp and Hair Scientist and leader in hair health services and items for shedding.

What’s your routine for trims and color?

My trims are every couple of months, but will remove split ends personally bi-weekly to keep my ends healthy, and have color touches every two months.

Which low-cost item is a game-changer?

Hair-thickening particles are absolutely amazing if you have see-through sections. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a variety of shades, making it virtually undetectable. I used it myself in the postpartum period when I had a lot of hair fall – and also now while experiencing some considerable hair loss after having awful flu a few months ago. As hair isn’t an essential tissue, it’s the earliest indicator of health issues when your intake is insufficient, so I would also recommend a well-rounded, nutrient-rich diet.

Which premium option is truly valuable?

In cases of hereditary hair loss in females, I’d say prescription hair-loss topicals. When dealing with temporary hair loss, known as TE, buying an non-prescription item is fine, but for FPHL you really do need prescription-strength formulas to see the best results. From my perspective, minoxidil combined with additional ingredients – such as hormones, anti-androgens and/or anti-inflammatories – works best.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

Using rosemary essential oil for thinning. It doesn’t work. This idea originated from a limited 2015 research that compared the effects of 2% minoxidil to rosemary oil. A low concentration like 2% is insufficient to do much for hereditary thinning in males, so the study is basically saying they provide similarly low results.

Also, high-dose biotin. Rarely do people lack biotin, so consuming it probably won't help your locks, and it can skew thyroid readings in blood tests.

What’s the most common mistake you see?

In my view, we should rename "hair washing" to "scalp cleaning" – because the real aim of shampooing your hair is to clear away sebum, debris, sweat and pollutants. I see people avoiding shampooing as they think it’s bad for their hair, when in fact the reverse is correct – notably in cases of dandruff, which is worsened by the presence of excess oils. If natural oils stay on the head, they decompose and cause irritation.

Sadly, scalp requirements and hair preferences may conflict, so it’s a balancing act. But as long as you are gentle when you shampoo and handle wet hair with care, it is unlikely to cause damage.

What solutions do you suggest for thinning?

For FPHL, your core treatment should be minoxidil. It's backed by strong research and tends to work best when compounded with other hair-supportive actives. If you then want to try other things to support minoxidil’s effect, or you simply don’t want to or can’t use it, you could try collagen induction therapy (with a specialist), and perhaps platelet-rich plasma or light treatments.

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. Noticeable thinning usually relates to a health trigger. Occasionally, the reason is temporary – 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