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An Expert Colorist

Hair Color Expert based in the Golden State who excels at silver hair. Among his clientele are celebrated actors and Andie MacDowell.

What affordable item can't you live without?

I swear by a gentle drying cloth, or even a gentle tee to dry your hair. Most people don’t realise how much stress a typical terrycloth towel can do, notably with grey or color-processed hair. A simple switch can really lessen brittleness and splitting. A second budget-friendly essential is a broad-toothed comb, to use in the shower. It safeguards your strands while detangling and helps keep the health of the hair shafts, especially after lightening.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

A professional-grade heat styling tool – made with advanced materials, with precise heat settings. Grey and blonde hair can yellow or burn easily without the proper tool.

What style or process should you always avoid?

At-home lightening. Social media makes it look easy, but the actual fact is it’s one of the riskiest things you can do to your hair. There are cases where individuals severely damage their locks, experience breakage or end up with uneven tones that are nearly impossible to correct. I would also avoid long-term smoothing services on color-treated or grey hair. Such treatments are often too aggressive for already fragile strands and can cause long-term damage or undesired tones.

What frequent error do you observe?

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their hair type or colour. A number of people misuse toning shampoo until their blonde or grey strands looks lifeless and muted. Some depend excessively on strengthening conditioners and end up with stiff, brittle hair. A further common mistake is thermal styling minus a barrier. In cases where you employ styling appliances without a heat protectant, – notably with color-treated strands – you’re going to see brassiness, lack of moisture and splitting.

Which solutions help with shedding?

Thinning requires a comprehensive strategy. Topically, minoxidil is still one of the most effective treatments. My advice includes scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to enhance nutrient delivery and support follicle health. Incorporating a clarifying shampoo regularly helps remove residue and allows products to perform better. Supplements such as Nutrafol or Viviscal Pro have also shown positive outcomes. They enhance overall health for hair benefits by addressing hormonal imbalances, anxiety and dietary insufficiencies.

For people looking for something more advanced, 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 Trichology Expert

Follicle Expert and head of a renowned clinic centers and lines targeting thinning.

How often do you get your hair cut and coloured?

I get my hair cut every 10 to 12 weeks, but will snip damaged ends myself every two weeks to keep my ends healthy, and have highlights done every eight weeks.

What affordable find is essential?

Toppik hair fibres are absolutely amazing if you have see-through sections. These particles bond to your existing hair, and it comes in a range of colors, making it seamlessly blended. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had a lot of hair fall – and also currently as I’m going through some significant shedding after having a severe illness recently. Since hair is non-vital, it’s the initial area to show decline when your intake is insufficient, so I would also recommend a balanced, nutritious diet.

What justifies a higher investment?

In cases of hereditary hair loss in females, I’d say medicated treatments. Regarding increased shedding, or telogen effluvium, buying an retail solution is fine, but for FPHL you really do need clinical interventions to see the most effective improvements. From my perspective, minoxidil combined with additional ingredients – such as hormones, anti-androgens and/or anti-inflammatories – works best.

What should you always skip?

Rosemary oil for hair loss. It doesn’t work. The whole thing stems from one small study done in 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 provide similarly low results.

Also, high-dose biotin. Few individuals have biotin insufficiency, so consuming it probably won't help your locks, and it can alter thyroid level measurements.

Which error is most frequent?

Personally, I prefer "scalp cleansing" over "hair washing" – because the real aim of shampooing your hair is to remove buildup, flakes, perspiration and dirt. I see people avoiding shampooing as they think it’s damaging to their locks, when in fact the opposite is true – particularly with flaky scalp, which is worsened by the presence of excess oils. If oils are left on your scalp, they deteriorate and lead to inflammation.

Unfortunately, what your scalp needs and what your hair likes don’t always align, so it’s a delicate equilibrium. But as long as you are gentle when you shampoo and handle wet hair with care, it shouldn't harm your hair.

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

For FPHL, your core treatment should be minoxidil. It's backed by strong research and tends to be most effective combined with additional ingredients. If you then want to try other things to support minoxidil’s effect, or you choose to avoid it or cannot tolerate it, you could try microneedling (see a dermatologist), and perhaps injections or laser devices.

For TE, you need to do some detective work. Excessive daily shedding occurs in response to an internal factor. Occasionally, the reason is temporary – such as illness, infection or high stress – and it will improve spontaneously. In other cases, thyroid imbalances or vitamin/mineral deficiencies are the driving factor – 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