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A Color Specialist

Styling Professional located in California who specialises in grey hair. Among his clientele are Jane Fonda and renowned personalities.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

I swear by a soft fabric towel, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to towel-dry your locks. It's often overlooked how much stress a standard towel can do, especially to silver or chemically treated hair. This one small change can really reduce frizz and breakage. A second budget-friendly essential is a large-gap comb, to use in the shower. It shields your locks while smoothing out tangles and helps maintain the integrity of the strands, especially after lightening.

Which investment truly pays off?

A top-tier thermal appliance – featuring innovative technology, with adjustable temperature options. Silver and light-coloured hair can become discolored or suffer heat stress without the proper tool.

What style or process should you always avoid?

DIY bleaching. Internet videos often simplify it, but the reality is it’s one of the riskiest things you can do to your hair. I’ve witnessed clients severely damage their locks, snap their strands or end up with striped effects that are nearly impossible to correct. I would also avoid long-term smoothing services on pre-lightened strands. These chemical systems are often excessively strong for delicate locks and can cause lasting harm or discoloration.

Which typical blunder stands out?

Individuals choosing unsuitable formulas for their specific hair needs. Some overuse toning shampoo until their silver or blond hair looks flat and dull. Some depend excessively on high-protein masks and end up with stiff, brittle hair. The other major issue is heat styling without protection. If you’re using styling appliances without a defensive spray or cream, – notably with color-treated strands – you’re going to see yellowing, dryness and breakage.

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 follicle treatments containing stimulants to enhance nutrient delivery and aid in hair growth. Applying a cleansing scalp wash often helps eliminate impurities 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 correcting endocrine issues, anxiety and dietary insufficiencies.

In cases requiring advanced options, PRP therapy – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be effective. Still, my advice is to getting a professional diagnosis beforehand. Thinning can be linked to medical conditions, and it’s important to identify the source rather than pursuing temporary solutions.

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A Trichology Expert

Scalp and Hair Scientist and head of a renowned clinic clinics and product ranges for hair loss.

How often do you get your hair cut and coloured?

My trims are every couple of months, but will remove split ends personally fortnightly to keep my ends healthy, and have highlights done every eight weeks.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Hair-thickening particles are remarkably effective if you have see-through sections. The fibres cling electrostatically to your own hair, and it comes in a assortment of tones, making it almost invisible. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had significant shedding – and also currently as I’m going through some considerable hair loss after having awful flu a few months ago. Since hair is non-vital, it’s the first part of you to suffer when your intake is insufficient, so I would also recommend a healthy, varied eating plan.

Which premium option is truly valuable?

In cases of hereditary hair loss in females, I’d say doctor-recommended solutions. For excessive daily hair shedding, AKA telogen effluvium (TE), buying an over-the-counter product is fine, but for FPHL you really do need prescription-strength formulas to see the best results. In my opinion, minoxidil compounded with other hair-supportive actives – such as balancing elements, inhibitors and/or calming components – works best.

What should you always skip?

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 mild formula such as 2% is inadequate to do much for genetic balding in men, so the study is basically saying they are equally minimal in effect.

Also, high-dose biotin. Hardly anyone is biotin deficient, so using it may not benefit your strands, and it can alter thyroid level measurements.

Which error is most frequent?

In my view, we should rename "hair washing" to "scalp cleaning" – because the main goal of cleansing is to clear away sebum, debris, sweat and pollutants. I notice clients skipping washes as they think it’s bad for their hair, when in fact the contrary is accurate – especially if you have dandruff, which is intensified by sebum accumulation. If natural oils stay on the head, they deteriorate and lead to inflammation.

Unfortunately, what your scalp needs and what your hair likes don’t always align, so it’s a careful compromise. Provided you wash delicately and manage wet locks gently, it won’t be damaging to your strands.

Which options help with shedding?

For genetic thinning in women, start with minoxidil. It's backed by strong research and tends to work best when compounded with other hair-supportive actives. Should you wish to enhance minoxidil's benefits, or you choose to avoid it or cannot tolerate it, you could try micro-needling (under professional care), and perhaps injections or laser devices.

With telogen effluvium, investigation is key. Excessive daily shedding occurs in response to an internal factor. In some instances, the trigger is short-term – such as illness, infection or high stress – and it will clear up naturally. Sometimes, hormonal problems or dietary gaps are responsible – 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