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A Color Specialist

Styling Professional located in the West Coast who specialises in platinum tones. His clients include celebrated actors and well-known figures.

What affordable item can't you live without?

I swear by a microfibre towel, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to towel-dry your locks. Most people don’t realise how much damage a typical terrycloth 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 in the shower. It safeguards your strands while detangling and helps keep the health of the strands, particularly post-bleaching.

What item or service justifies the extra cost?

A top-tier thermal appliance – featuring innovative technology, with smart temperature control. Grey and blonde hair can develop brassy tones or get damaged without the proper tool.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

DIY bleaching. Online tutorials can be misleading, but the truth is it’s one of the most hazardous actions you can do to your hair. I’ve witnessed clients severely damage their locks, snap their strands or end up with uneven tones that are incredibly challenging to remedy. It's best to steer clear of chemical straightening processes on pre-lightened strands. These chemical systems are often too aggressive for delicate locks and can cause chronic issues or discoloration.

What’s the most common mistake you see in your salon?

People using the wrong products for their particular strand characteristics. A number of people misuse violet-based cleansers until their lightened locks looks lifeless and muted. A few overdo on high-protein masks and end up with stiff, brittle hair. The other major issue is using hot tools sans safeguard. If you’re using styling appliances without a protective product, – particularly on bleached locks – you’re going to see yellowing, dryness and breakage.

What would you suggest for thinning hair?

Hair loss needs a multilayered approach. Topically, minoxidil is still one of the most effective treatments. I also recommend scalp formulas with active ingredients to enhance nutrient delivery and support follicle health. Incorporating a clarifying shampoo regularly helps clear out buildup and allows treatments to work more effectively. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown notable improvements. They enhance overall health for hair benefits by correcting endocrine issues, tension and dietary insufficiencies.

For those seeking higher-level solutions, platelet-rich plasma treatments – where a personalized serum is applied – can be effective. However, I consistently recommend getting a professional diagnosis beforehand. Thinning can be linked to medical conditions, and it’s important to identify the source rather than seeking quick fixes.

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A Hair and Scalp Specialist

Follicle Expert and head of a renowned clinic services and items for shedding.

How frequently do you schedule salon visits?

I get my hair cut every 10 to 12 weeks, but will trim off splits at home bi-weekly to preserve strand health, and have color touches every two months.

Which low-cost item is a game-changer?

Hair-thickening particles are truly impressive if you have see-through sections. The fibres cling electrostatically to your own hair, and it comes in a range of colors, making it seamlessly blended. I used it myself in the postpartum period when I had noticeable thinning – and also now while experiencing some marked thinning after having a bad infection previously. Because locks are secondary, it’s the earliest indicator of health issues when your intake is insufficient, so I would also recommend a balanced, nutritious diet.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

In cases of hereditary hair loss in females, I’d say doctor-recommended solutions. When dealing with temporary hair loss, known as TE, buying an non-prescription item is fine, but for FPHL you really do need clinical interventions to see the optimal outcomes. 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. The whole thing stems from one small study done in 2015 that compared the effects of a low-dose minoxidil with rosemary oil. A mild formula such as 2% is inadequate to do much for genetic balding in men, so the study is basically saying they work as little as each other.

Also, high-dose biotin. Rarely do people lack biotin, so consuming it probably won't help your locks, and it can affect thyroid test results.

Which error is most frequent?

I think the term “hair washing” should be changed to “scalp cleansing” – because the main goal of cleansing is to rid your scalp of old oils, dead skin cells, sweat and environmental pollution. 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 natural oils stay on the head, they break down and become inflammatory.

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

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

For FPHL, your core treatment should be minoxidil. It has the most robust evidence behind it and tends to show optimal results when mixed with supporting compounds. 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 PRP or low-level laser therapy.

For TE, you need to do some detective work. Excessive daily shedding occurs in response to an internal factor. In some instances, the trigger is short-term – such as flu, Covid or a period of intense stress – and it will resolve on its own. Alternatively, endocrine issues or nutrient shortages may be the cause – 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