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A Color Specialist

Colourist located in the Golden State who excels at silver hair. Among his clientele are Jane Fonda and well-known figures.

What affordable item can't you live without?

I swear by a gentle drying cloth, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to towel-dry your locks. Most people don’t realise how much damage a standard towel can do, especially to silver or chemically treated hair. This minor adjustment can really minimize flyaways and damage. A second budget-friendly essential is a large-gap comb, to use while conditioning. It shields your locks while detangling and helps preserve the strength of the strands, especially after lightening.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

A high-quality styling iron – featuring innovative technology, with smart temperature control. Silver and light-coloured hair can yellow or burn easily without the correct device.

What style or process should you always avoid?

At-home lightening. Social media makes it look easy, but the reality is it’s one of the biggest gambles you can do to your hair. I’ve witnessed clients melt their hair, snap their strands or end up with bands of colour that are nearly impossible to correct. It's best to steer clear of keratin or permanent straightening treatments on pre-lightened strands. These formulations are often too aggressive for already fragile strands and can cause lasting harm or discoloration.

What frequent error do you observe?

Individuals choosing unsuitable formulas for their hair type or colour. Some overuse toning shampoo until their silver or blond hair looks drab and lacking shine. Some depend excessively on strengthening conditioners and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. The other major issue is using hot tools sans safeguard. When applying hot tools or dryers 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?

Hair loss needs a multilayered approach. For direct application, minoxidil is highly proven. I often suggest scalp formulas with active ingredients to enhance nutrient delivery and aid in hair growth. Using a scalp detox shampoo weekly helps eliminate impurities and allows solutions to be more efficient. Oral aids like specialized formulas have also shown great results. They work internally to benefit externally by balancing body chemistry, tension and lack of vital nutrients.

For people looking for something more advanced, blood-derived therapies – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be effective. However, I consistently recommend getting a professional diagnosis beforehand. 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 leader in hair health clinics and product ranges for hair loss.

How frequently do you schedule salon visits?

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 color touches every two months.

What affordable find is essential?

Building fibers are truly impressive if you have see-through sections. 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 a lot of hair fall – and also presently during some considerable hair loss after having a severe illness recently. Since hair is non-vital, it’s the first part of you to suffer when your diet is lacking, so I would also recommend a balanced, nutritious diet.

What justifies a higher investment?

For those with genetic thinning in women, I’d say medicated treatments. For excessive daily hair shedding, AKA telogen effluvium (TE), buying an non-prescription item is fine, but for FPHL you really do need medicated treatment to see the best results. From my perspective, minoxidil combined with additional ingredients – such as endocrine regulators, blockers and/or soothing agents – works best.

What should you always skip?

Rosemary oil for hair loss. It's ineffective. This idea originated from a limited 2015 research that compared the effects of 2% minoxidil to rosemary oil. A mild formula such as 2% is inadequate to do much for male pattern hair loss, so the study is basically saying they work as little as each other.

Additionally, excessive biotin. Hardly anyone is biotin deficient, so consuming it probably won't help your locks, and it can affect thyroid test results.

What’s the most common mistake you see?

In my view, we should rename "hair washing" to "scalp cleaning" – because the primary purpose of washing 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 harmful to their strands, when in fact the opposite is true – especially if you have dandruff, which is intensified by sebum accumulation. If oils are left on your scalp, they break down and become inflammatory.

Sadly, scalp requirements and hair preferences may conflict, so it’s a careful compromise. Provided you wash delicately and manage wet locks gently, it shouldn't harm your hair.

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. 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 collagen induction therapy (with a specialist), and perhaps PRP or low-level laser therapy.

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. Noticeable thinning usually relates to a health trigger. Occasionally, the reason is temporary – such as sickness, virus or emotional strain – and it will resolve on its own. Sometimes, hormonal problems or dietary gaps are responsible – the frequent culprits include iron stores, B12 and D insufficiency – and to {treat the hair loss you need to treat the cause|address shedding, target the underlying issue|combat thinning, focus