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An Expert Colorist

Styling Professional located in California who specialises in silver hair. Among his clientele are Jane Fonda and Andie MacDowell.

Which budget-friendly product is a must-have?

I highly recommend a soft fabric towel, or even a smooth cotton shirt to dry your hair. Most people don’t realise how much damage a standard towel can do, especially to lightened or dyed strands. This one small change can really reduce frizz and breakage. Another inexpensive must-have is a wide-tooth comb, to use during washing. It safeguards your strands while removing knots and helps keep the health of the hair shafts, notably following coloring.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

A top-tier thermal appliance – made with advanced materials, with precise heat settings. Silver and light-coloured hair can become discolored or suffer heat stress without the proper tool.

What style or process should you always avoid?

Self-applied color lifting. Social media makes it look easy, but the truth is it’s one of the biggest gambles you can do to your hair. I’ve seen people melt their hair, experience breakage or end up with uneven tones that are incredibly challenging to remedy. I also don’t recommend keratin or permanent straightening treatments on color-treated or grey hair. Such treatments are often too aggressive for already fragile strands and can cause lasting harm or discoloration.

What frequent error do you observe?

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their particular strand characteristics. Some overuse violet-based cleansers until their lightened locks looks flat and dull. Some depend excessively on protein-rich treatments and end up with stiff, brittle hair. Another significant problem is thermal styling minus a barrier. When applying flat irons, curling irons or blow dryers without a heat protectant, – notably with color-treated strands – you’re going to see brassiness, lack of moisture and splitting.

What would you suggest for thinning hair?

Shedding demands a multifaceted plan. Externally, minoxidil remains a top choice. I also recommend scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to boost blood flow and aid in hair growth. Incorporating a clarifying shampoo regularly helps remove residue and allows solutions to be more efficient. Supplements such as Nutrafol or Viviscal Pro have also shown great results. They support the body from the inside out by correcting endocrine issues, anxiety and nutritional deficiencies.

In cases requiring advanced options, PRP therapy – where a personalized serum is applied – can be effective. Still, my advice is to seeing a dermatologist or trichologist first. Hair loss is often tied to underlying health issues, and it’s important to get to the root cause rather than pursuing temporary solutions.

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A Hair and Scalp Specialist

Follicle Expert and leader in hair health clinics and product ranges for hair loss.

How often do you get your hair cut and coloured?

I schedule cuts every ten to twelve weeks, but will remove split ends personally fortnightly to maintain tip integrity, and have highlights done every eight weeks.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Toppik hair fibres are remarkably effective if you have thinning spots. The fibres cling electrostatically to your own hair, and it comes in a variety of shades, making it almost invisible. I used it myself in the postpartum period when I had significant shedding – and also presently during some significant shedding after having awful flu a few months ago. Because locks are secondary, it’s the first part of you to suffer when your nutrition is inadequate, so I would also recommend a healthy, varied eating plan.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

For those with genetic thinning in women, I’d say doctor-recommended solutions. When dealing with temporary hair loss, known as TE, buying an over-the-counter product is fine, but for FPHL you really do need prescription-strength formulas to see the optimal outcomes. In my opinion, minoxidil compounded with other hair-supportive actives – such as endocrine regulators, blockers and/or soothing agents – 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 2% strength minoxidil isn’t enough to do much for hereditary thinning in males, 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 alter thyroid level measurements.

What blunder stands out often?

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 bad for their hair, when in fact the opposite is true – particularly with flaky scalp, which is aggravated by oil buildup. If natural oils stay on the head, they decompose and cause irritation.

Unfortunately, what your scalp needs and what your hair likes don’t always align, so it’s a careful compromise. But as long as you are gentle when you shampoo and handle wet hair with care, it won’t be damaging to your strands.

Which options help with shedding?

With female pattern loss, minoxidil is essential. It has the most robust evidence behind it and tends to show optimal results when mixed with supporting compounds. Should you wish to enhance minoxidil's benefits, or you simply don’t want to or can’t use it, you could try micro-needling (under professional care), and perhaps injections or laser devices.

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. 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