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A Color Specialist

Styling Professional operating from the West Coast who specialises in grey hair. He works with Jane Fonda and renowned personalities.

Which budget-friendly product is a must-have?

My top pick is a gentle drying cloth, or even a smooth cotton shirt to remove moisture from your strands. It's often overlooked how much stress a regular bath towel can do, especially to silver or chemically treated hair. A simple switch can really reduce frizz and breakage. Another affordable staple is a wide-tooth comb, to use while conditioning. It safeguards your strands while detangling and helps maintain the integrity of the individual hairs, notably following coloring.

What item or service justifies the extra cost?

A top-tier thermal appliance – ceramic or tourmaline, with adjustable temperature options. Lightened strands can yellow or burn easily without the correct device.

Which popular practice is a definite no-go?

At-home lightening. Internet videos often simplify it, but the actual fact is it’s one of the most hazardous actions you can do to your hair. There are cases where individuals cause irreversible harm, snap their strands or end up with striped effects 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 overly harsh for delicate locks and can cause chronic issues or undesired tones.

What frequent error do you observe?

People using the wrong products for their specific hair needs. Some overuse colour-correcting purple shampoo until their silver or blond hair looks drab and lacking shine. Others rely too much on protein-rich treatments and end up with rigid, fragile strands. The other major issue is heat styling without protection. When applying flat irons, curling irons or blow dryers without a heat protectant, – especially on pre-lightened hair – you’re going to see brassiness, lack of moisture and splitting.

Which solutions help with shedding?

Thinning requires a comprehensive strategy. For direct application, minoxidil is highly proven. I also recommend scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to enhance nutrient delivery and aid in hair growth. Applying a cleansing scalp wash often helps clear out buildup and allows treatments to work more effectively. Supplements such as Nutrafol or Viviscal Pro have also shown great results. They work internally to benefit externally by balancing body chemistry, anxiety and nutritional deficiencies.

In cases requiring advanced options, platelet-rich plasma treatments – where a personalized serum is applied – can be beneficial. That said, I always suggest getting a professional diagnosis beforehand. Thinning can be linked to medical conditions, and it’s important to determine the origin rather than chasing surface-level fixes.

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A Hair and Scalp Specialist

Trichologist and brand president of Philip Kingsley centers and lines targeting thinning.

What’s your routine for trims and color?

I schedule cuts every ten to twelve weeks, but will trim off splits at home bi-weekly to keep my ends healthy, and have color touches every two months.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Hair-thickening particles are truly impressive if you have thinning spots. These particles bond to your existing hair, and it comes in a assortment of tones, making it seamlessly blended. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had significant shedding – and also presently during some considerable hair loss after having a severe illness recently. Because locks are secondary, it’s the earliest indicator of health issues when your intake is insufficient, so I would also recommend a healthy, varied eating plan.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

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 prescription-strength formulas to see the most effective improvements. I believe minoxidil mixed with supporting compounds – such as hormones, anti-androgens and/or anti-inflammatories – works best.

What should you always skip?

Rosemary oil for hair loss. It shows no real benefit. This belief comes from a minor study from 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 provide similarly low results.

Additionally, excessive biotin. Hardly anyone is biotin deficient, so consuming it probably won't help your locks, and it can skew thyroid readings in blood tests.

What blunder stands out often?

I think the term “hair washing” should be changed to “scalp cleansing” – because the real aim of shampooing your hair is to rid your scalp of old oils, dead skin cells, sweat and environmental pollution. Many individuals refrain from cleansing as they think it’s damaging to their locks, when in fact the opposite is true – notably in cases of dandruff, which is aggravated by oil buildup. If natural oils stay on the head, they break down and become inflammatory.

Sadly, scalp requirements and hair preferences may conflict, 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?

With female pattern loss, minoxidil is essential. Scientific support is substantial and tends to work best when compounded with other hair-supportive actives. 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. 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 resolve on its own. 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