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An Expert Colorist

Hair Color Expert located in the West Coast who excels at platinum tones. He works with Hollywood stars and Andie MacDowell.

What affordable item can't you live without?

I swear by a soft fabric towel, or even a smooth cotton shirt to remove moisture from your strands. Many are unaware how much harm a regular bath towel can do, notably with silver or chemically treated hair. This one small change can really minimize flyaways and damage. Another affordable staple is a large-gap comb, to use while conditioning. It shields your locks while detangling and helps keep the health of the individual hairs, notably following coloring.

What item or service justifies the extra cost?

A high-quality styling iron – ceramic or tourmaline, with precise heat settings. Silver and light-coloured hair can develop brassy tones or get damaged without the proper tool.

Which popular practice is a definite no-go?

Self-applied color lifting. Online tutorials can be misleading, but the actual fact is it’s one of the biggest gambles you can do to your hair. There are cases where individuals severely damage their locks, experience breakage or end up with uneven tones that are nearly impossible to correct. I would also avoid long-term smoothing services on color-treated or grey hair. These chemical systems are often overly harsh for already fragile strands and can cause long-term damage or undesired tones.

Which typical blunder stands out?

Individuals choosing unsuitable formulas for their hair type or colour. A number of people misuse toning shampoo until their silver or blond hair looks flat and dull. A few overdo on strengthening conditioners and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. A further common mistake is heat styling without protection. In cases where you employ flat irons, curling irons or blow dryers without a protective product, – particularly on bleached locks – you’re going to see yellowing, dryness and breakage.

What would you suggest for thinning hair?

Shedding demands a multifaceted plan. Externally, minoxidil remains a top choice. I often suggest scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to enhance nutrient delivery and aid in hair growth. Using a scalp detox shampoo weekly helps eliminate impurities and allows products to perform better. Oral aids like specialized formulas have also shown positive outcomes. They work internally to benefit externally by balancing body chemistry, tension and lack of vital nutrients.

In cases requiring advanced options, blood-derived therapies – where a personalized serum is applied – 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 chasing surface-level fixes.

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A Hair and Scalp Specialist

Scalp and Hair Scientist and brand president of Philip Kingsley clinics and product ranges for hair loss.

What’s your routine for trims and color?

I schedule cuts every ten to twelve weeks, but will trim off splits at home fortnightly to preserve strand health, and have color touches every two months.

What affordable find is essential?

Toppik hair fibres are absolutely amazing if you have thinning spots. These particles bond to your existing hair, and it comes in a range of colors, making it almost invisible. I personally applied it after childbirth when I had noticeable thinning – and also currently as I’m going through some considerable hair loss after having a bad infection previously. As hair isn’t an essential tissue, 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 medicated treatments. Regarding increased shedding, or telogen effluvium, buying an retail solution is fine, but for FPHL you really do need clinical interventions to see the most effective improvements. In my opinion, minoxidil compounded with other hair-supportive actives – such as endocrine regulators, blockers and/or soothing agents – works best.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

Using rosemary essential oil for thinning. It's ineffective. This idea originated from a limited 2015 research 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.

Likewise, mega-doses of biotin. Few individuals have biotin insufficiency, so using it may not benefit your strands, and it can skew thyroid readings in blood tests.

Which error is most frequent?

I think the term “hair washing” should be changed to “scalp cleansing” – because the real aim of shampooing your hair is to clear away sebum, debris, sweat and pollutants. I see people avoiding shampooing as they think it’s bad for their hair, when in fact the opposite is true – notably in cases of dandruff, which is aggravated by oil buildup. 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. 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 product, treatment or supplement would you recommend for hair loss?

For genetic thinning in women, start with minoxidil. It has the most robust evidence behind it and tends to be most effective combined with additional ingredients. If you're interested in complementary therapies, or you prefer not to use it or are unable, you could try micro-needling (under professional care), and perhaps PRP or low-level laser therapy.

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. Noticeable thinning usually relates to a health trigger. Sometimes, the cause is transient – such as sickness, virus or emotional strain – and it will resolve on its own. In other cases, thyroid imbalances or vitamin/mineral deficiencies are the driving factor – 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