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A Color Specialist

Colourist operating from the Golden State who specialises in silver hair. He works with Hollywood stars and well-known figures.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

I highly recommend a gentle drying cloth, or even a gentle tee to towel-dry your locks. Most people don’t realise how much harm a standard towel can do, particularly for silver or chemically treated hair. This one small change can really lessen brittleness and splitting. Another inexpensive must-have is a broad-toothed comb, to use in the shower. It protects the hair while smoothing out tangles and helps maintain the integrity of the hair shafts, particularly post-bleaching.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

A professional-grade heat styling tool – featuring innovative technology, with adjustable temperature options. Lightened strands can develop brassy tones or get damaged without the right iron.

What style or process should you always avoid?

Self-applied color lifting. Online tutorials can be misleading, but the reality is it’s one of the biggest gambles you can do to your hair. I’ve seen people severely damage their locks, snap their strands or end up with uneven tones that are nearly impossible to correct. I would also avoid keratin or permanent straightening treatments on color-treated or grey hair. These formulations are often excessively strong for weakened hair and can cause chronic issues or discoloration.

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

Individuals choosing unsuitable formulas for their specific hair needs. Certain clients overapply colour-correcting purple shampoo until their blonde or grey strands looks flat and dull. A few overdo on protein-rich treatments and end up with rigid, fragile strands. Another significant problem is heat styling without protection. When applying hot tools or dryers without a defensive spray or cream, – particularly on bleached locks – you’re going to see brassiness, lack of moisture and splitting.

Which solutions help with shedding?

Thinning requires a comprehensive strategy. Externally, minoxidil remains a top choice. I also recommend scalp formulas with active ingredients to stimulate circulation and promote root strength. Applying a cleansing scalp wash often 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 addressing hormonal imbalances, anxiety and lack of vital nutrients.

In cases requiring advanced options, platelet-rich plasma treatments – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be beneficial. Still, my advice is to getting a professional diagnosis beforehand. Hair loss is often tied to underlying health issues, and it’s important to determine the origin rather than pursuing temporary solutions.

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A Trichology Expert

Scalp and Hair Scientist and head of a renowned clinic centers and lines targeting thinning.

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 preserve strand health, and have highlights done every eight weeks.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Hair-thickening particles are absolutely amazing if you have see-through sections. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a assortment of tones, making it almost invisible. I used it myself in the postpartum period when I had significant shedding – and also presently during some marked thinning after having a bad infection previously. As hair isn’t an essential tissue, it’s the first part of you to suffer when your diet is lacking, so I would also recommend a well-rounded, nutrient-rich diet.

Which premium option is truly valuable?

For those with genetic thinning in women, I’d say medicated treatments. For excessive daily hair shedding, AKA telogen effluvium (TE), buying an retail solution is fine, but for FPHL you really do need clinical interventions to see the most effective improvements. From my perspective, minoxidil combined with additional ingredients – such as hormones, anti-androgens and/or anti-inflammatories – works best.

What should you always skip?

Using rosemary essential oil for thinning. It shows no real benefit. The whole thing stems from one small study done in 2015 that compared the effects of a low-dose minoxidil with rosemary oil. A 2% strength minoxidil isn’t enough to do much for hereditary thinning in males, so the study is basically saying they are equally minimal in effect.

Also, high-dose biotin. Rarely do people lack biotin, so using it may not benefit your strands, and it can skew thyroid readings in blood tests.

What’s the most common mistake you see?

I think the term “hair washing” should be changed to “scalp cleansing” – because the primary purpose of washing 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 harmful to their strands, when in fact the reverse is correct – notably in cases of dandruff, which is intensified by sebum accumulation. 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 careful compromise. Provided you wash delicately and manage wet locks gently, it is unlikely to cause damage.

What solutions do you suggest for thinning?

With female pattern loss, minoxidil is essential. It's backed by strong research 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 choose to avoid it or cannot tolerate it, you could try micro-needling (under professional care), and perhaps injections or laser devices.

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. Increased hair loss often stems from an underlying issue. Sometimes, the cause is transient – such as illness, infection or high 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