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An Expert Colorist

Hair Color Expert based in California who excels at grey hair. His clients include Jane Fonda and Andie MacDowell.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

My top pick is a soft fabric towel, or even a smooth cotton shirt to remove moisture from your strands. Most people don’t realise how much stress a standard towel can do, especially to silver or chemically treated hair. A simple switch can really lessen brittleness and splitting. Another affordable staple is a large-gap comb, to use in the shower. It shields your locks while removing knots and helps preserve the strength of the hair shafts, particularly post-bleaching.

Which investment truly pays off?

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

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

DIY bleaching. Internet videos often simplify it, but the reality is it’s one of the most hazardous actions you can do to your hair. I’ve seen people melt their hair, experience breakage or end up with uneven tones that are extremely difficult to fix. I also don’t recommend long-term smoothing services on pre-lightened strands. These chemical systems are often too aggressive for weakened hair and can cause long-term damage or undesired tones.

Which typical blunder stands out?

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their particular strand characteristics. Certain clients overapply colour-correcting purple shampoo until their lightened locks looks lifeless and muted. Others rely too much on high-protein masks and end up with rigid, fragile strands. A further common mistake is heat styling without protection. When applying styling appliances 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. For direct application, minoxidil is highly proven. I also recommend scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to stimulate circulation and aid in hair growth. Using a scalp detox shampoo weekly helps eliminate impurities and allows solutions to be more efficient. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown notable improvements. They support the body from the inside out by correcting endocrine issues, tension and lack of vital nutrients.

For people looking for something more advanced, platelet-rich plasma treatments – where a concentration from your blood is administered – can be successful. However, I consistently recommend seeing a dermatologist or trichologist first. 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 head of a renowned clinic clinics and product ranges for hair loss.

How frequently do you schedule salon visits?

I schedule cuts every ten to twelve weeks, but will snip damaged ends myself bi-weekly to maintain tip integrity, and have lightening sessions every eight weeks.

Which low-cost item is a game-changer?

Building fibers are truly impressive if you have see-through sections. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a variety of shades, making it virtually undetectable. I used it myself in the postpartum period when I had significant shedding – and also now while experiencing some significant shedding after having a bad infection previously. As hair isn’t an essential tissue, it’s the earliest indicator of health issues when your diet is lacking, so I would also recommend a balanced, nutritious diet.

Which premium option is truly valuable?

In cases of hereditary hair loss in females, I’d say prescription hair-loss topicals. Regarding increased shedding, or telogen effluvium, buying an over-the-counter product is fine, but for FPHL you really do need prescription-strength formulas to see the best results. From my perspective, minoxidil combined with additional ingredients – such as endocrine regulators, blockers and/or soothing agents – works best.

Which popular remedy is ineffective?

Rosemary oil for hair loss. It's ineffective. This belief comes from a minor study from 2015 that compared the effects of a mild minoxidil solution versus rosemary extract. A 2% strength minoxidil isn’t enough to do much for genetic balding in men, so the study is basically saying they provide similarly low results.

Additionally, excessive biotin. Rarely do people lack biotin, so using it may not benefit your strands, and it can affect thyroid test results.

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 clear away sebum, debris, sweat and pollutants. I notice clients skipping washes as they think it’s bad for their hair, when in fact the contrary is accurate – especially if you have dandruff, which is worsened by the presence of excess oils. When sebum remains on the skin, they decompose and cause irritation.

Sadly, scalp requirements and hair preferences may conflict, so it’s a balancing act. However, if you cleanse softly and treat damp strands kindly, it won’t be damaging to your strands.

What solutions do you suggest for thinning?

With female pattern loss, minoxidil is essential. It has the most robust evidence behind it and tends to work best when compounded with other hair-supportive actives. Should you wish to enhance minoxidil's benefits, or you prefer not to use it or are unable, 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 sickness, virus or emotional strain – and it will clear up naturally. 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