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A Color Specialist

Colourist based in the Golden State who specialises in grey hair. He works with celebrated actors and well-known figures.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

I swear by a soft fabric towel, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to remove moisture from your strands. Most people don’t realise 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. A second budget-friendly essential is a wide-tooth comb, to use while conditioning. It protects the hair while detangling 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 – made with advanced materials, with smart temperature control. Lightened strands can become discolored or suffer heat stress without the proper tool.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

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 melt their hair, break it off or end up with bands of colour that are incredibly challenging to remedy. It's best to steer clear of keratin or permanent straightening treatments on bleached or silver hair. These formulations are often too aggressive for already fragile strands and can cause lasting harm or undesired tones.

Which typical blunder stands out?

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their specific hair needs. Some overuse toning shampoo until their silver or blond hair looks lifeless and muted. Some depend excessively on high-protein masks and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. A further common mistake is using hot tools sans safeguard. In cases where you employ flat irons, curling irons or blow dryers without a defensive spray or cream, – particularly on bleached locks – you’re going to see yellowing, dryness and breakage.

What would you suggest for thinning hair?

Hair loss needs a multilayered approach. Externally, minoxidil remains a top choice. I also recommend scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to boost blood flow and support follicle health. Incorporating a clarifying shampoo regularly helps remove residue and allows products to perform better. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown great results. They work internally to benefit externally by addressing hormonal imbalances, anxiety and nutritional deficiencies.

For people looking for something more advanced, platelet-rich plasma treatments – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be successful. However, I consistently recommend 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 seeking quick fixes.

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A Trichology Expert

Follicle Expert and brand president of Philip Kingsley clinics and product ranges for hair loss.

How often do you get your hair cut and coloured?

I get my hair cut every 10 to 12 weeks, but will trim off splits at home bi-weekly to preserve strand health, and have color touches every two months.

Which low-cost item is a game-changer?

Building fibers are remarkably effective if you have thinning spots. The fibres cling electrostatically to your own hair, and it comes in a assortment of tones, making it seamlessly blended. I personally applied it after childbirth when I had a lot of hair fall – and also currently as I’m going through some marked thinning after having a severe illness recently. Since hair is non-vital, 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.

What justifies a higher investment?

If you have female pattern hair loss (FPHL), I’d say doctor-recommended solutions. For excessive daily hair shedding, AKA telogen effluvium (TE), buying an over-the-counter product is fine, but for FPHL you really do need clinical interventions to see the most effective improvements. I believe minoxidil mixed with supporting compounds – such as balancing elements, inhibitors and/or calming components – works best.

Which popular remedy is ineffective?

Using rosemary essential oil for thinning. 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 mild formula such as 2% is inadequate to do much for hereditary thinning in males, so the study is basically saying they work as little as each other.

Likewise, mega-doses of 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?

In my view, we should rename "hair washing" to "scalp cleaning" – because the main goal of cleansing is to clear away sebum, debris, sweat and pollutants. Many individuals refrain from cleansing as they think it’s bad for their hair, when in fact the opposite is true – particularly with flaky scalp, which is worsened by the presence of excess oils. If natural oils stay on the head, they decompose and cause irritation.

Regrettably, follicular health and strand desires can differ, so it’s a balancing act. Provided you wash delicately and manage wet locks gently, 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. Scientific support is substantial and tends to work best when compounded with other hair-supportive actives. 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 microneedling (see a dermatologist), and perhaps injections or laser devices.

With telogen effluvium, investigation is key. Noticeable thinning usually relates to a health trigger. Sometimes, the cause is transient – such as flu, Covid or a period of intense 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