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A Color Specialist

Styling Professional located in the West Coast who specialises in platinum tones. Among his clientele are Hollywood stars and renowned personalities.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

My top pick is a soft fabric towel, or even a gentle tee to remove moisture from your strands. Most people don’t realise how much damage 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 broad-toothed comb, to use while conditioning. It safeguards your strands while smoothing out tangles and helps preserve the strength of the strands, particularly post-bleaching.

What item or service justifies the extra cost?

A professional-grade heat styling tool – ceramic or tourmaline, with precise heat settings. Lightened strands can develop brassy tones or get damaged without the right iron.

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. I’ve seen people melt their hair, snap their strands or end up with uneven tones that are nearly impossible to correct. I also don’t recommend long-term smoothing services on color-treated or grey hair. These formulations are often excessively strong for weakened hair and can cause chronic issues or color changes.

Which typical blunder stands out?

Individuals choosing unsuitable formulas for their specific hair needs. Certain clients overapply toning shampoo until their blonde or grey strands looks drab and lacking shine. Some depend excessively on protein-rich treatments and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. Another significant problem is heat styling without protection. In cases where you employ flat irons, curling irons or blow dryers without a protective product, – especially on pre-lightened hair – you’re going to see yellowing, dryness and breakage.

What would you suggest for thinning hair?

Hair loss needs a multilayered approach. For direct application, minoxidil is highly proven. I also recommend follicle treatments containing stimulants to enhance nutrient delivery and support follicle health. Applying a cleansing scalp wash often helps clear out buildup and allows solutions to be more efficient. 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.

For those seeking higher-level solutions, blood-derived therapies – where a personalized serum is applied – can be beneficial. However, I consistently recommend getting a professional diagnosis beforehand. Thinning can be linked to medical conditions, and it’s important to determine the origin rather than seeking quick fixes.

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A Trichology Expert

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

How often do you get your hair cut and coloured?

I get my hair cut every 10 to 12 weeks, but will remove split ends personally fortnightly to maintain tip integrity, and have color touches every two months.

Which low-cost item is a game-changer?

Toppik hair fibres are absolutely amazing if you have thinning spots. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a range of colors, making it seamlessly blended. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had noticeable thinning – and also now while experiencing 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 diet is lacking, so I would also recommend a well-rounded, nutrient-rich diet.

Which premium option is truly valuable?

If you have female pattern hair loss (FPHL), I’d say prescription hair-loss topicals. For excessive daily hair shedding, AKA telogen effluvium (TE), buying an retail solution 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 hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

Using rosemary essential oil for thinning. It doesn’t work. This belief comes from a minor study from 2015 that compared the effects of a mild minoxidil solution versus rosemary extract. 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.

Also, high-dose biotin. Hardly anyone is biotin deficient, so consuming it probably won't help your locks, 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 primary purpose of washing is to remove buildup, flakes, perspiration and dirt. I notice clients skipping washes as they think it’s harmful to their strands, when in fact the reverse is correct – particularly with flaky scalp, which is intensified by sebum accumulation. 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 delicate equilibrium. But as long as you are gentle when you shampoo and handle wet hair with care, it won’t be damaging to your strands.

What solutions do you suggest for thinning?

For FPHL, your core treatment should be minoxidil. It has the most robust evidence behind it and tends to show optimal results when mixed with supporting compounds. 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. Increased hair loss often stems from an underlying issue. Occasionally, the reason is temporary – such as sickness, virus or emotional strain – and it will clear up naturally. Alternatively, endocrine issues or nutrient shortages may be the cause – 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