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An Expert Colorist

Hair Color Expert operating from the West Coast who focuses on grey hair. He works with celebrated actors and renowned personalities.

Which budget-friendly product is a must-have?

I highly recommend a gentle drying cloth, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to dry your hair. Most people don’t realise how much harm a standard towel can do, especially to grey or color-processed hair. A simple switch can really reduce frizz and breakage. Another inexpensive must-have is a broad-toothed comb, to use during washing. It protects the hair while detangling and helps keep the health of the strands, notably following coloring.

Which investment truly pays off?

A professional-grade heat styling tool – made with advanced materials, with adjustable temperature options. Lightened strands can develop brassy tones or get damaged without the correct device.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

At-home lightening. Online tutorials can be misleading, but the truth is it’s one of the riskiest things you can do to your hair. I’ve witnessed clients cause irreversible harm, experience breakage or end up with uneven tones that are extremely difficult to fix. I would also avoid long-term smoothing services on bleached or silver hair. These chemical systems are often excessively strong for weakened hair and can cause chronic issues or undesired tones.

What frequent error do you observe?

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their specific hair needs. A number of people misuse toning shampoo until their silver or blond hair looks lifeless and muted. A few overdo on strengthening conditioners and end up with stiff, brittle hair. The other major issue is using hot tools sans safeguard. When applying styling appliances without a protective product, – especially on pre-lightened hair – you’re going to see yellowing, dryness and breakage.

Which solutions help with shedding?

Shedding demands a multifaceted plan. Topically, minoxidil is still one of the most effective treatments. I also recommend scalp formulas with active ingredients to enhance nutrient delivery and promote root strength. Applying a cleansing scalp wash often helps remove residue and allows solutions to be more efficient. Oral aids like specialized formulas have also shown notable improvements. They work internally to benefit externally by correcting endocrine issues, tension and nutritional deficiencies.

In cases requiring advanced options, blood-derived therapies – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be effective. Still, my advice is to consulting a skin or hair specialist initially. 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 leader in hair health services and items for shedding.

What’s your routine for trims and color?

My trims are every couple of months, but will trim off splits at home every two weeks to keep my ends healthy, and have color touches every two months.

Which low-cost item is a game-changer?

Building fibers are absolutely amazing if you have see-through sections. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a variety of shades, making it almost invisible. I personally applied it after childbirth when I had noticeable thinning – and also presently during some considerable hair loss after having a bad infection previously. Since hair is non-vital, it’s the initial area to show decline when your nutrition is inadequate, so I would also recommend a well-rounded, nutrient-rich diet.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

For those with genetic thinning in women, I’d say medicated treatments. Regarding increased shedding, or telogen effluvium, buying an over-the-counter product is fine, but for FPHL you really do need medicated treatment to see the most effective improvements. From my perspective, minoxidil combined with additional ingredients – such as endocrine regulators, blockers and/or soothing agents – 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 a low-dose minoxidil with rosemary oil. A low concentration like 2% is insufficient to do much for genetic balding in men, so the study is basically saying they work as little as each other.

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

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 remove buildup, flakes, perspiration and dirt. Many individuals refrain from cleansing as they think it’s damaging to their locks, when in fact the reverse is correct – especially if you have dandruff, which is intensified by sebum accumulation. When sebum remains on the skin, they deteriorate and lead to inflammation.

Unfortunately, what your scalp needs and what your hair likes don’t always align, so it’s a delicate equilibrium. However, if you cleanse softly and treat damp strands kindly, it is unlikely to cause damage.

What solutions do you suggest for thinning?

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're interested in complementary therapies, or you prefer not to use it or are unable, you could try collagen induction therapy (with a specialist), and perhaps platelet-rich plasma or light treatments.

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. Noticeable thinning usually relates to a health trigger. In some instances, the trigger is short-term – such as flu, Covid or a period of intense stress – and it will clear up naturally. Sometimes, hormonal problems or dietary gaps are responsible – the most common being ferritin (stored iron), vitamin B12 and vitamin D deficiency – and to {treat the hair loss you need to treat the cause|address shedding, target the underlying issue|combat thinning, focus