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A Color Specialist

Colourist operating from California who specialises in platinum tones. He works with celebrated actors and Andie MacDowell.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

I highly recommend a gentle drying cloth, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to towel-dry your locks. Many are unaware how much damage a typical terrycloth towel can do, notably with grey or color-processed hair. A simple switch can really reduce frizz and breakage. A second budget-friendly essential is a broad-toothed comb, to use during washing. It safeguards your strands while removing knots and helps preserve the strength of the hair shafts, particularly post-bleaching.

What item or service justifies the extra cost?

A professional-grade heat styling tool – ceramic or tourmaline, with precise heat settings. Grey and blonde hair can develop brassy tones or get damaged without the proper tool.

What style or process should you always avoid?

DIY bleaching. Internet videos often simplify it, but the truth is it’s one of the most hazardous actions you can do to your hair. I’ve seen people cause irreversible harm, break it off or end up with striped effects that are incredibly challenging to remedy. I would also avoid long-term smoothing services on pre-lightened strands. Such treatments are often overly harsh for weakened hair and can cause chronic issues or color changes.

Which typical blunder stands out?

Individuals choosing unsuitable formulas for their particular strand characteristics. Certain clients overapply colour-correcting purple shampoo until their blonde or grey strands looks lifeless and muted. Some depend excessively on protein-rich treatments and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. A further common mistake is thermal styling minus a barrier. When applying styling appliances without a protective product, – notably with color-treated strands – 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. My advice includes scalp formulas with active ingredients to stimulate circulation and support follicle health. Using a scalp detox shampoo weekly helps eliminate impurities and allows treatments to work more effectively. Oral aids like specialized formulas have also shown positive outcomes. They enhance overall health for hair benefits by addressing hormonal imbalances, stress and dietary insufficiencies.

In cases requiring advanced options, PRP therapy – where a personalized serum is applied – can be beneficial. However, I consistently recommend getting a professional diagnosis beforehand. Hair loss is often tied to underlying health issues, and it’s important to get to the root cause rather than chasing surface-level fixes.

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A Hair and Scalp Specialist

Follicle Expert and leader in hair health clinics and product ranges for hair loss.

What’s your routine for trims and color?

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

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Building fibers are truly impressive if you have areas of scalp visibility. The fibres cling electrostatically to your own hair, and it comes in a assortment of tones, making it virtually undetectable. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had significant shedding – and also presently during some significant shedding after having a severe illness recently. Because locks are secondary, it’s the earliest indicator of health issues when your intake is insufficient, so I would also recommend a healthy, varied eating plan.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

For those with genetic thinning in women, I’d say prescription hair-loss topicals. When dealing with temporary hair loss, known as TE, buying an retail solution is fine, but for FPHL you really do need clinical interventions to see the optimal outcomes. In my opinion, minoxidil compounded with other hair-supportive actives – such as balancing elements, inhibitors and/or calming components – works best.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

Rosemary extracts for shedding. 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 2% strength minoxidil isn’t enough to do much for hereditary thinning in males, so the study is basically saying they work as little as each other.

Also, high-dose 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?

In my view, we should rename "hair washing" to "scalp cleaning" – because the main goal of cleansing 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 contrary is accurate – notably in cases of dandruff, which is worsened by the presence of excess oils. 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 careful compromise. But as long as you are gentle when you shampoo and handle wet hair with care, it shouldn't harm your hair.

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 simply don’t want to or can’t use it, you could try microneedling (see a dermatologist), and perhaps PRP or low-level laser therapy.

For TE, you need to do some detective work. Excessive daily shedding occurs in response to an internal factor. In some instances, the trigger is short-term – such as illness, infection or high stress – and it will improve spontaneously. In other cases, thyroid imbalances or vitamin/mineral deficiencies are the driving factor – 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