🔗 Share this article

Jack Martin

Hair Color Expert operating from California who excels at grey hair. Among his clientele are celebrated actors and Andie MacDowell.

What affordable item can't you live without?

My top pick is a gentle drying cloth, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to dry your hair. Many are unaware how much harm a typical terrycloth towel can do, especially to grey or color-processed hair. This one small change can really minimize flyaways and damage. Another inexpensive must-have is a broad-toothed comb, to use in the shower. It protects the hair while removing knots and helps keep the health of the strands, especially after lightening.

What item or service justifies the extra cost?

A top-tier thermal appliance – featuring innovative technology, with smart temperature control. Lightened strands can yellow or burn easily without the right iron.

What style or process should you always avoid?

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 seen people severely damage their locks, experience breakage or end up with striped effects that are incredibly challenging to remedy. I would also avoid keratin or permanent straightening treatments on color-treated or grey hair. These chemical systems are often overly harsh for already fragile strands and can cause lasting harm or discoloration.

What’s the most common mistake you see in your salon?

Individuals choosing unsuitable formulas for their hair type or colour. Certain clients overapply colour-correcting purple shampoo until their blonde or grey strands looks lifeless and muted. Others rely too much on protein-rich treatments and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. A further common mistake is heat styling without protection. When applying hot tools or dryers without a defensive spray or cream, – particularly on bleached locks – you’re going to see brassiness, lack of moisture and splitting.

Which solutions help with shedding?

Thinning requires a comprehensive strategy. Topically, minoxidil is still one of the most effective treatments. I often suggest follicle treatments containing stimulants to boost blood flow and promote root strength. Using a scalp detox shampoo weekly helps remove residue and allows solutions to be more efficient. Oral aids like specialized formulas have also shown positive outcomes. They enhance overall health for hair benefits by balancing body chemistry, anxiety and nutritional deficiencies.

For those seeking higher-level solutions, platelet-rich plasma treatments – where a concentration from your blood is administered – can be beneficial. However, I consistently recommend consulting a skin or hair specialist initially. Hair loss is often tied to underlying health issues, and it’s important to get to the root cause rather than pursuing temporary solutions.

---

Anabel Kingsley

Follicle Expert and head of a renowned clinic services and items for shedding.

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 fortnightly to keep my ends healthy, and have color touches every two months.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Toppik hair fibres are truly impressive if you have areas of scalp visibility. These particles bond to your existing hair, and it comes in a assortment of tones, making it seamlessly blended. I used it myself in the postpartum period when I had noticeable thinning – and also presently during some considerable hair loss after having a bad infection previously. Because locks are secondary, it’s the earliest indicator of health issues 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. 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 best results. From my perspective, minoxidil combined with additional ingredients – such as balancing elements, inhibitors and/or calming components – works best.

Which popular remedy is ineffective?

Using rosemary essential oil for thinning. It shows no real benefit. The whole thing stems from one small study done in 2015 that compared the effects of 2% minoxidil to rosemary oil. A low concentration like 2% is insufficient to do much for genetic balding in men, so the study is basically saying they provide similarly low results.

Likewise, mega-doses of biotin. Hardly anyone is biotin deficient, so taking it is unlikely to do your hair any good, and it can alter thyroid level measurements.

What’s the most common mistake you see?

Personally, I prefer "scalp cleansing" over "hair washing" – because the real aim of shampooing your hair is to clear away sebum, debris, sweat and pollutants. Many individuals refrain from cleansing as they think it’s damaging to their locks, when in fact the opposite is true – especially if you have dandruff, which is worsened by the presence of excess oils. When sebum remains on the skin, they break down and become inflammatory.

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.

Which options help with shedding?

With female pattern loss, minoxidil is essential. It's backed by strong research and tends to work best when compounded with other hair-supportive actives. Should you wish to enhance minoxidil's benefits, or you simply don’t want to or can’t use it, 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. Excessive daily shedding occurs in response to an internal factor. Occasionally, the reason is temporary – such as sickness, virus or emotional strain – and it will improve spontaneously. Sometimes, hormonal problems or dietary gaps are responsible – 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