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An Expert Colorist

Hair Color Expert located in the Golden State who specialises in grey hair. His clients include Hollywood stars and Andie MacDowell.

What affordable item can't you live without?

I swear by a gentle drying cloth, or even a smooth cotton shirt to towel-dry your locks. It's often overlooked how much stress a standard towel can do, especially to grey or color-processed hair. This one small change can really reduce frizz and breakage. Another inexpensive must-have is a wide-tooth comb, to use during washing. It shields your locks while smoothing out tangles and helps maintain the integrity of the individual hairs, notably following coloring.

Which investment truly pays off?

A high-quality styling iron – made with advanced materials, with adjustable temperature options. Silver and light-coloured hair can yellow or burn easily without the correct device.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

DIY bleaching. Internet videos often simplify it, but the reality is it’s one of the riskiest things you can do to your hair. I’ve seen people cause irreversible harm, break it off or end up with bands of colour that are nearly impossible to correct. It's best to steer clear of keratin or permanent straightening treatments on color-treated or grey hair. These formulations are often overly harsh for delicate locks and can cause long-term damage or color changes.

What frequent error do you observe?

People using the wrong products for their specific hair needs. Some overuse violet-based cleansers until their blonde or grey strands looks flat and dull. A few overdo on high-protein masks and end up with stiff, brittle hair. A further common mistake is heat styling without protection. When applying flat irons, curling irons or blow dryers without a defensive spray or cream, – especially on pre-lightened hair – you’re going to see yellowing, dryness and breakage.

Which solutions help with shedding?

Thinning requires a comprehensive strategy. For direct application, minoxidil is highly proven. My advice includes scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to stimulate circulation and support follicle health. Incorporating a clarifying shampoo regularly helps eliminate impurities and allows products to perform better. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown positive outcomes. They enhance overall health for hair benefits by balancing body chemistry, anxiety and dietary insufficiencies.

In cases requiring advanced options, PRP therapy – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be beneficial. Still, my advice is to 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 chasing surface-level fixes.

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A Hair and Scalp Specialist

Trichologist and head of a renowned clinic services and items for shedding.

What’s your routine for trims and color?

My trims are every couple of months, but will snip damaged ends myself bi-weekly to preserve strand health, and have highlights done every eight weeks.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Toppik hair fibres are absolutely amazing if you have areas of scalp visibility. 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 a lot of hair fall – and also currently as I’m going through some considerable hair loss after having a bad infection previously. Because locks are secondary, it’s the initial area to show decline when your intake is insufficient, 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 medicated treatments. 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. In my opinion, minoxidil compounded with other hair-supportive actives – such as hormones, anti-androgens and/or anti-inflammatories – works best.

What should you always skip?

Rosemary oil for hair loss. It shows no real benefit. This belief comes from a minor study from 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 provide similarly low results.

Likewise, mega-doses of biotin. Hardly anyone is biotin deficient, so consuming it probably won't help your locks, and it can affect thyroid test results.

What’s the most common mistake you see?

In my view, we should rename "hair washing" to "scalp cleaning" – because the primary purpose of washing is to remove buildup, flakes, perspiration and dirt. I see people avoiding shampooing as they think it’s harmful to their strands, when in fact the contrary is accurate – especially if you have dandruff, which is worsened by the presence of excess oils. If oils are left on your scalp, they deteriorate and lead to inflammation.

Unfortunately, what your scalp needs and what your hair likes don’t always align, so it’s a balancing act. 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 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 micro-needling (under professional care), and perhaps platelet-rich plasma or light treatments.

For TE, you need to do some detective work. Increased hair loss often stems from an underlying issue. In some instances, the trigger is short-term – such as sickness, virus or emotional strain – and it will clear up naturally. 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