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A Color Specialist

Hair Color Expert based in California who excels at silver hair. He works with celebrated actors and Andie MacDowell.

Which budget-friendly product is a must-have?

I highly recommend a gentle drying cloth, or even a gentle tee to dry your hair. Many are unaware how much damage a regular bath towel can do, particularly for lightened or dyed strands. This minor adjustment can really lessen brittleness and splitting. Another affordable staple is a wide-tooth comb, to use in the shower. It shields your locks while detangling and helps preserve the strength of the hair shafts, particularly post-bleaching.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

A top-tier thermal appliance – featuring innovative technology, with adjustable temperature options. Lightened strands can become discolored or suffer heat stress without the correct device.

What style or process should you always avoid?

At-home lightening. Online tutorials can be misleading, but the actual fact is it’s one of the most hazardous actions you can do to your hair. There are cases where individuals melt their hair, experience breakage or end up with bands of colour that are extremely difficult to fix. I also don’t recommend chemical straightening processes on pre-lightened strands. These chemical systems are often excessively strong for weakened hair and can cause chronic issues or color changes.

Which typical blunder stands out?

People using the wrong products for their particular strand characteristics. A number of people misuse toning shampoo until their lightened locks looks drab and lacking shine. Others rely too much on high-protein masks and end up with rigid, fragile strands. The other major issue is thermal styling minus a barrier. If you’re using styling appliances without a defensive spray or cream, – 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. My advice includes scalp formulas with active ingredients to stimulate circulation and aid in hair growth. Using a scalp detox shampoo weekly helps clear out buildup and allows solutions to be more efficient. Supplements such as Nutrafol or Viviscal Pro have also shown notable improvements. They enhance overall health for hair benefits by correcting endocrine issues, tension and nutritional deficiencies.

For those seeking higher-level solutions, blood-derived therapies – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be effective. However, I consistently recommend consulting a skin or hair specialist initially. Thinning can be linked to medical conditions, and it’s important to identify the source rather than pursuing temporary solutions.

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A Trichology Expert

Follicle Expert and brand president of Philip Kingsley clinics and product ranges for hair loss.

How frequently do you schedule salon visits?

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

Which low-cost item is a game-changer?

Hair-thickening particles are truly impressive if you have thinning spots. These particles bond to your existing hair, and it comes in a assortment of tones, making it seamlessly blended. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had significant shedding – 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 balanced, nutritious diet.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

If you have female pattern hair loss (FPHL), 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 clinical interventions 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.

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 a low-dose minoxidil with rosemary oil. A 2% strength minoxidil isn’t enough to do much for male pattern hair loss, so the study is basically saying they are equally minimal in effect.

Likewise, mega-doses of biotin. Few individuals have biotin insufficiency, so using it may not benefit your strands, and it can alter thyroid level measurements.

Which error is most frequent?

I think the term “hair washing” should be changed to “scalp cleansing” – because the primary purpose of washing is to rid your scalp of old oils, dead skin cells, sweat and environmental pollution. 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 aggravated by oil buildup. When sebum remains on the skin, they break down and become inflammatory.

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 shouldn't harm your hair.

What solutions do you suggest for thinning?

With female pattern loss, minoxidil is essential. Scientific support is substantial and tends to be most effective combined with additional ingredients. 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.

With telogen effluvium, investigation is key. Excessive daily shedding occurs in response to an internal factor. In some instances, the trigger is short-term – such as flu, Covid or a period of intense 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