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A Color Specialist

Styling Professional based in the Golden State who focuses on grey hair. His clients include Hollywood stars and renowned personalities.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

I swear by a gentle drying cloth, or even a smooth cotton shirt to towel-dry your locks. Most people don’t realise how much stress a regular bath towel can do, especially to grey or color-processed hair. A simple switch can really lessen brittleness and splitting. A second budget-friendly essential is a large-gap comb, to use in the shower. It shields your locks while smoothing out tangles and helps preserve the strength of the individual hairs, especially after lightening.

Which investment truly pays off?

A professional-grade heat styling tool – made with advanced materials, with adjustable temperature options. 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. 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, snap their strands or end up with bands of colour that are incredibly challenging to remedy. I also don’t recommend keratin or permanent straightening treatments on pre-lightened strands. These chemical systems are often overly harsh for weakened hair and can cause chronic issues or undesired tones.

What frequent error do you observe?

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their particular strand characteristics. Some overuse violet-based cleansers until their lightened locks looks flat and dull. Some depend excessively on high-protein masks and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. A further common mistake is using hot tools sans safeguard. If you’re using flat irons, curling irons or blow dryers without a protective product, – especially on pre-lightened hair – you’re going to see brassiness, lack of moisture and splitting.

What would you suggest for thinning hair?

Shedding demands a multifaceted plan. Externally, minoxidil remains a top choice. My advice includes follicle treatments containing stimulants to stimulate circulation and support follicle health. Using a scalp detox shampoo weekly helps remove residue and allows products to perform better. Supplements such as Nutrafol or Viviscal Pro have also shown great results. They enhance overall health for hair benefits by addressing hormonal imbalances, anxiety and dietary insufficiencies.

For those seeking higher-level solutions, blood-derived therapies – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be beneficial. However, I consistently recommend seeing a dermatologist or trichologist first. Hair loss is often tied to underlying health issues, and it’s important to determine the origin rather than pursuing temporary solutions.

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A Hair and Scalp Specialist

Scalp and Hair Scientist and leader in hair health centers and lines targeting thinning.

What’s your routine for trims and color?

My trims are every couple of months, but will snip damaged ends myself fortnightly to maintain tip integrity, and have highlights done every eight weeks.

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 variety of shades, making it virtually undetectable. I used it myself in the postpartum period 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 initial area to show decline when your intake is insufficient, so I would also recommend a well-rounded, nutrient-rich diet.

What justifies a higher investment?

For those with genetic thinning in women, I’d say doctor-recommended solutions. For excessive daily hair shedding, AKA telogen effluvium (TE), buying an retail solution is fine, but for FPHL you really do need medicated treatment to see the most effective improvements. I believe minoxidil mixed with supporting compounds – such as hormones, anti-androgens and/or anti-inflammatories – works best.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

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 mild formula such as 2% is inadequate to do much for hereditary thinning in males, so the study is basically saying they work as little as each other.

Likewise, mega-doses of biotin. Hardly anyone is biotin deficient, so using it may not benefit your strands, and it can alter thyroid level measurements.

What blunder stands out often?

Personally, I prefer "scalp cleansing" over "hair washing" – because the main goal of cleansing is to clear away sebum, debris, sweat and pollutants. I notice clients skipping washes as they think it’s damaging to their locks, when in fact the opposite is true – notably in cases of dandruff, which is intensified by sebum accumulation. If natural oils stay on the head, they break down and become inflammatory.

Sadly, scalp requirements and hair preferences may conflict, so it’s a careful compromise. But as long as you are gentle when you shampoo and handle wet hair with care, it won’t be damaging to your strands.

Which options help with shedding?

For genetic thinning in women, start with minoxidil. It's backed by strong research and tends to show optimal results when mixed with supporting compounds. If you then want to try other things to support minoxidil’s effect, 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.

With telogen effluvium, investigation is key. Excessive daily shedding occurs in response to an internal factor. Occasionally, the reason is temporary – 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 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