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A Color Specialist

Colourist based in California who specialises in grey hair. Among his clientele are celebrated actors and Andie MacDowell.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

My top pick is a gentle drying cloth, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to towel-dry your locks. It's often overlooked how much stress a typical terrycloth towel can do, notably with silver or chemically treated hair. A simple switch can really reduce frizz and breakage. Another affordable staple is a wide-tooth comb, to use in the shower. It protects the hair while detangling and helps keep the health of the individual hairs, particularly post-bleaching.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

A high-quality styling iron – featuring innovative technology, with smart temperature control. Grey and blonde hair can yellow or burn easily without the correct device.

What style or process should you always avoid?

DIY bleaching. Online tutorials can be misleading, but the reality is it’s one of the biggest gambles you can do to your hair. There are cases where individuals cause irreversible harm, experience breakage or end up with striped effects that are nearly impossible to correct. I would also avoid keratin or permanent straightening treatments on bleached or silver hair. These formulations are often too aggressive for delicate locks and can cause lasting harm or color changes.

Which typical blunder stands out?

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their hair type or colour. Certain clients overapply toning shampoo until their blonde or grey strands looks drab and lacking shine. Some depend excessively on protein-rich treatments and end up with rigid, fragile strands. The other major issue is using hot tools sans safeguard. When applying hot tools or dryers without a heat protectant, – particularly on bleached locks – you’re going to see yellowing, dryness and breakage.

Which solutions help with shedding?

Hair loss needs a multilayered approach. Topically, minoxidil is still one of the most effective treatments. I also recommend scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to stimulate circulation and support follicle health. Using a scalp detox shampoo weekly helps clear out buildup and allows solutions to be more efficient. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown notable improvements. They work internally to benefit externally by balancing body chemistry, stress and lack of vital nutrients.

For people looking for something more advanced, platelet-rich plasma treatments – where a personalized serum is applied – can be successful. Still, my advice is to consulting a skin or hair specialist initially. Hair loss is often tied to underlying health issues, and it’s important to determine the origin rather than seeking quick fixes.

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Anabel Kingsley

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

What’s your routine for trims and color?

I schedule cuts every ten to twelve weeks, but will snip damaged ends myself fortnightly to maintain tip integrity, and have color touches every two months.

Which low-cost item is a game-changer?

Hair-thickening particles are absolutely amazing if you have see-through sections. These particles bond to your existing hair, and it comes in a variety of shades, making it seamlessly blended. I personally applied it after childbirth when I had a lot of hair fall – and also presently during some significant shedding after having awful flu a few months ago. Since hair is non-vital, it’s the earliest indicator of health issues when your nutrition is inadequate, so I would also recommend a healthy, varied eating plan.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

If you have female pattern hair loss (FPHL), I’d say doctor-recommended solutions. Regarding increased shedding, or telogen effluvium, buying an over-the-counter product is fine, but for FPHL you really do need prescription-strength formulas to see the optimal outcomes. In my opinion, minoxidil compounded with other hair-supportive actives – such as hormones, anti-androgens and/or anti-inflammatories – works best.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

Rosemary extracts for shedding. It's ineffective. This belief comes from a minor study from 2015 that compared the effects of a mild minoxidil solution versus rosemary extract. A low concentration like 2% is insufficient to do much for genetic balding in men, so the study is basically saying they are equally minimal in effect.

Also, high-dose biotin. Hardly anyone is biotin deficient, so consuming it probably won't help your locks, and it can alter thyroid level measurements.

What blunder stands out often?

I think the term “hair washing” should be changed to “scalp cleansing” – because the main goal of cleansing is to clear away sebum, debris, sweat and pollutants. Many individuals refrain from cleansing as they think it’s bad for their hair, when in fact the contrary is accurate – particularly with flaky scalp, which is worsened by the presence of excess oils. When sebum remains on the skin, they break down and become inflammatory.

Regrettably, follicular health and strand desires can differ, so it’s a delicate equilibrium. But as long as you are gentle when you shampoo and handle wet hair with care, it is unlikely to cause damage.

Which options help with shedding?

For FPHL, your core treatment should be minoxidil. Scientific support is substantial and tends to work best when compounded with other hair-supportive actives. Should you wish to enhance minoxidil's benefits, or you prefer not to use it or are unable, you could try micro-needling (under professional care), and perhaps injections or laser devices.

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. Increased hair loss often stems from an underlying issue. Sometimes, the cause is transient – such as illness, infection or high stress – and it will resolve on its own. Sometimes, hormonal problems or dietary gaps are responsible – the frequent culprits include iron stores, B12 and D insufficiency – and to {treat the hair loss you need to treat the cause|address shedding, target the underlying issue|combat thinning, focus