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An Expert Colorist

Colourist based in the West Coast who excels at platinum tones. His clients include Jane Fonda 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 harm a typical terrycloth towel can do, especially to lightened or dyed strands. This minor adjustment can really lessen brittleness and splitting. Another affordable staple is a wide-tooth comb, to use during washing. It safeguards your strands while smoothing out tangles and helps keep the health of the strands, notably following coloring.

What item or service justifies the extra cost?

A professional-grade heat styling tool – featuring innovative technology, with precise heat settings. Grey and blonde hair can yellow or burn easily without the proper tool.

What style or process should you always avoid?

DIY bleaching. Social media makes it look easy, but the truth is it’s one of the biggest gambles you can do to your hair. I’ve seen people cause irreversible harm, experience breakage or end up with striped effects that are nearly impossible to correct. It's best to steer clear of chemical straightening processes on pre-lightened strands. Such treatments are often too aggressive for delicate locks and can cause long-term damage or discoloration.

What frequent error do you observe?

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their hair type or colour. Some overuse violet-based cleansers until their lightened locks looks flat and dull. Others rely too much on high-protein masks and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. Another significant problem is using hot tools sans safeguard. If you’re using styling appliances without a heat protectant, – especially on pre-lightened hair – you’re going to see discoloration, dehydration and damage.

Which product, treatment or supplement would you recommend for hair loss?

Shedding demands a multifaceted plan. For direct application, minoxidil is highly proven. My advice includes scalp formulas with active ingredients to boost blood flow and support follicle health. Using a scalp detox shampoo weekly helps remove residue and allows solutions to be more efficient. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown great results. They enhance overall health for hair benefits by correcting endocrine issues, stress and lack of vital nutrients.

For those seeking higher-level solutions, PRP therapy – where a concentration from your blood is administered – can be beneficial. That said, I always suggest getting a professional diagnosis beforehand. Thinning can be linked to medical conditions, and it’s important to identify the source rather than seeking quick fixes.

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A Hair and Scalp Specialist

Follicle Expert and brand president of Philip Kingsley services and items for shedding.

What’s your routine for trims and color?

I get my hair cut every 10 to 12 weeks, but will snip damaged ends myself fortnightly to preserve strand health, and have highlights done every eight weeks.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Building fibers are truly impressive if you have areas of scalp visibility. These particles bond to your existing hair, 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 presently during some significant shedding after having awful flu a few months ago. 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 premium option is truly valuable?

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 non-prescription item is fine, but for FPHL you really do need prescription-strength formulas to see the best results. From my perspective, minoxidil combined with additional ingredients – such as hormones, anti-androgens and/or anti-inflammatories – works best.

What should you always skip?

Rosemary extracts for shedding. It doesn’t work. The whole thing stems from one small study done in 2015 that compared the effects of 2% minoxidil to rosemary oil. A mild formula such as 2% is inadequate to do much for male pattern hair loss, so the study is basically saying they provide similarly low results.

Likewise, mega-doses of biotin. Rarely do people lack biotin, so consuming it probably won't help your locks, 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 primary purpose of washing is to remove buildup, flakes, perspiration and dirt. I notice clients skipping washes as they think it’s harmful to their strands, when in fact the reverse is correct – 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.

Sadly, scalp requirements and hair preferences may conflict, so it’s a balancing act. Provided you wash delicately and manage wet locks gently, it shouldn't harm your hair.

Which product, treatment or supplement would you recommend for hair loss?

For FPHL, your core treatment should be minoxidil. Scientific support is substantial and tends to be most effective combined with additional ingredients. If you then want to try other things to support minoxidil’s effect, or you prefer not to use it or are unable, you could try micro-needling (under professional care), and perhaps injections or laser devices.

With telogen effluvium, investigation is key. Noticeable thinning usually relates to a health trigger. Sometimes, the cause is transient – such as illness, infection or high stress – and it will clear up naturally. 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