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An Expert Colorist

Colourist based in the West Coast who focuses on silver hair. Among his clientele are Jane Fonda and Andie MacDowell.

What affordable item can't you live without?

My top pick is a microfibre towel, or even a smooth cotton shirt to towel-dry your locks. Most people don’t realise how much stress a typical terrycloth towel can do, particularly for grey or color-processed hair. This minor adjustment can really lessen brittleness and splitting. Another inexpensive must-have is a large-gap comb, to use in the shower. It shields your locks while removing knots and helps keep the health of the hair shafts, particularly post-bleaching.

What item or service justifies the extra cost?

A top-tier thermal appliance – made with advanced materials, with precise heat settings. Grey and blonde hair can develop brassy tones or get damaged without the correct device.

What style or process should you always avoid?

DIY bleaching. Social media makes it look easy, but the actual fact is it’s one of the most hazardous actions you can do to your hair. I’ve witnessed clients severely damage their locks, snap their strands or end up with uneven tones that are nearly impossible to correct. I also don’t recommend long-term smoothing services on color-treated or grey hair. These chemical systems are often overly harsh for already fragile strands and can cause lasting harm or discoloration.

What’s the most common mistake you see in your salon?

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their specific hair needs. A number of people misuse violet-based cleansers until their blonde or grey strands looks drab and lacking shine. Others rely too much on strengthening conditioners and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. Another significant problem is thermal styling minus a barrier. When applying styling appliances without a protective product, – particularly on bleached locks – you’re going to see discoloration, dehydration and damage.

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

Hair loss needs a multilayered approach. Topically, minoxidil is still one of the most effective treatments. I also recommend scalp formulas with active ingredients to boost blood flow and promote root strength. Applying a cleansing scalp wash often helps clear out buildup and allows solutions to be more efficient. Supplements such as Nutrafol or Viviscal Pro have also shown positive outcomes. They work internally to benefit externally by correcting endocrine issues, tension and lack of vital nutrients.

In cases requiring advanced options, platelet-rich plasma treatments – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be effective. That said, I always suggest consulting a skin or hair specialist initially. Hair loss is often tied to underlying health issues, 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 head of a renowned clinic 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 trim off splits at home every two weeks to keep my ends healthy, and have lightening sessions every eight weeks.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Toppik hair fibres are truly impressive if you have thinning spots. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a assortment of tones, making it virtually undetectable. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had significant shedding – and also currently as I’m going through some marked thinning after having a bad infection previously. Because locks are secondary, it’s the first part of you to suffer when your intake is insufficient, so I would also recommend a balanced, nutritious diet.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

For those with genetic thinning in women, 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 clinical interventions to see the most effective improvements. From my perspective, minoxidil combined with additional ingredients – such as balancing elements, inhibitors and/or calming components – works best.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

Rosemary extracts for shedding. It shows no real benefit. The whole thing stems from one small study done in 2015 that compared the effects of a low-dose minoxidil with rosemary oil. A low concentration like 2% is insufficient to do much for male pattern hair loss, so the study is basically saying they are equally minimal in effect.

Additionally, excessive biotin. Rarely do people lack biotin, so consuming it probably won't help your locks, and it can skew thyroid readings in blood tests.

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. I see people avoiding shampooing as they think it’s harmful to their strands, when in fact the reverse is correct – particularly with flaky scalp, which is aggravated by oil buildup. If oils are left on your scalp, they break down and become inflammatory.

Regrettably, follicular health and strand desires can differ, so it’s a careful compromise. However, if you cleanse softly and treat damp strands kindly, it won’t be damaging to your strands.

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

For FPHL, your core treatment should be minoxidil. It's backed by strong research 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 microneedling (see a dermatologist), and perhaps PRP or low-level laser therapy.

For TE, you need to do some detective work. Excessive daily shedding occurs in response to an internal factor. Occasionally, the reason is temporary – 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