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A Color Specialist

Colourist based in the West Coast who focuses on silver 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 remove moisture from your strands. Most people don’t realise how much damage a regular bath towel can do, particularly for silver or chemically treated hair. This one small change can really lessen brittleness and splitting. Another affordable staple is a broad-toothed comb, to use in the shower. It protects the hair while removing knots and helps preserve the strength of the individual hairs, notably following coloring.

Which investment truly pays off?

A high-quality styling iron – ceramic or tourmaline, with precise heat settings. Lightened strands can yellow or burn easily without the correct device.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

DIY bleaching. Internet videos often simplify it, but the actual fact is it’s one of the biggest gambles you can do to your hair. I’ve witnessed clients cause irreversible harm, break it off or end up with bands of colour that are nearly impossible to correct. It's best to steer clear of keratin or permanent straightening treatments on color-treated or grey hair. These formulations are often excessively strong for delicate locks and can cause chronic issues or discoloration.

Which typical blunder stands out?

People using the wrong products for their hair type or colour. A number of people misuse toning shampoo until their blonde or grey strands looks flat and dull. Some depend excessively on strengthening conditioners and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. A further common mistake is heat styling without protection. If you’re using hot tools or dryers without a heat protectant, – notably with color-treated strands – you’re going to see brassiness, lack of moisture and splitting.

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. My advice includes scalp formulas with active ingredients to enhance nutrient delivery and promote root strength. Incorporating a clarifying shampoo regularly helps clear out buildup and allows solutions to be more efficient. Oral aids like specialized formulas have also shown great results. They support the body from the inside out by addressing hormonal imbalances, tension and lack of vital nutrients.

In cases requiring advanced options, platelet-rich plasma treatments – where a personalized serum is applied – can be successful. That said, I always suggest getting a professional diagnosis beforehand. Hair loss is often tied to underlying health issues, and it’s important to get to the root cause rather than chasing surface-level fixes.

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Anabel Kingsley

Follicle Expert and head of a renowned clinic centers and lines targeting thinning.

How often do you get your hair cut and coloured?

My trims are every couple of months, but will trim off splits at home fortnightly to maintain tip integrity, and have color touches every two months.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Hair-thickening particles are truly impressive if you have thinning spots. These particles bond to your existing hair, and it comes in a range of colors, making it seamlessly blended. I personally applied it after childbirth when I had a lot of hair fall – and also now while experiencing some considerable hair loss after having a bad infection previously. Because locks are secondary, it’s the first part of you to suffer when your diet is lacking, so I would also recommend a well-rounded, nutrient-rich 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 prescription-strength formulas 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?

Using rosemary essential oil for thinning. It doesn’t work. 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 hereditary thinning in males, so the study is basically saying they are equally minimal in effect.

Likewise, mega-doses of biotin. Few individuals have biotin insufficiency, 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 notice clients skipping washes as they think it’s damaging to their locks, when in fact the reverse is correct – notably in cases of dandruff, which is aggravated by oil buildup. If natural oils stay on the head, 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 won’t be damaging to your strands.

Which options help with shedding?

With female pattern loss, minoxidil is essential. It's backed by strong research and tends to be most effective combined with additional ingredients. If you're interested in complementary therapies, or you simply don’t want to or can’t use it, you could try micro-needling (under professional care), and perhaps PRP or low-level laser therapy.

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. Excessive daily shedding occurs in response to an internal factor. Sometimes, the cause is transient – such as flu, Covid or a period of intense stress – and it will resolve on its own. Alternatively, endocrine issues or nutrient shortages may be the cause – 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