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An Expert Colorist

Hair Color Expert operating from the West Coast who specialises in silver hair. Among his clientele are Hollywood stars and well-known figures.

What affordable item can't you live without?

I highly recommend a microfibre towel, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to towel-dry your locks. Most people don’t realise how much harm a standard towel can do, notably with grey or color-processed hair. A simple switch can really lessen brittleness and splitting. Another inexpensive must-have is a broad-toothed comb, to use during washing. It shields your locks while smoothing out tangles and helps preserve the strength of the hair shafts, especially after lightening.

What item or service justifies the extra cost?

A professional-grade heat styling tool – featuring innovative technology, with smart temperature control. Silver and light-coloured hair can become discolored or suffer heat stress without the proper tool.

Which popular practice is a definite no-go?

DIY bleaching. Online tutorials can be misleading, but the truth is it’s one of the most hazardous actions you can do to your hair. I’ve seen people melt their hair, snap their strands or end up with uneven tones that are nearly impossible to correct. I also don’t recommend keratin or permanent straightening treatments on color-treated or grey hair. These chemical systems are often excessively strong for already fragile strands and can cause long-term damage or undesired tones.

What frequent error do you observe?

People using the wrong products for their hair type or colour. Some overuse toning shampoo until their lightened locks looks drab and lacking shine. Others rely too much on high-protein masks and end up with stiff, brittle hair. Another significant problem is thermal styling minus a barrier. When applying hot tools or dryers without a heat protectant, – especially on pre-lightened hair – you’re going to see yellowing, dryness and breakage.

Which solutions help with shedding?

Thinning requires a comprehensive strategy. Topically, minoxidil is still one of the most effective treatments. I often suggest scalp formulas with active ingredients to boost blood flow and promote root strength. Incorporating a clarifying shampoo regularly helps clear out buildup and allows products to perform better. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown notable improvements. They enhance overall health for hair benefits by balancing body chemistry, anxiety and dietary insufficiencies.

For those seeking higher-level solutions, PRP therapy – where a personalized serum is applied – can be effective. Still, my advice is to seeing a dermatologist or trichologist first. Thinning can be linked to medical conditions, and it’s important to determine the origin rather than chasing surface-level fixes.

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A Hair and Scalp Specialist

Scalp and Hair Scientist and leader in hair health services and items for shedding.

How often do you get your hair cut and coloured?

My trims are every couple of months, but will snip damaged ends myself every two weeks to preserve strand health, and have lightening sessions every eight weeks.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Building fibers are absolutely amazing if you have see-through sections. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a range of colors, making it virtually undetectable. I personally applied it after childbirth when I had a lot of hair fall – and also currently as I’m going through 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 healthy, varied eating plan.

What justifies a higher investment?

If you have female pattern hair loss (FPHL), I’d say prescription hair-loss topicals. For excessive daily hair shedding, AKA telogen effluvium (TE), buying an non-prescription item is fine, but for FPHL you really do need clinical interventions 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 popular remedy is ineffective?

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 hereditary thinning in males, so the study is basically saying they provide similarly low results.

Likewise, mega-doses of biotin. Few individuals have biotin insufficiency, so taking it is unlikely to do your hair any good, and it can affect thyroid test results.

What blunder stands out often?

In my view, we should rename "hair washing" to "scalp cleaning" – because the primary purpose of washing is to rid your scalp of old oils, dead skin cells, sweat and environmental pollution. Many individuals refrain from cleansing as they think it’s harmful to their strands, when in fact the reverse is correct – notably in cases of dandruff, which is intensified by sebum accumulation. If oils are left on your scalp, they deteriorate and lead to inflammation.

Sadly, scalp requirements and hair preferences may conflict, 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 options help with shedding?

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

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. Increased hair loss often stems from an underlying issue. Occasionally, the reason is temporary – such as illness, infection or high stress – and it will resolve on its own. 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