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A Color Specialist

Styling Professional operating from the Golden State who focuses on platinum tones. His clients include Hollywood stars and renowned personalities.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

I swear by a soft fabric towel, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to towel-dry your locks. Most people don’t realise how much harm a regular bath towel can do, notably with lightened or dyed strands. A simple switch can really minimize flyaways and damage. Another inexpensive must-have is a large-gap comb, to use during washing. It protects the hair while smoothing out tangles and helps preserve the strength of the strands, especially after lightening.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

A top-tier thermal appliance – ceramic or tourmaline, with smart temperature control. Grey and blonde hair can develop brassy tones or get damaged without the right iron.

Which popular practice is a definite no-go?

DIY bleaching. Internet videos often simplify it, but the reality is it’s one of the biggest gambles you can do to your hair. I’ve seen people melt their hair, experience breakage or end up with uneven tones that are extremely difficult to fix. It's best to steer clear of long-term smoothing services on color-treated or grey hair. Such treatments are often excessively strong for weakened hair and can cause lasting harm or color changes.

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

People using the wrong products for their particular strand characteristics. A number of people misuse colour-correcting purple shampoo until their blonde or grey strands looks lifeless and muted. Others rely too much on strengthening conditioners and end up with stiff, brittle hair. The other major issue is thermal styling minus a barrier. If you’re using hot tools or dryers without a defensive spray or cream, – notably with color-treated strands – you’re going to see discoloration, dehydration and damage.

Which solutions help with shedding?

Thinning requires a comprehensive strategy. Topically, minoxidil is still one of the most effective treatments. My advice includes follicle treatments containing stimulants to enhance nutrient delivery and aid in hair growth. Applying a cleansing scalp wash often helps eliminate impurities and allows products to perform better. Supplements such as Nutrafol or Viviscal Pro have also shown great results. They enhance overall health for hair benefits by correcting endocrine issues, stress and nutritional deficiencies.

For those seeking higher-level solutions, platelet-rich plasma treatments – where a personalized serum is applied – can be effective. Still, my advice is to seeing a dermatologist or trichologist first. 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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A Trichology Expert

Trichologist and brand president of Philip Kingsley centers and lines targeting thinning.

What’s your routine for trims and color?

I schedule cuts every ten to twelve weeks, but will trim off splits at home every two weeks to maintain tip integrity, and have color touches every two months.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Hair-thickening particles are absolutely amazing if you have areas of scalp visibility. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a variety of shades, making it almost invisible. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had noticeable thinning – and also presently during some considerable hair loss after having a severe illness recently. Since hair is non-vital, it’s the first part of you to suffer when your intake is insufficient, 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. When dealing with temporary hair loss, known as TE, buying an over-the-counter product is fine, but for FPHL you really do need medicated treatment to see the most effective improvements. From my perspective, minoxidil combined with additional ingredients – such as hormones, anti-androgens and/or anti-inflammatories – works best.

Which popular remedy is ineffective?

Using rosemary essential oil for thinning. It's ineffective. This idea originated from a limited 2015 research that compared the effects of a low-dose minoxidil with rosemary oil. A 2% strength minoxidil isn’t enough to do much for genetic balding in men, so the study is basically saying they work as little as each other.

Additionally, excessive biotin. Rarely do people lack biotin, so taking it is unlikely to do your hair any good, and it can alter thyroid level measurements.

What blunder stands out often?

In my view, we should rename "hair washing" to "scalp cleaning" – because the real aim of shampooing your hair is to rid your scalp of old oils, dead skin cells, sweat and environmental pollution. I see people avoiding shampooing as they think it’s harmful to their strands, when in fact the opposite is true – especially if you have dandruff, which is worsened by the presence of excess oils. If oils are left on your scalp, they deteriorate and lead to inflammation.

Unfortunately, what your scalp needs and what your hair likes don’t always align, so it’s a balancing act. However, if you cleanse softly and treat damp strands kindly, it shouldn't harm your hair.

Which options help with shedding?

With female pattern loss, minoxidil is essential. It's backed by strong research and tends to show optimal results when mixed with supporting compounds. If you're interested in complementary therapies, or you prefer not to use it or are unable, you could try micro-needling (under professional care), and perhaps platelet-rich plasma or light treatments.

With telogen effluvium, investigation is key. Excessive daily shedding occurs in response to an internal factor. Sometimes, the cause is transient – such as sickness, virus or emotional strain – 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