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A Color Specialist

Styling Professional based in the Golden State who excels at platinum tones. He works with Hollywood stars and Andie MacDowell.

Which budget-friendly product is a must-have?

I swear by a soft fabric towel, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to remove moisture from your strands. It's often overlooked how much harm a standard towel can do, particularly for lightened or dyed strands. A simple switch can really minimize flyaways and damage. A second budget-friendly essential is a broad-toothed comb, to use in the shower. It shields your locks while detangling and helps preserve the strength of the individual hairs, especially after lightening.

Which investment truly pays off?

A top-tier thermal appliance – ceramic or tourmaline, with precise heat settings. Lightened strands can yellow or burn easily without the right iron.

What style or process should you always avoid?

DIY bleaching. Online tutorials can be misleading, but the reality is it’s one of the most hazardous actions you can do to your hair. I’ve seen people melt their hair, break it off or end up with bands of colour that are extremely difficult to fix. It's best to steer clear of chemical straightening processes on pre-lightened strands. These formulations are often overly harsh for delicate locks and can cause lasting harm or undesired tones.

What frequent error do you observe?

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their specific hair needs. A number of people misuse violet-based cleansers until their lightened locks looks flat and dull. A few overdo on strengthening conditioners and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. Another significant problem is thermal styling minus a barrier. If you’re using styling appliances 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. For direct application, minoxidil is highly proven. My advice includes scalp formulas with active ingredients to stimulate circulation and aid in hair growth. Using a scalp detox shampoo weekly helps remove residue and allows products to perform better. Supplements such as Nutrafol or Viviscal Pro have also shown great results. They support the body from the inside out by balancing body chemistry, tension and dietary insufficiencies.

For those seeking higher-level solutions, platelet-rich plasma treatments – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – 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 identify the source rather than seeking quick 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?

I schedule cuts every ten to twelve weeks, but will snip damaged ends myself bi-weekly to preserve strand health, and have highlights done every eight weeks.

Which low-cost item is a game-changer?

Hair-thickening particles are truly impressive if you have areas of scalp visibility. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a range of colors, making it almost invisible. I personally applied it after childbirth when I had significant shedding – and also now while experiencing some significant shedding 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 balanced, nutritious diet.

Which premium option is truly valuable?

If you have female pattern hair loss (FPHL), I’d say medicated treatments. 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 best results. From my perspective, minoxidil combined with additional ingredients – such as balancing elements, inhibitors and/or calming components – works best.

Which popular remedy is ineffective?

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 mild minoxidil solution versus rosemary extract. A 2% strength minoxidil isn’t enough to do much for hereditary thinning in males, so the study is basically saying they work as little as each other.

Additionally, excessive biotin. Rarely do people lack biotin, so consuming it probably won't help your locks, and it can affect thyroid test results.

Which error is most frequent?

Personally, I prefer "scalp cleansing" over "hair washing" – because the real aim of shampooing your hair 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. When sebum remains on the skin, they decompose and cause irritation.

Unfortunately, what your scalp needs and what your hair likes don’t always align, 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?

With female pattern loss, minoxidil is essential. Scientific support is substantial and tends to show optimal results when mixed with supporting compounds. Should you wish to enhance minoxidil's benefits, or you simply don’t want to or can’t use it, you could try microneedling (see a dermatologist), and perhaps platelet-rich plasma or light treatments.

For TE, you need to do some detective work. Noticeable thinning usually relates to a health trigger. In some instances, the trigger is short-term – such as sickness, virus or emotional strain – and it will improve spontaneously. 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