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An Expert Colorist

Styling Professional located in the Golden State who excels at platinum tones. Among his clientele are Jane Fonda and Andie MacDowell.

What affordable item can't you live without?

I swear by a soft fabric towel, or even a gentle tee to towel-dry your locks. It's often overlooked how much damage a regular bath towel can do, notably with grey or color-processed hair. This one small change can really reduce frizz and breakage. Another inexpensive must-have is a broad-toothed comb, to use during washing. It safeguards your strands while smoothing out tangles and helps maintain the integrity of the individual hairs, particularly post-bleaching.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

A high-quality styling iron – ceramic or tourmaline, with smart temperature control. Silver and light-coloured hair can become discolored or suffer heat stress without the right iron.

Which popular practice is a definite no-go?

At-home lightening. 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 seen people melt their hair, snap their strands or end up with striped effects that are nearly impossible to correct. I would also avoid chemical straightening processes on bleached or silver hair. Such treatments are often excessively strong for delicate locks and can cause chronic issues or color changes.

Which typical blunder stands out?

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their particular strand characteristics. A number of people misuse violet-based cleansers until their blonde or grey strands looks lifeless and muted. Others rely too much on strengthening conditioners and end up with rigid, fragile strands. Another significant problem is thermal styling minus a barrier. If you’re using hot tools or dryers without a heat protectant, – especially on pre-lightened hair – you’re going to see discoloration, dehydration and damage.

What would you suggest for thinning hair?

Shedding demands a multifaceted plan. Externally, minoxidil remains a top choice. My advice includes scalp formulas with active ingredients to stimulate circulation and aid in hair growth. 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 work internally to benefit externally by balancing body chemistry, anxiety and nutritional deficiencies.

In cases requiring advanced options, platelet-rich plasma treatments – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be beneficial. However, I consistently recommend consulting a skin or hair specialist initially. Thinning can be linked to medical conditions, and it’s important to identify the source rather than pursuing temporary solutions.

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A Hair and Scalp Specialist

Trichologist and leader in hair health centers and lines targeting thinning.

How frequently do you schedule salon visits?

I get my hair cut every 10 to 12 weeks, but will remove split ends personally fortnightly to maintain tip integrity, and have lightening sessions every eight weeks.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Hair-thickening particles are remarkably effective if you have see-through sections. These particles bond to your existing hair, and it comes in a variety of shades, making it almost invisible. I used it myself in the postpartum period when I had a lot of hair fall – and also currently as I’m going through some marked thinning after having a severe illness recently. As hair isn’t an essential tissue, it’s the earliest indicator of health issues when your diet is lacking, so I would also recommend a healthy, varied eating plan.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

In cases of hereditary hair loss in females, I’d say doctor-recommended solutions. When dealing with temporary hair loss, known as TE, buying an non-prescription item is fine, but for FPHL you really do need medicated treatment to see the most effective improvements. I believe minoxidil mixed with supporting compounds – such as balancing elements, inhibitors and/or calming components – works best.

What should you always skip?

Using rosemary essential oil for thinning. It's ineffective. This belief comes from a minor study from 2015 that compared the effects of 2% minoxidil to rosemary oil. A mild formula such as 2% is inadequate to do much for genetic balding in men, so the study is basically saying they provide similarly low results.

Likewise, mega-doses of 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?

In my view, we should rename "hair washing" to "scalp cleaning" – 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 opposite is true – particularly with flaky scalp, which is intensified by sebum accumulation. When sebum remains on the skin, they decompose and cause irritation.

Regrettably, follicular health and strand desires can differ, so it’s a balancing act. Provided you wash delicately and manage wet locks gently, it won’t be damaging to your strands.

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

For genetic thinning in women, start with minoxidil. Scientific support is substantial and tends to work best when compounded with other hair-supportive actives. If you're interested in complementary therapies, or you choose to avoid it or cannot tolerate it, you could try micro-needling (under professional care), and perhaps injections or laser devices.

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. Noticeable thinning usually relates to a health trigger. 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 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