🔗 Share this article

An Expert Colorist

Colourist located in the West Coast who excels at platinum tones. Among his clientele are celebrated actors and renowned personalities.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

My top pick is a microfibre towel, or even a smooth cotton shirt to dry your hair. Most people don’t realise how much damage a standard 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 large-gap comb, to use in the shower. It shields your locks while removing knots and helps maintain the integrity of the individual hairs, especially after lightening.

What item or service justifies the extra cost?

A top-tier thermal appliance – made with advanced materials, with smart temperature control. Silver and light-coloured hair can become discolored or suffer heat stress without the proper tool.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

At-home lightening. Internet videos often simplify it, but the reality is it’s one of the riskiest things you can do to your hair. There are cases where individuals severely damage their locks, break it off or end up with uneven tones that are nearly impossible to correct. I also don’t recommend chemical straightening processes on pre-lightened strands. These chemical systems are often too aggressive for delicate locks and can cause long-term damage or discoloration.

What frequent error do you observe?

People using the wrong products for their hair type or colour. Some overuse toning shampoo until their silver or blond hair looks lifeless and muted. A few overdo on protein-rich treatments and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. The other major issue is thermal styling minus a barrier. In cases where you employ styling appliances without a defensive spray or cream, – particularly on bleached locks – you’re going to see yellowing, dryness and breakage.

What would you suggest for thinning hair?

Thinning requires a comprehensive strategy. Topically, minoxidil is still one of the most effective treatments. I also recommend scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to enhance nutrient delivery and promote root strength. Applying a cleansing scalp wash often helps remove residue and allows treatments to work more effectively. Oral aids like specialized formulas have also shown notable improvements. They work internally to benefit externally by balancing body chemistry, tension and nutritional deficiencies.

For those seeking higher-level solutions, PRP therapy – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be successful. Still, my advice is to consulting a skin or hair specialist initially. Shedding may relate to internal factors, and it’s important to identify the source rather than seeking quick fixes.

---

A Hair and Scalp Specialist

Trichologist and head of a renowned clinic clinics and product ranges for hair loss.

What’s your routine for trims and color?

My trims are every couple of months, but will remove split ends personally fortnightly to preserve strand health, and have highlights done every eight weeks.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Building fibers are truly impressive if you have see-through sections. The fibres cling electrostatically to your own hair, and it comes in a range of colors, making it almost invisible. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had a lot of hair fall – and also currently as I’m going through 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.

What justifies a higher investment?

If you have female pattern hair loss (FPHL), I’d say prescription hair-loss topicals. Regarding increased shedding, or telogen effluvium, buying an retail solution 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?

Rosemary oil for hair loss. It's ineffective. This belief comes from a minor study from 2015 that compared the effects of a low-dose minoxidil with 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. Few individuals have biotin insufficiency, so taking it is unlikely to do your hair any good, and it can affect thyroid test results.

What’s the most common mistake you see?

Personally, I prefer "scalp cleansing" over "hair washing" – because the main goal of cleansing is to rid your scalp of old oils, dead skin cells, sweat and environmental pollution. I notice clients skipping washes as they think it’s bad for their hair, when in fact the reverse is correct – notably in cases of dandruff, which is worsened by the presence of excess oils. If oils are left on your scalp, they decompose and cause irritation.

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

What solutions do you suggest for thinning?

For FPHL, your core treatment should be minoxidil. 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 prefer not to use it or are unable, you could try collagen induction therapy (with a specialist), and perhaps injections or laser devices.

For TE, you need to do some detective work. Excessive daily shedding occurs in response to an internal factor. Sometimes, the cause is transient – such as illness, infection or high stress – and it will clear up naturally. 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