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Jack Martin

Hair Color Expert based in California who focuses on silver hair. Among his clientele are Hollywood stars and well-known figures.

What affordable item can't you live without?

I highly recommend a gentle drying cloth, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to towel-dry your locks. Many are unaware how much damage a standard towel can do, especially to grey or color-processed hair. A simple switch can really lessen brittleness and splitting. Another affordable staple is a broad-toothed comb, to use while conditioning. It shields your locks while smoothing out tangles and helps maintain the integrity of the individual hairs, notably following coloring.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

A high-quality styling iron – ceramic or tourmaline, with smart temperature control. Grey and blonde hair can develop brassy tones or get damaged without the correct device.

Which popular practice is a definite no-go?

At-home lightening. Social media makes it look easy, but the actual fact is it’s one of the riskiest things you can do to your hair. I’ve seen people severely damage their locks, snap their strands or end up with striped effects that are nearly impossible to correct. It's best to steer clear of chemical straightening processes on color-treated or grey hair. These chemical systems are often too aggressive for delicate locks and can cause chronic issues or undesired tones.

Which typical blunder stands out?

Individuals choosing unsuitable formulas for their particular strand characteristics. Certain clients overapply colour-correcting purple shampoo until their silver or blond hair looks lifeless and muted. Others rely too much on high-protein masks and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. The other major issue is thermal styling minus a barrier. In cases where you employ 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?

Shedding demands a multifaceted plan. Topically, minoxidil is still one of the most effective treatments. I also recommend scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to boost blood flow and aid in hair growth. Using a scalp detox shampoo weekly helps eliminate impurities and allows solutions to be more efficient. Oral aids like specialized formulas have also shown positive outcomes. They work internally to benefit externally by balancing body chemistry, tension 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 effective. However, I consistently recommend seeing a dermatologist or trichologist first. Shedding may relate to internal factors, and it’s important to determine the origin rather than chasing surface-level fixes.

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Anabel Kingsley

Follicle Expert and brand president of Philip Kingsley services and items for shedding.

How often do you get your hair cut and coloured?

I get my hair cut every 10 to 12 weeks, but will trim off splits at home every two weeks to keep my ends healthy, and have lightening sessions every eight weeks.

What affordable find is essential?

Building fibers are remarkably effective if you have thinning spots. These particles bond to your existing hair, and it comes in a range of colors, making it seamlessly blended. I personally applied it after childbirth when I had significant shedding – 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 earliest indicator of health issues when your nutrition is inadequate, so I would also recommend a well-rounded, nutrient-rich diet.

Which premium option is truly valuable?

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 prescription-strength formulas to see the best results. In my opinion, minoxidil compounded with other hair-supportive actives – such as hormones, anti-androgens and/or anti-inflammatories – works best.

What should you always skip?

Rosemary extracts for shedding. It's ineffective. The whole thing stems from one small study done in 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 male pattern hair loss, so the study is basically saying they are equally minimal in effect.

Additionally, excessive biotin. Rarely do people lack biotin, so consuming it probably won't help your locks, 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 remove buildup, flakes, perspiration and dirt. I notice clients skipping washes as they think it’s harmful to their strands, when in fact the contrary is accurate – notably in cases of dandruff, which is intensified by sebum accumulation. When sebum remains on the skin, they deteriorate and lead to inflammation.

Sadly, scalp requirements and hair preferences may conflict, so it’s a balancing act. Provided you wash delicately and manage wet locks gently, it is unlikely to cause damage.

Which options help with shedding?

For genetic thinning in women, start with 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 simply don’t want to or can’t use it, you could try collagen induction therapy (with a specialist), and perhaps injections or laser devices.

For TE, you need to do some detective work. Noticeable thinning usually relates to a health trigger. Occasionally, the reason is temporary – such as sickness, virus or emotional strain – and it will resolve on its own. 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