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A Color Specialist

Colourist based in the Golden State who excels at silver hair. His clients include Jane Fonda and renowned personalities.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

My top pick is a gentle drying cloth, or even a gentle tee to remove moisture from your strands. Most people don’t realise how much damage a standard towel can do, especially to silver or chemically treated hair. This minor adjustment can really lessen brittleness and splitting. Another affordable staple is a large-gap comb, to use in the shower. It shields your locks while smoothing out tangles and helps maintain the integrity of the hair shafts, especially after lightening.

What item or service justifies the extra cost?

A high-quality styling iron – featuring innovative technology, with smart temperature control. Lightened strands can become discolored or suffer heat stress without the correct device.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

Self-applied color lifting. 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 witnessed clients melt their hair, break it off or end up with striped effects that are extremely difficult to fix. It's best to steer clear of keratin or permanent straightening treatments on bleached or silver hair. These chemical systems are often too aggressive for weakened hair and can cause chronic issues or undesired tones.

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

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their specific hair needs. A number of people misuse toning shampoo until their lightened locks looks drab and lacking shine. A few overdo on high-protein masks and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. Another significant problem is using hot tools sans safeguard. When applying flat irons, curling irons or blow dryers without a protective product, – notably with color-treated strands – you’re going to see yellowing, dryness and breakage.

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

Hair loss needs a multilayered approach. Topically, minoxidil is still one of the most effective treatments. I often suggest follicle treatments containing stimulants to boost blood flow and support follicle health. Applying a cleansing scalp wash often helps clear out buildup and allows solutions to be more efficient. Supplements such as Nutrafol or Viviscal Pro have also shown notable improvements. They support the body from the inside out by correcting endocrine issues, tension and nutritional deficiencies.

In cases requiring advanced options, PRP therapy – where a personalized serum is applied – can be beneficial. Still, my advice is to getting a professional diagnosis beforehand. Thinning can be linked to medical conditions, and it’s important to get to the root cause rather than chasing surface-level fixes.

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Anabel Kingsley

Trichologist and leader in hair health clinics and product ranges for hair loss.

How frequently do you schedule salon visits?

I get my hair cut every 10 to 12 weeks, but will remove split ends personally bi-weekly to maintain tip integrity, and have color touches every two months.

What affordable find is essential?

Hair-thickening particles are truly impressive if you have areas of scalp visibility. The fibres cling electrostatically to your own hair, and it comes in a assortment of tones, making it almost invisible. I personally applied it after childbirth when I had significant shedding – and also presently during some considerable hair loss after having a bad infection previously. Since hair is non-vital, it’s the first part of you to suffer when your nutrition is inadequate, so I would also recommend a healthy, varied eating plan.

Which premium option is truly valuable?

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 clinical interventions to see the most effective improvements. From my perspective, minoxidil combined with additional ingredients – such as endocrine regulators, blockers and/or soothing agents – 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 low concentration like 2% is insufficient to do much for hereditary thinning in males, so the study is basically saying they provide similarly low results.

Also, high-dose biotin. Hardly anyone is biotin deficient, so taking it is unlikely to do your hair any good, and it can skew thyroid readings in blood tests.

Which error is most frequent?

I think the term “hair washing” should be changed to “scalp cleansing” – 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 damaging to their locks, when in fact the reverse is correct – notably in cases of dandruff, which is intensified by sebum accumulation. If oils are left on your scalp, they break down and become inflammatory.

Regrettably, follicular health and strand desires can differ, so it’s a delicate equilibrium. However, if you cleanse softly and treat damp strands kindly, it won’t be damaging to your strands.

What solutions do you suggest for thinning?

For FPHL, your core treatment should be minoxidil. It's backed by strong research and tends to be most effective combined with additional ingredients. 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.

With telogen effluvium, investigation is key. Increased hair loss often stems from an underlying issue. Occasionally, the reason is temporary – such as flu, Covid or a period of intense stress – and it will clear up naturally. Alternatively, endocrine issues or nutrient shortages may be the cause – 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