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Jack Martin

Styling Professional based in the Golden State who specialises in silver hair. He works with Jane Fonda and well-known figures.

What affordable item can't you live without?

I swear by a soft fabric towel, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to dry your hair. It's often overlooked how much damage a regular bath towel can do, particularly for silver or chemically treated hair. This one small change can really minimize flyaways and damage. Another affordable staple is a wide-tooth comb, to use during washing. It protects the hair while smoothing out tangles and helps preserve the strength of the hair shafts, notably following coloring.

Which investment truly pays off?

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

What style or process should you always avoid?

Self-applied color lifting. Online tutorials can be misleading, but the truth is it’s one of the most hazardous actions you can do to your hair. I’ve witnessed clients cause irreversible harm, experience breakage or end up with striped effects that are extremely difficult to fix. I also don’t recommend long-term smoothing services on bleached or silver hair. Such treatments are often excessively strong for weakened hair and can cause lasting harm or color changes.

What frequent error do you observe?

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their particular strand characteristics. Certain clients overapply violet-based cleansers until their blonde or grey strands looks lifeless and muted. A few overdo on protein-rich treatments and end up with stiff, brittle hair. Another significant problem is heat styling without protection. If you’re using flat irons, curling irons or blow dryers without a heat protectant, – particularly on bleached locks – you’re going to see discoloration, dehydration and damage.

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

Thinning requires a comprehensive strategy. Topically, minoxidil is still one of the most effective treatments. I also recommend follicle treatments containing stimulants to stimulate circulation and support follicle health. Applying a cleansing scalp wash often helps remove residue and allows solutions to be more efficient. Supplements such as Nutrafol or Viviscal Pro have also shown great results. They enhance overall health for hair benefits by correcting endocrine issues, anxiety and dietary insufficiencies.

For those seeking higher-level solutions, blood-derived therapies – where a personalized serum is applied – can be successful. However, I consistently recommend consulting a skin or hair specialist initially. 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

Scalp and Hair Scientist and brand president of Philip Kingsley services and items for shedding.

How often do you get your hair cut and coloured?

My trims are every couple of months, but will snip damaged ends myself fortnightly to keep my ends healthy, and have highlights done every eight weeks.

What affordable find is essential?

Building fibers are remarkably effective if you have see-through sections. 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 a lot of hair fall – and also presently during some marked thinning 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 balanced, nutritious diet.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

For those with genetic thinning in women, I’d say doctor-recommended solutions. Regarding increased shedding, or telogen effluvium, buying an retail solution is fine, but for FPHL you really do need prescription-strength formulas to see the optimal outcomes. I believe minoxidil mixed with supporting compounds – such as endocrine regulators, blockers and/or soothing agents – works best.

What should you always skip?

Rosemary oil for hair loss. It doesn’t work. 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 male pattern hair loss, so the study is basically saying they provide similarly low results.

Additionally, excessive biotin. Hardly anyone is biotin deficient, so taking it is unlikely to do your hair any good, and it can alter thyroid level measurements.

Which error is most frequent?

Personally, I prefer "scalp cleansing" over "hair washing" – because the main goal of cleansing is to clear away sebum, debris, sweat and pollutants. I notice clients skipping washes as they think it’s bad for their hair, when in fact the contrary is accurate – notably in cases of dandruff, which is intensified by sebum accumulation. If oils are left on your scalp, they deteriorate and lead to inflammation.

Regrettably, follicular health and strand desires can differ, so it’s a careful compromise. Provided you wash delicately and manage wet locks gently, it shouldn't harm your hair.

Which options help with shedding?

With female pattern loss, minoxidil is essential. It has the most robust evidence behind it 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 micro-needling (under professional care), and perhaps injections or laser devices.

For TE, you need to do some detective work. Noticeable thinning usually relates to a health trigger. Sometimes, the cause is transient – such as sickness, virus or emotional strain – and it will clear up naturally. 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