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A Color Specialist

Styling Professional located in the West Coast who specialises in grey hair. He works with Hollywood stars and renowned personalities.

What affordable item can't you live without?

My top pick is a soft fabric towel, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to towel-dry your locks. Many are unaware how much damage a regular bath towel can do, particularly for silver or chemically treated hair. This minor adjustment can really reduce frizz and breakage. Another inexpensive must-have is a broad-toothed comb, to use during washing. It safeguards your strands while detangling and helps maintain the integrity of the hair shafts, especially after lightening.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

A top-tier thermal appliance – featuring innovative technology, with adjustable temperature options. Silver and light-coloured hair can yellow or burn easily without the correct device.

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 biggest gambles you can do to your hair. There are cases where individuals melt their hair, snap their strands or end up with striped effects that are incredibly challenging to remedy. It's best to steer clear of keratin or permanent straightening treatments on pre-lightened strands. These chemical systems are often too aggressive for already fragile strands and can cause chronic issues or color changes.

Which typical blunder stands out?

People using the wrong products for their specific hair needs. Certain clients overapply toning shampoo until their lightened locks looks lifeless and muted. Others rely too much 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 protective product, – particularly on bleached locks – 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. My advice includes scalp formulas with active ingredients to enhance nutrient delivery and promote root strength. Applying a cleansing scalp wash often helps clear out buildup and allows treatments to work more effectively. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown positive outcomes. They support the body from the inside out by correcting endocrine issues, anxiety and nutritional deficiencies.

For people looking for something more advanced, PRP therapy – where a concentration from your blood is administered – can be effective. However, I consistently recommend getting a professional diagnosis beforehand. Shedding may relate to internal factors, and it’s important to determine the origin rather than pursuing temporary solutions.

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Anabel Kingsley

Follicle Expert and leader in hair health services and items for shedding.

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 keep my ends healthy, and have lightening sessions every eight weeks.

Which low-cost item is a game-changer?

Hair-thickening particles are absolutely amazing if you have thinning spots. These particles bond to your existing hair, and it comes in a assortment of tones, making it virtually undetectable. I used it myself in the postpartum period when I had noticeable thinning – and also currently as I’m going through some marked thinning after having awful flu a few months ago. As hair isn’t an essential tissue, it’s the initial area to show decline when your intake is insufficient, so I would also recommend a well-rounded, nutrient-rich diet.

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 clinical interventions to see the optimal outcomes. In my opinion, minoxidil compounded with other hair-supportive actives – such as balancing elements, inhibitors and/or calming components – works best.

Which popular remedy is ineffective?

Using rosemary essential oil for thinning. It doesn’t work. The whole thing stems from one small study done in 2015 that compared the effects of a mild minoxidil solution versus rosemary extract. A 2% strength minoxidil isn’t enough to do much for genetic balding in men, so the study is basically saying they provide similarly low results.

Additionally, excessive biotin. Rarely do people lack biotin, so taking it is unlikely to do your hair any good, and it can alter thyroid level measurements.

Which error is most frequent?

I think the term “hair washing” should be changed to “scalp cleansing” – because the primary purpose of washing is to rid your scalp of old oils, dead skin cells, sweat and environmental pollution. I see people avoiding shampooing as they think it’s harmful to their strands, when in fact the contrary is accurate – especially if you have dandruff, which is aggravated by oil buildup. If natural oils stay on the head, they decompose and cause irritation.

Sadly, scalp requirements and hair preferences may conflict, so it’s a careful compromise. But as long as you are gentle when you shampoo and handle wet hair with care, 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 work best when compounded with other hair-supportive actives. Should you wish to enhance minoxidil's benefits, or you simply don’t want to or can’t use it, you could try collagen induction therapy (with a specialist), and perhaps PRP or low-level laser therapy.

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. 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 improve spontaneously. 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