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An Expert Colorist

Colourist located in the West Coast who specialises in silver hair. His clients include Jane Fonda and Andie MacDowell.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

I swear by a soft fabric towel, or even a smooth cotton shirt to remove moisture from your strands. Most people don’t realise how much stress a typical terrycloth towel can do, particularly for lightened or dyed strands. This one small change can really minimize flyaways and damage. A second budget-friendly essential is a broad-toothed comb, to use while conditioning. It shields your locks while removing knots and helps preserve the strength of the strands, especially after lightening.

Which investment truly pays off?

A professional-grade heat styling tool – ceramic or tourmaline, with precise heat settings. Lightened strands can yellow or burn easily without the right iron.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

DIY bleaching. Social media makes it look easy, but the actual fact is it’s one of the most hazardous actions you can do to your hair. I’ve seen people cause irreversible harm, break it off or end up with bands of colour that are nearly impossible to correct. I also don’t recommend long-term smoothing services on color-treated or grey hair. Such treatments are often too aggressive for weakened hair and can cause lasting harm or undesired tones.

Which typical blunder stands out?

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their hair type or colour. A number of people misuse violet-based cleansers until their lightened locks looks lifeless and muted. A few overdo on high-protein masks and end up with rigid, fragile strands. Another significant problem is heat styling without protection. In cases where you employ flat irons, curling irons or blow dryers without a heat protectant, – notably with color-treated strands – you’re going to see brassiness, lack of moisture and splitting.

What would you suggest for thinning hair?

Shedding demands a multifaceted plan. Topically, minoxidil is still one of the most effective treatments. My advice includes follicle treatments containing stimulants to boost blood flow and promote root strength. Applying a cleansing scalp wash often helps eliminate impurities and allows products to perform better. Oral aids like specialized formulas have also shown great results. They support the body from the inside out by correcting endocrine issues, tension and dietary insufficiencies.

For people looking for something more advanced, platelet-rich plasma treatments – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be effective. That said, I always suggest seeing a dermatologist or trichologist first. Hair loss is often tied to underlying health issues, and it’s important to determine the origin rather than chasing surface-level fixes.

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Anabel Kingsley

Scalp and Hair Scientist and head of a renowned clinic centers and lines targeting thinning.

How often do you get your hair cut and coloured?

My trims are every couple of months, but will trim off splits at home fortnightly to preserve strand health, and have color touches every two months.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Hair-thickening particles are remarkably effective if you have areas of scalp visibility. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a variety of shades, making it seamlessly blended. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had significant shedding – and also currently as I’m going through some considerable hair loss after having awful flu a few months ago. Because locks are secondary, it’s the first part of you to suffer when your nutrition is inadequate, so I would also recommend a well-rounded, nutrient-rich diet.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

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 non-prescription item is fine, but for FPHL you really do need medicated treatment to see the optimal outcomes. I believe minoxidil mixed with supporting compounds – such as hormones, anti-androgens and/or anti-inflammatories – works best.

What should you always skip?

Rosemary extracts for shedding. 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 2% strength minoxidil isn’t enough to do much for genetic balding in men, so the study is basically saying they work as little as each other.

Also, high-dose biotin. Few individuals have biotin insufficiency, so using it may not benefit your strands, and it can affect thyroid test results.

What’s the most common mistake you see?

I think the term “hair washing” should be changed to “scalp cleansing” – because the primary purpose of washing is to remove buildup, flakes, perspiration and dirt. I notice clients skipping washes as they think it’s damaging to their locks, when in fact the contrary is accurate – notably in cases of dandruff, which is aggravated by oil buildup. If natural oils stay on the head, they deteriorate and lead to inflammation.

Regrettably, follicular health and strand desires can differ, so it’s a balancing act. 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 FPHL, your core treatment should be minoxidil. Scientific support is substantial and tends to show optimal results when mixed with supporting compounds. If you're interested in complementary therapies, 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 flu, Covid or a period of intense stress – and it will improve spontaneously. Sometimes, hormonal problems or dietary gaps are responsible – 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