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An Expert Colorist

Colourist located in California who focuses on platinum tones. His clients include Hollywood stars and Andie MacDowell.

Which budget-friendly product is a must-have?

My top pick is a microfibre towel, or even a gentle tee to towel-dry your locks. Most people don’t realise how much stress a typical terrycloth towel can do, especially to silver or chemically treated hair. A simple switch can really lessen brittleness and splitting. Another affordable staple is a wide-tooth comb, to use while conditioning. It shields your locks while smoothing out tangles and helps keep the health of the individual hairs, especially after lightening.

Which investment truly pays off?

A professional-grade heat styling tool – featuring innovative technology, with smart temperature control. Lightened strands can develop brassy tones or get damaged without the proper tool.

What style or process should you always avoid?

At-home lightening. Online tutorials can be misleading, but the reality is it’s one of the biggest gambles you can do to your hair. There are cases where individuals cause irreversible harm, break it off or end up with bands of colour that are extremely difficult to fix. It's best to steer clear of keratin or permanent straightening treatments on pre-lightened strands. These formulations are often too aggressive for already fragile strands and can cause chronic issues or color changes.

Which typical blunder stands out?

Individuals choosing unsuitable formulas for their specific hair needs. Certain clients overapply violet-based cleansers until their lightened locks looks drab and lacking shine. Others rely too much on high-protein masks and end up with rigid, fragile strands. A further common mistake is heat styling without protection. If you’re using flat irons, curling irons or blow dryers without a defensive spray or cream, – especially on pre-lightened hair – you’re going to see brassiness, lack of moisture and splitting.

Which solutions help with shedding?

Thinning requires a comprehensive strategy. Externally, minoxidil remains a top choice. I also recommend scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to stimulate circulation and promote root strength. Applying a cleansing scalp wash often helps clear out buildup and allows solutions to be more efficient. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown positive outcomes. They enhance overall health for hair benefits by addressing hormonal imbalances, tension and nutritional deficiencies.

For people looking for something more advanced, platelet-rich plasma treatments – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be beneficial. That said, I always suggest seeing a dermatologist or trichologist first. Thinning can be linked to medical conditions, and it’s important to determine the origin rather than pursuing temporary solutions.

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A Hair and Scalp Specialist

Trichologist and head of a renowned clinic clinics and product ranges for hair loss.

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 fortnightly to preserve strand health, and have highlights done every eight weeks.

What affordable find is essential?

Building fibers are absolutely amazing if you have thinning spots. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a variety of shades, making it virtually undetectable. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had noticeable thinning – and also now while experiencing some significant shedding after having a severe illness recently. As hair isn’t an essential tissue, it’s the first part of you to suffer when your diet is lacking, so I would also recommend a well-rounded, nutrient-rich diet.

What justifies a higher investment?

For those with genetic thinning in women, I’d say doctor-recommended solutions. When dealing with temporary hair loss, known as TE, buying an retail solution is fine, but for FPHL you really do need prescription-strength formulas to see the most effective improvements. In my opinion, minoxidil compounded with other hair-supportive actives – such as hormones, anti-androgens and/or anti-inflammatories – works best.

Which popular remedy is ineffective?

Rosemary extracts for shedding. It shows no real benefit. The whole thing stems from one small study done in 2015 that compared the effects of 2% minoxidil to rosemary oil. A low concentration like 2% is insufficient to do much for genetic balding in men, 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 alter thyroid level measurements.

What’s the most common mistake you see?

Personally, I prefer "scalp cleansing" over "hair washing" – because the main goal of cleansing is to remove buildup, flakes, perspiration and dirt. I notice clients skipping washes as they think it’s bad for their hair, when in fact the opposite is true – notably in cases of dandruff, which is intensified by sebum accumulation. When sebum remains on the skin, they break down and become inflammatory.

Sadly, scalp requirements and hair preferences may conflict, so it’s a balancing act. Provided you wash delicately and manage wet locks gently, it shouldn't harm your hair.

What solutions do you suggest for thinning?

For FPHL, your core treatment should be minoxidil. It has the most robust evidence behind it 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 PRP or low-level laser therapy.

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. Increased hair loss often stems from an underlying issue. Sometimes, the cause is transient – such as sickness, virus or emotional strain – and it will improve spontaneously. In other cases, thyroid imbalances or vitamin/mineral deficiencies are the driving factor – the most common being ferritin (stored iron), vitamin B12 and vitamin D deficiency – and to {treat the hair loss you need to treat the cause|address shedding, target the underlying issue|combat thinning, focus