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An Expert Colorist

Hair Color Expert based in the West Coast who focuses on platinum tones. His clients include Jane Fonda and renowned personalities.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

My top pick is a microfibre towel, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to remove moisture from your strands. Most people don’t realise how much harm a regular bath towel can do, particularly for silver or chemically treated hair. A simple switch can really reduce frizz and breakage. Another inexpensive must-have is a wide-tooth comb, to use during washing. It shields your locks while smoothing out tangles and helps preserve the strength of the strands, especially after lightening.

What item or service justifies the extra cost?

A high-quality styling iron – featuring innovative technology, with smart temperature control. 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 actual fact is it’s one of the riskiest things you can do to your hair. I’ve seen people melt their hair, experience breakage or end up with bands of colour that are nearly impossible to correct. I also don’t recommend chemical straightening processes on bleached or silver hair. These chemical systems are often excessively strong for weakened hair and can cause lasting harm or color changes.

Which typical blunder stands out?

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their specific hair needs. Some overuse colour-correcting purple shampoo until their lightened locks looks lifeless and muted. Some depend excessively on high-protein masks and end up with rigid, fragile strands. A further common mistake is thermal styling minus a barrier. In cases where you employ flat irons, curling irons or blow dryers without a defensive spray or cream, – especially on pre-lightened hair – you’re going to see discoloration, dehydration and damage.

Which solutions help with shedding?

Thinning requires a comprehensive strategy. Topically, minoxidil is still one of the most effective treatments. I often suggest follicle treatments containing stimulants to stimulate circulation and aid in hair growth. Using a scalp detox shampoo weekly helps remove residue and allows solutions to be more efficient. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown great results. They work internally to benefit externally by balancing body chemistry, anxiety and nutritional deficiencies.

In cases requiring advanced options, PRP therapy – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be effective. That said, I always suggest 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 centers and lines targeting thinning.

How often do you get your hair cut and coloured?

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

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Hair-thickening particles are truly impressive if you have see-through sections. The fibres cling electrostatically to your own hair, and it comes in a range of colors, making it virtually undetectable. 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. Because locks are secondary, 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?

For those with genetic thinning in women, I’d say prescription hair-loss topicals. For excessive daily hair shedding, AKA telogen effluvium (TE), buying an over-the-counter product is fine, but for FPHL you really do need clinical interventions 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 hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

Rosemary extracts for shedding. It's ineffective. This belief comes from a minor study from 2015 that compared the effects of a mild minoxidil solution versus rosemary extract. A 2% strength minoxidil isn’t enough to do much for hereditary thinning in males, so the study is basically saying they work as little as each other.

Also, high-dose biotin. Few individuals have biotin insufficiency, so taking it is unlikely to do your hair any good, and it can alter thyroid level measurements.

What blunder stands out often?

In my view, we should rename "hair washing" to "scalp cleaning" – because the real aim of shampooing your hair is to clear away sebum, debris, sweat and pollutants. Many individuals refrain from cleansing as they think it’s bad for their hair, when in fact the contrary is accurate – particularly with flaky scalp, which is aggravated by oil buildup. 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. But as long as you are gentle when you shampoo and handle wet hair with care, it won’t be damaging to your strands.

Which options help with shedding?

With female pattern loss, minoxidil is essential. Scientific support is substantial and tends to work best when compounded with other hair-supportive actives. If you then want to try other things to support minoxidil’s effect, or you prefer not to use it or are unable, you could try collagen induction therapy (with a specialist), and perhaps PRP or low-level laser therapy.

With telogen effluvium, investigation is key. Excessive daily shedding occurs in response to an internal factor. Occasionally, the reason is temporary – such as illness, infection or high stress – and it will resolve on its own. In other cases, thyroid imbalances or vitamin/mineral deficiencies are the driving factor – 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