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An Expert Colorist

Styling Professional operating from the Golden State who focuses on platinum tones. He works with Hollywood stars and well-known figures.

Which budget-friendly product is a must-have?

I swear by a soft fabric towel, or even a gentle tee to dry your hair. Most people don’t realise how much harm a typical terrycloth towel can do, especially to lightened or dyed strands. This minor adjustment can really minimize flyaways and damage. Another inexpensive must-have is a large-gap comb, to use during washing. It shields your locks while removing knots and helps keep the health of the individual hairs, particularly post-bleaching.

What item or service justifies the extra cost?

A high-quality styling iron – made with advanced materials, with precise heat settings. Grey and blonde hair can develop brassy tones or get damaged without the proper tool.

What style or process should you always avoid?

DIY bleaching. Social media makes it look easy, but the reality is it’s one of the riskiest things you can do to your hair. There are cases where individuals melt their hair, experience breakage 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 bleached or silver hair. These chemical systems are often overly harsh for delicate locks and can cause long-term damage or color changes.

What frequent error do you observe?

People using the wrong products for their hair type or colour. A number of people misuse colour-correcting purple shampoo until their blonde or grey strands looks lifeless and muted. Others rely too much on high-protein masks and end up with stiff, brittle hair. The other major issue is using hot tools sans safeguard. If you’re using flat irons, curling irons or blow dryers without a defensive spray or cream, – notably with color-treated strands – you’re going to see brassiness, lack of moisture and splitting.

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

Hair loss needs a multilayered approach. Externally, minoxidil remains a top choice. I often suggest scalp formulas with active ingredients to enhance nutrient delivery and promote root strength. Incorporating a clarifying shampoo regularly helps clear out buildup and allows products to perform better. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown notable improvements. They enhance overall health for hair benefits by balancing body chemistry, tension and dietary insufficiencies.

For those seeking higher-level solutions, blood-derived therapies – where a concentration from your blood is administered – can be effective. However, I consistently recommend seeing a dermatologist or trichologist first. Hair loss is often tied to underlying health issues, 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 head of a renowned clinic clinics and product ranges for hair loss.

What’s your routine for trims and color?

I schedule cuts every ten to twelve weeks, but will snip damaged ends myself bi-weekly to preserve strand health, and have lightening sessions every eight weeks.

Which low-cost item is a game-changer?

Toppik hair fibres are remarkably effective if you have areas of scalp visibility. The fibres cling electrostatically to your own hair, and it comes in a range of colors, making it virtually undetectable. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had a lot of hair fall – and also currently as I’m going through some marked thinning after having a severe illness recently. As hair isn’t an essential tissue, 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 product or treatment is worth splurging on?

In cases of hereditary hair loss in females, I’d say doctor-recommended solutions. For excessive daily hair shedding, AKA telogen effluvium (TE), buying an retail solution is fine, but for FPHL you really do need medicated treatment to see the most effective improvements. I believe minoxidil mixed with supporting compounds – such as balancing elements, inhibitors and/or calming components – works best.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

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 mild formula such as 2% is inadequate to do much for male pattern hair loss, so the study is basically saying they are equally minimal in effect.

Additionally, excessive biotin. Few individuals have biotin insufficiency, so using it may not benefit your strands, and it can affect thyroid test results.

What blunder stands out often?

Personally, I prefer "scalp cleansing" over "hair washing" – because the primary purpose of washing is to rid your scalp of old oils, dead skin cells, sweat and environmental pollution. 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 worsened by the presence of excess oils. If oils are left on your scalp, they decompose and cause irritation.

Regrettably, follicular health and strand desires can differ, so it’s a careful compromise. However, if you cleanse softly and treat damp strands kindly, it is unlikely to cause damage.

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

For FPHL, your core treatment should be minoxidil. It has the most robust evidence behind it and tends to work best when compounded with other hair-supportive actives. If you're interested in complementary therapies, or you prefer not to use it or are unable, you could try microneedling (see a dermatologist), and perhaps injections or laser devices.

For TE, you need to do some detective work. Excessive daily shedding occurs in response to an internal factor. Occasionally, the reason is temporary – such as flu, Covid or a period of intense stress – and it will resolve on its own. Alternatively, endocrine issues or nutrient shortages may be the cause – 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