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Jack Martin

Styling Professional operating from California who focuses on grey hair. He works with Hollywood stars and Andie MacDowell.

Which budget-friendly product is a must-have?

I highly recommend a soft fabric towel, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to remove moisture from your strands. Many are unaware how much harm a regular bath towel can do, particularly for silver or chemically treated hair. This one small change can really reduce frizz and breakage. A second budget-friendly essential is a large-gap comb, to use during washing. It safeguards your strands while removing knots and helps preserve the strength of the strands, particularly post-bleaching.

What item or service justifies the extra cost?

A high-quality styling iron – made with advanced materials, with adjustable temperature options. Silver and light-coloured hair can yellow or burn easily without the right iron.

What style or process should you always avoid?

DIY bleaching. Internet videos often simplify it, but the actual fact is it’s one of the biggest gambles you can do to your hair. There are cases where individuals melt their hair, experience breakage or end up with uneven tones that are incredibly challenging to remedy. I would also avoid chemical straightening processes on pre-lightened strands. Such treatments are often too aggressive for weakened hair and can cause chronic issues or discoloration.

What frequent error do you observe?

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their hair type or colour. A number of people misuse toning shampoo until their lightened locks looks drab and lacking shine. A few overdo on high-protein masks and end up with rigid, fragile strands. A further common mistake is heat styling without protection. When applying styling appliances without a protective product, – particularly on bleached locks – you’re going to see brassiness, lack of moisture and splitting.

What would you suggest for thinning hair?

Thinning requires a comprehensive strategy. Externally, minoxidil remains a top choice. I also recommend scalp formulas with active ingredients to boost blood flow and aid in hair growth. Incorporating a clarifying shampoo regularly helps clear out buildup and allows products to perform better. Oral aids like specialized formulas have also shown positive outcomes. They work internally to benefit externally by correcting endocrine issues, stress 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 beneficial. However, I consistently recommend consulting a skin or hair specialist initially. 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

Follicle Expert and leader in hair health 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 remove split ends personally fortnightly to preserve strand health, and have color touches every two months.

What affordable find is essential?

Building fibers are remarkably effective if you have see-through sections. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a variety of shades, making it virtually undetectable. I personally applied it after childbirth when I had noticeable thinning – and also now while experiencing some marked thinning after having awful flu a few months ago. Since hair is non-vital, it’s the initial area to show decline when your intake is insufficient, so I would also recommend a healthy, varied eating plan.

What justifies a higher investment?

If you have female pattern hair loss (FPHL), I’d say medicated treatments. Regarding increased shedding, or telogen effluvium, buying an non-prescription item is fine, but for FPHL you really do need prescription-strength formulas 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. Hardly anyone is biotin deficient, so using it may not benefit your strands, and it can skew thyroid readings in blood tests.

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 remove buildup, flakes, perspiration and dirt. I see people avoiding shampooing as they think it’s damaging to their locks, when in fact the reverse is correct – notably in cases of dandruff, which is worsened by the presence of excess oils. When sebum remains on the skin, they decompose and cause irritation.

Sadly, scalp requirements and hair preferences may conflict, so it’s a balancing act. However, if you cleanse softly and treat damp strands kindly, it shouldn't harm your hair.

What solutions do you suggest for thinning?

For genetic thinning in women, start with minoxidil. Scientific support is substantial and tends to be most effective combined with additional ingredients. Should you wish to enhance minoxidil's benefits, or you simply don’t want to or can’t use it, you could try microneedling (see a dermatologist), and perhaps platelet-rich plasma or light treatments.

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. Noticeable thinning usually relates to a health trigger. In some instances, the trigger is short-term – such as illness, infection or high stress – and it will resolve on its own. Alternatively, endocrine issues or nutrient shortages may be the cause – 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