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An Expert Colorist

Hair Color Expert located in the West Coast who specialises in platinum tones. Among his clientele are Hollywood stars and well-known figures.

What affordable item can't you live without?

I swear by a soft fabric towel, or even a gentle tee to towel-dry your locks. Most people don’t realise how much damage a standard towel can do, notably with silver or chemically treated hair. This minor adjustment can really minimize flyaways and damage. Another inexpensive must-have is a wide-tooth comb, to use in the shower. It safeguards your strands while detangling and helps preserve the strength of the hair shafts, particularly post-bleaching.

What item or service justifies the extra cost?

A top-tier thermal appliance – ceramic or tourmaline, with smart temperature control. Grey and blonde hair can become discolored or suffer heat stress without the correct device.

Which popular practice is a definite no-go?

Self-applied color lifting. Social media makes it look easy, but the truth is it’s one of the biggest gambles you can do to your hair. I’ve seen people cause irreversible harm, experience breakage or end up with uneven tones that are incredibly challenging to remedy. I would also avoid keratin or permanent straightening treatments on bleached or silver hair. These chemical systems are often too aggressive for delicate locks and can cause long-term damage or undesired tones.

Which typical blunder stands out?

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their particular strand characteristics. Certain clients overapply toning shampoo until their silver or blond hair looks drab and lacking shine. Some depend excessively on high-protein masks and end up with rigid, fragile strands. A further common mistake is using hot tools sans safeguard. In cases where you employ hot tools or dryers without a defensive spray or cream, – especially on pre-lightened hair – you’re going to see brassiness, lack of moisture and splitting.

What would you suggest for thinning hair?

Hair loss needs a multilayered approach. For direct application, minoxidil is highly proven. I also recommend follicle treatments containing stimulants to stimulate circulation and promote root strength. Incorporating a clarifying shampoo regularly helps remove residue and allows products to perform better. Oral aids like specialized formulas have also shown great results. They enhance overall health for hair benefits by balancing body chemistry, anxiety and lack of vital nutrients.

For people looking for something more advanced, platelet-rich plasma treatments – where a concentration from your blood is administered – can be successful. Still, my advice is to 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

Follicle Expert and brand president of Philip Kingsley centers and lines targeting thinning.

How frequently do you schedule salon visits?

My trims are every couple of months, but will remove split ends personally fortnightly to preserve strand health, and have highlights done every eight weeks.

What affordable find is essential?

Hair-thickening particles are remarkably effective if you have thinning spots. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a variety of shades, making it seamlessly blended. I used it myself in the postpartum period when I had a lot of hair fall – and also currently as I’m going through some significant shedding after having a severe illness recently. As hair isn’t an essential tissue, it’s the initial area to show decline when your intake is insufficient, so I would also recommend a well-rounded, nutrient-rich diet.

What justifies a higher investment?

If you have female pattern hair loss (FPHL), I’d say doctor-recommended solutions. Regarding increased shedding, or telogen effluvium, buying an retail solution is fine, but for FPHL you really do need prescription-strength formulas to see the best results. In my opinion, minoxidil compounded with other hair-supportive actives – such as balancing elements, inhibitors and/or calming components – works best.

Which popular remedy is ineffective?

Using rosemary essential oil for thinning. It doesn’t work. The whole thing stems from one small study done in 2015 that compared the effects of 2% minoxidil to rosemary oil. A 2% strength minoxidil isn’t enough to do much for male pattern hair loss, so the study is basically saying they provide similarly low results.

Additionally, excessive biotin. Few individuals have biotin insufficiency, 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 real aim of shampooing your hair 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 – especially if you have dandruff, which is aggravated by oil buildup. When sebum remains on the skin, they break down and become inflammatory.

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

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

For FPHL, your core treatment should be minoxidil. Scientific support is substantial 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 microneedling (see a dermatologist), and perhaps platelet-rich plasma or light treatments.

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. Increased hair loss often stems from an underlying issue. In some instances, the trigger is short-term – such as sickness, virus or emotional strain – and it will resolve on its own. 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