🔗 Share this article

A Color Specialist

Colourist based in California who focuses on grey hair. He works with Hollywood stars and renowned personalities.

What affordable item can't you live without?

I swear by a microfibre towel, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to dry your hair. It's often overlooked how much damage a typical terrycloth towel can do, especially to lightened or dyed strands. A simple switch can really lessen brittleness and splitting. Another inexpensive must-have is a wide-tooth comb, to use in the shower. It shields your locks while smoothing out tangles and helps keep the health of the hair shafts, especially after lightening.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

A top-tier thermal appliance – ceramic or tourmaline, with smart temperature control. Lightened strands can become discolored or suffer heat stress without the right iron.

What style or process should you always avoid?

DIY bleaching. Internet videos often simplify it, but the truth is it’s one of the most hazardous actions you can do to your hair. I’ve seen people cause irreversible harm, experience breakage or end up with uneven tones that are extremely difficult to fix. It's best to steer clear of 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.

What’s the most common mistake you see in your salon?

Individuals choosing unsuitable formulas for their hair type or colour. Certain clients overapply colour-correcting purple shampoo until their blonde or grey strands looks drab and lacking shine. A few overdo on strengthening conditioners and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. A further common mistake is thermal styling minus a barrier. When applying styling appliances without a protective product, – especially on pre-lightened hair – you’re going to see brassiness, lack of moisture and splitting.

Which solutions help with shedding?

Hair loss needs a multilayered approach. Externally, minoxidil remains a top choice. I often suggest follicle treatments containing stimulants to stimulate circulation and aid in hair growth. Incorporating a clarifying shampoo regularly helps clear out buildup and allows treatments to work more effectively. Supplements such as Nutrafol or Viviscal Pro have also shown positive outcomes. They support the body from the inside out by addressing hormonal imbalances, anxiety and dietary insufficiencies.

In cases requiring advanced options, platelet-rich plasma treatments – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be effective. That said, I always suggest getting a professional diagnosis beforehand. Thinning can be linked to medical conditions, and it’s important to determine the origin rather than pursuing temporary solutions.

---

A Hair and Scalp Specialist

Trichologist and brand president of Philip Kingsley clinics and product ranges for hair loss.

How often do you get your hair cut and coloured?

I schedule cuts every ten to twelve weeks, but will remove split ends personally bi-weekly to keep my ends healthy, and have highlights done every eight weeks.

What affordable find is essential?

Toppik hair fibres are truly impressive if you have see-through sections. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a assortment of tones, making it virtually undetectable. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had significant shedding – and also presently during some considerable hair loss after having awful flu a few months ago. 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 balanced, nutritious diet.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

In cases of hereditary hair loss in females, 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 medicated treatment to see the most effective improvements. I believe minoxidil mixed with supporting compounds – such as hormones, anti-androgens and/or anti-inflammatories – works best.

Which popular remedy is ineffective?

Using rosemary essential oil for thinning. 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 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.

Likewise, mega-doses of biotin. Rarely do people lack biotin, so taking it is unlikely to do your hair any good, and it can alter thyroid level measurements.

What blunder stands out often?

Personally, I prefer "scalp cleansing" over "hair washing" – because the main goal of cleansing 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 bad for their hair, when in fact the contrary is accurate – particularly with flaky scalp, which is intensified by sebum accumulation. If oils are left on your scalp, they decompose and cause irritation.

Unfortunately, what your scalp needs and what your hair likes don’t always align, so it’s a delicate equilibrium. But as long as you are gentle when you shampoo and handle wet hair with care, 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 show optimal results when mixed with supporting compounds. If you then want to try other things to support minoxidil’s effect, or you simply don’t want to or can’t use it, you could try micro-needling (under professional care), and perhaps injections or laser devices.

With telogen effluvium, investigation is key. Increased hair loss often stems from an underlying issue. In some instances, the trigger is short-term – such as flu, Covid or a period of intense stress – and it will resolve on its own. Sometimes, hormonal problems or dietary gaps are responsible – 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