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Jack Martin

Styling Professional located in the West Coast who focuses on silver hair. He works with Hollywood stars and well-known figures.

Which budget-friendly product is a must-have?

I highly recommend a gentle drying cloth, or even a gentle tee to towel-dry your locks. Many are unaware how much stress a regular bath towel can do, notably with lightened or dyed strands. A simple switch can really lessen brittleness and splitting. Another affordable staple is a wide-tooth comb, to use while conditioning. It shields your locks while detangling and helps maintain the integrity of the individual hairs, notably following coloring.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

A high-quality styling iron – ceramic or tourmaline, with precise heat settings. Lightened strands can yellow or burn easily without the correct device.

Which popular practice is a definite no-go?

At-home lightening. Internet videos often simplify it, but the reality is it’s one of the riskiest things you can do to your hair. I’ve witnessed clients melt their hair, snap their strands or end up with striped effects that are incredibly challenging to remedy. I would also avoid keratin or permanent straightening treatments on bleached or silver hair. Such treatments are often too aggressive for weakened hair and can cause lasting harm or color changes.

Which typical blunder stands out?

People using the wrong products for their hair type or colour. A number of people misuse toning shampoo until their lightened locks looks lifeless and muted. Some depend excessively on strengthening conditioners and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. The other major issue is thermal styling minus a barrier. When applying flat irons, curling irons or blow dryers without a heat protectant, – particularly on bleached locks – you’re going to see brassiness, lack of moisture and splitting.

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

Thinning requires a comprehensive strategy. For direct application, minoxidil is highly proven. I also recommend scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to enhance nutrient delivery and aid in hair growth. Using a scalp detox shampoo weekly helps clear out buildup and allows treatments to work more effectively. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown positive outcomes. They work internally to benefit externally by balancing body chemistry, stress and nutritional deficiencies.

For people looking for something more advanced, platelet-rich plasma treatments – where a concentration from your blood is administered – can be effective. However, I consistently recommend consulting a skin or hair specialist initially. Thinning can be linked to medical conditions, and it’s important to identify the source rather than chasing surface-level fixes.

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Anabel Kingsley

Trichologist and leader in hair health clinics and product ranges for hair loss.

What’s your routine for trims and color?

I get my hair cut every 10 to 12 weeks, but will remove split ends personally bi-weekly to keep my ends healthy, and have lightening sessions every eight weeks.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Hair-thickening particles are absolutely amazing if you have areas of scalp visibility. These particles bond to your existing hair, and it comes in a assortment of tones, making it almost invisible. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had significant shedding – and also currently as I’m going through some significant shedding after having a bad infection previously. As hair isn’t an essential tissue, it’s the first part of you to suffer when your diet is lacking, 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 clinical interventions to see the most effective improvements. I believe minoxidil mixed with supporting compounds – such as endocrine regulators, blockers and/or soothing agents – works best.

Which popular remedy is ineffective?

Using rosemary essential oil for thinning. It's ineffective. 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 hereditary thinning in males, so the study is basically saying they provide similarly low results.

Additionally, excessive biotin. Few individuals have biotin insufficiency, so taking it is unlikely to do your hair any good, and it can affect thyroid test results.

What blunder stands out often?

In my view, we should rename "hair washing" to "scalp cleaning" – because the main goal of cleansing is to rid your scalp of old oils, dead skin cells, sweat and environmental pollution. I see people avoiding shampooing as they think it’s harmful to their strands, 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.

Unfortunately, what your scalp needs and what your hair likes don’t always align, so it’s a delicate equilibrium. However, if you cleanse softly and treat damp strands kindly, it won’t be damaging to your strands.

What solutions do you suggest for thinning?

For genetic thinning in women, start with minoxidil. It's backed by strong research 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 PRP or low-level laser therapy.

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. Noticeable thinning usually relates to a health trigger. Sometimes, the cause is transient – such as sickness, virus or emotional strain – 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