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A Color Specialist

Hair Color Expert located in California who focuses on silver hair. Among his clientele are celebrated actors and renowned personalities.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

I swear by a gentle drying cloth, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to remove moisture from your strands. Most people don’t realise how much stress a standard towel can do, especially to silver or chemically treated hair. This minor adjustment can really lessen brittleness and splitting. Another inexpensive must-have is a wide-tooth comb, to use during washing. It shields your locks while removing knots and helps preserve the strength of the strands, especially after lightening.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

A high-quality styling iron – ceramic or tourmaline, with adjustable temperature options. Lightened strands can yellow or burn easily without the correct device.

What style or process should you always avoid?

At-home lightening. Online tutorials can be misleading, but the reality is it’s one of the riskiest things you can do to your hair. There are cases where individuals cause irreversible harm, experience breakage or end up with uneven tones that are extremely difficult to fix. I would also avoid chemical straightening processes on color-treated or grey hair. These formulations are often too aggressive for weakened hair and can cause long-term damage or discoloration.

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

Individuals choosing unsuitable formulas for their particular strand characteristics. Certain clients overapply colour-correcting purple shampoo until their lightened locks looks lifeless and muted. Some depend excessively on strengthening conditioners and end up with stiff, brittle hair. The other major issue is using hot tools sans safeguard. When applying hot tools or dryers without a heat protectant, – particularly on bleached locks – you’re going to see discoloration, dehydration and damage.

What would you suggest for thinning hair?

Shedding demands a multifaceted plan. Externally, minoxidil remains a top choice. I often suggest scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to boost blood flow and support follicle health. Incorporating a clarifying shampoo regularly helps clear out buildup and allows products to perform better. Supplements such as Nutrafol or Viviscal Pro have also shown positive outcomes. They enhance overall health for hair benefits by correcting endocrine issues, tension and nutritional deficiencies.

In cases requiring advanced options, blood-derived therapies – where a concentration from your blood is administered – can be successful. That said, I always suggest getting a professional diagnosis beforehand. Hair loss is often tied to underlying health issues, and it’s important to identify the source rather than pursuing temporary solutions.

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A Hair and Scalp Specialist

Follicle Expert and leader in hair health services and items for shedding.

What’s your routine for trims and color?

My trims are every couple of months, but will snip damaged ends myself fortnightly to preserve strand health, and have lightening sessions every eight weeks.

What affordable find is essential?

Toppik hair fibres are remarkably effective if you have thinning spots. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a range of colors, making it virtually undetectable. I used it myself in the postpartum period when I had significant shedding – and also now while experiencing some marked thinning after having awful flu a few months ago. Because locks are secondary, it’s the initial area to show decline when your diet is lacking, so I would also recommend a well-rounded, nutrient-rich diet.

What justifies a higher investment?

For those with genetic thinning in women, 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 prescription-strength formulas to see the best results. From my perspective, minoxidil combined with additional ingredients – such as balancing elements, inhibitors and/or calming components – works best.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

Rosemary oil for hair loss. It's ineffective. The whole thing stems from one small study done in 2015 that compared the effects of a low-dose minoxidil with rosemary oil. A low concentration like 2% is insufficient to do much for male pattern hair loss, so the study is basically saying they provide similarly low results.

Also, high-dose biotin. Hardly anyone is biotin deficient, so consuming it probably won't help your locks, and it can affect thyroid test results.

What blunder stands out often?

I think the term “hair washing” should be changed to “scalp cleansing” – because the primary purpose of washing is to rid your scalp of old oils, dead skin cells, sweat and environmental pollution. Many individuals refrain from cleansing as they think it’s harmful to their strands, when in fact the opposite is true – especially if you have dandruff, which is intensified by sebum accumulation. If natural oils stay on the head, they break down and become inflammatory.

Unfortunately, what your scalp needs and what your hair likes don’t always align, so it’s a careful compromise. 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 show optimal results when mixed with supporting compounds. Should you wish to enhance minoxidil's benefits, or you simply don’t want to or can’t use it, you could try collagen induction therapy (with a specialist), and perhaps PRP or low-level laser therapy.

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. Increased hair loss often stems from an underlying issue. Sometimes, the cause is transient – such as flu, Covid or a period of intense stress – and it will improve spontaneously. In other cases, thyroid imbalances or vitamin/mineral deficiencies are the driving factor – 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