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A Color Specialist

Hair Color Expert operating from California who excels at grey hair. He works with Hollywood stars and well-known figures.

What affordable item can't you live without?

My top pick is a microfibre towel, or even a gentle tee to remove moisture from your strands. Most people don’t realise how much damage a regular bath towel can do, especially to silver or chemically treated hair. This one small change can really lessen brittleness and splitting. Another inexpensive must-have is a large-gap comb, to use while conditioning. It safeguards your strands while removing knots and helps maintain the integrity of the hair shafts, notably following coloring.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

A top-tier thermal appliance – made with advanced materials, with adjustable temperature options. Grey and blonde hair can become discolored or suffer heat stress without the correct device.

Which popular practice is a definite no-go?

DIY bleaching. Social media makes it look easy, but the reality is it’s one of the biggest gambles you can do to your hair. I’ve witnessed clients cause irreversible harm, break it off or end up with striped effects that are extremely difficult to fix. I also don’t recommend keratin or permanent straightening treatments on pre-lightened strands. These formulations are often excessively strong for weakened hair and can cause lasting harm or color changes.

Which typical blunder stands out?

People using the wrong products for their specific hair needs. Certain clients overapply colour-correcting purple shampoo until their silver or blond hair looks flat and dull. A few overdo on protein-rich treatments and end up with rigid, fragile strands. A further common mistake is using hot tools sans safeguard. When applying hot tools or dryers without a heat protectant, – especially on pre-lightened hair – you’re going to see brassiness, lack of moisture and splitting.

What would you suggest for thinning hair?

Shedding demands a multifaceted plan. Topically, minoxidil is still one of the most effective treatments. My advice includes follicle treatments containing stimulants to enhance nutrient delivery and aid in hair growth. Using a scalp detox shampoo weekly helps eliminate impurities and allows treatments to work more effectively. Oral aids like specialized formulas have also shown great results. They support the body from the inside out by balancing body chemistry, stress and nutritional deficiencies.

For people looking for something more advanced, blood-derived therapies – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be effective. However, I consistently recommend getting a professional diagnosis beforehand. Thinning can be linked to medical conditions, and it’s important to identify the source rather than pursuing temporary solutions.

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Anabel Kingsley

Trichologist and brand president of Philip Kingsley centers and lines targeting thinning.

What’s your routine for trims and color?

My trims are every couple of months, but will trim off splits at home fortnightly to maintain tip integrity, and have lightening sessions every eight weeks.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Building fibers are truly impressive if you have thinning spots. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a assortment of tones, making it almost invisible. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had noticeable thinning – and also now while experiencing some significant shedding after having awful flu a few months ago. Since hair is non-vital, 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?

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 retail solution is fine, but for FPHL you really do need medicated treatment to see the optimal outcomes. From my perspective, minoxidil combined with additional ingredients – such as balancing elements, inhibitors and/or calming components – works best.

Which popular remedy is ineffective?

Rosemary extracts for shedding. It's ineffective. The whole thing stems from one small study done in 2015 that compared the effects of a mild minoxidil solution versus rosemary extract. A 2% strength minoxidil isn’t enough to do much for hereditary thinning in males, so the study is basically saying they work as little as each other.

Likewise, mega-doses of biotin. Rarely do people lack biotin, so consuming it probably won't help your locks, and it can affect thyroid test results.

Which error is most frequent?

Personally, I prefer "scalp cleansing" over "hair washing" – because the main goal of cleansing is to remove buildup, flakes, perspiration and dirt. Many individuals refrain from cleansing as they think it’s harmful to their strands, when in fact the reverse is correct – especially if you have dandruff, which is aggravated by oil buildup. If oils are left on your scalp, they decompose and cause irritation.

Sadly, scalp requirements and hair preferences may conflict, so it’s a careful compromise. Provided you wash delicately and manage wet locks gently, it is unlikely to cause damage.

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

For genetic thinning in women, start with minoxidil. It's backed by strong research and tends to show optimal results when mixed with supporting compounds. If you're interested in complementary therapies, or you simply don’t want to or can’t use it, you could try microneedling (see a dermatologist), and perhaps injections or laser devices.

For TE, you need to do some detective work. Increased hair loss often stems from an underlying issue. Sometimes, the cause is transient – such as illness, infection or high stress – and it will improve spontaneously. 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