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A Color Specialist

Hair Color Expert operating from California who excels at grey hair. His clients include Hollywood stars and renowned personalities.

What affordable item can't you live without?

I swear by a microfibre towel, or even a smooth cotton shirt to towel-dry your locks. Most people don’t realise how much harm a standard towel can do, particularly for grey or color-processed hair. A simple switch can really minimize flyaways and damage. Another inexpensive must-have is a broad-toothed comb, to use during washing. It protects the hair while smoothing out tangles and helps maintain the integrity of the strands, especially after lightening.

What item or service justifies the extra cost?

A professional-grade heat styling tool – featuring innovative technology, with adjustable temperature options. Silver and light-coloured hair can become discolored or suffer heat stress without the right iron.

Which popular practice is a definite no-go?

At-home lightening. Social media makes it look easy, but the actual fact is it’s one of the biggest gambles you can do to your hair. There are cases where individuals cause irreversible harm, snap their strands or end up with uneven tones that are incredibly challenging to remedy. I also don’t recommend chemical straightening processes on bleached or silver hair. These formulations are often excessively strong for already fragile strands and can cause long-term damage or color changes.

Which typical blunder stands out?

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their specific hair needs. Certain clients overapply violet-based cleansers until their lightened locks looks flat and dull. Some depend excessively on strengthening conditioners and end up with stiff, brittle hair. Another significant problem is heat styling without protection. In cases where you employ hot tools or dryers without a defensive spray or cream, – particularly on bleached locks – you’re going to see discoloration, dehydration and damage.

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

Thinning requires a comprehensive strategy. Topically, minoxidil is still one of the most effective treatments. My advice includes follicle treatments containing stimulants to stimulate circulation and support follicle health. Applying a cleansing scalp wash often helps clear out buildup and allows treatments to work more effectively. Supplements such as Nutrafol or Viviscal Pro have also shown positive outcomes. They enhance overall health for hair benefits by balancing body chemistry, anxiety and dietary insufficiencies.

For those seeking higher-level solutions, blood-derived therapies – where a concentration from your blood is administered – can be beneficial. Still, my advice is to getting a professional diagnosis beforehand. Shedding may relate to internal factors, and it’s important to get to the root cause rather than pursuing temporary solutions.

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Anabel Kingsley

Follicle Expert 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 snip damaged ends myself bi-weekly to keep my ends healthy, and have color touches every two months.

Which low-cost item is a game-changer?

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 almost invisible. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had a lot of hair fall – and also presently during some significant shedding after having a bad infection previously. Because locks are secondary, it’s the earliest indicator of health issues when your intake is insufficient, so I would also recommend a healthy, varied eating plan.

What justifies a higher investment?

For those with genetic thinning in women, I’d say prescription hair-loss topicals. Regarding increased shedding, or telogen effluvium, buying an non-prescription item is fine, but for FPHL you really do need clinical interventions 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 hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

Rosemary oil for hair loss. It's ineffective. This idea originated from a limited 2015 research that compared the effects of 2% minoxidil to rosemary oil. A 2% strength minoxidil isn’t enough to do much for genetic balding in men, so the study is basically saying they are equally minimal in effect.

Also, high-dose biotin. Few individuals have biotin insufficiency, so using it may not benefit your strands, and it can skew thyroid readings in blood tests.

What blunder stands out often?

I think the term “hair washing” should be changed to “scalp cleansing” – because the real aim of shampooing your hair is to clear away sebum, debris, sweat and pollutants. I see people avoiding shampooing as they think it’s harmful to their strands, when in fact the contrary is accurate – notably in cases of dandruff, which is worsened by the presence of excess oils. When sebum remains on the skin, they decompose and cause irritation.

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

Which options help with shedding?

With female pattern loss, minoxidil is essential. Scientific support is substantial and tends to be most effective combined with additional ingredients. If you then want to try other things to support minoxidil’s effect, or you prefer not to use it or are unable, you could try micro-needling (under professional care), and perhaps injections or laser devices.

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. Excessive daily shedding occurs in response to an internal factor. Sometimes, the cause is transient – such as flu, Covid or a period of intense stress – and it will resolve on its own. In other cases, thyroid imbalances or vitamin/mineral deficiencies are the driving factor – 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