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Jack Martin

Colourist operating from the Golden State who specialises in grey hair. He works with celebrated actors and renowned personalities.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

I swear by a microfibre towel, or even a gentle tee to dry your hair. Many are unaware how much harm a standard towel can do, especially to grey or color-processed hair. This minor adjustment can really reduce frizz and breakage. A second budget-friendly essential is a large-gap comb, to use during washing. It protects the hair while detangling and helps preserve the strength of the hair shafts, notably following coloring.

Which investment truly pays off?

A top-tier thermal appliance – ceramic or tourmaline, with adjustable temperature options. Lightened strands can become discolored or suffer heat stress without the correct device.

Which popular practice is a definite no-go?

Self-applied color lifting. 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 seen people severely damage their locks, break it off or end up with striped effects that are incredibly challenging to remedy. It's best to steer clear of long-term smoothing services on color-treated or grey hair. These chemical systems are often too aggressive for delicate locks and can cause lasting harm or color changes.

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

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their hair type or colour. Certain clients overapply toning shampoo until their silver or blond hair looks lifeless and muted. A few overdo on protein-rich treatments 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 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. Topically, minoxidil is still one of the most effective treatments. My advice includes follicle treatments containing stimulants to enhance nutrient delivery and promote root strength. Incorporating a clarifying shampoo regularly helps remove residue and allows solutions to be more efficient. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown great results. They work internally to benefit externally by addressing hormonal imbalances, stress and nutritional deficiencies.

In cases requiring advanced options, PRP therapy – where a concentration from your blood is administered – can be effective. That said, I always suggest consulting a skin or hair specialist initially. Hair loss is often tied to underlying health issues, and it’s important to determine the origin rather than seeking quick fixes.

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A Trichology Expert

Trichologist and leader in hair health services and items for shedding.

How often do you get your hair cut and coloured?

My trims are every couple of months, but will snip damaged ends myself bi-weekly to maintain tip integrity, and have color touches every two months.

What affordable find is essential?

Building fibers are absolutely amazing if you have thinning spots. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a assortment of tones, making it almost invisible. I personally applied it after childbirth when I had a lot of hair fall – and also currently as I’m going through some marked thinning after having awful flu a few months ago. As hair isn’t an essential tissue, it’s the initial area to show decline when your diet is lacking, so I would also recommend a healthy, varied eating plan.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

If you have female pattern hair loss (FPHL), I’d say prescription hair-loss topicals. When dealing with temporary hair loss, known as 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 endocrine regulators, blockers and/or soothing agents – works best.

Which popular remedy is ineffective?

Using rosemary essential oil for thinning. It shows no real benefit. This belief comes from a minor study from 2015 that compared the effects of 2% minoxidil to rosemary oil. A mild formula such as 2% is inadequate to do much for genetic balding in men, so the study is basically saying they are equally minimal in effect.

Likewise, mega-doses of biotin. Hardly anyone is biotin deficient, so taking it is unlikely to do your hair any good, 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 clear away sebum, debris, sweat and pollutants. Many individuals refrain from cleansing as they think it’s bad for their hair, when in fact the reverse is correct – particularly with flaky scalp, which is worsened by the presence of excess oils. If oils are left on your scalp, they break down and become inflammatory.

Regrettably, follicular health and strand desires can differ, so it’s a delicate equilibrium. However, if you cleanse softly and treat damp strands kindly, it shouldn't harm your hair.

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

For genetic thinning in women, start with minoxidil. Scientific support is substantial 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 micro-needling (under professional care), and perhaps platelet-rich plasma or light treatments.

With telogen effluvium, investigation is key. Noticeable thinning usually relates to a health trigger. In some instances, the trigger is short-term – such as illness, infection or high stress – and it will clear up naturally. In other cases, thyroid imbalances or vitamin/mineral deficiencies are the driving factor – the most common being ferritin (stored iron), vitamin B12 and vitamin D deficiency – and to {treat the hair loss you need to treat the cause|address shedding, target the underlying issue|combat thinning, focus