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Jack Martin

Hair Color Expert based in the West Coast who specialises in platinum tones. He works with celebrated actors and well-known figures.

What affordable item can't you live without?

I highly recommend a gentle drying cloth, or even a gentle tee to remove moisture from your strands. It's often overlooked how much stress a typical terrycloth towel can do, particularly for grey or color-processed hair. This minor adjustment can really minimize flyaways and damage. A second budget-friendly essential is a wide-tooth comb, to use during washing. It safeguards your strands while detangling and helps maintain the integrity of the strands, especially after lightening.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

A top-tier thermal appliance – ceramic or tourmaline, with precise heat settings. Grey and blonde hair can yellow or burn easily without the right iron.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

DIY bleaching. Internet videos often simplify it, but the truth is it’s one of the riskiest things you can do to your hair. I’ve witnessed clients cause irreversible harm, snap their strands or end up with bands of colour that are incredibly challenging to remedy. I also don’t recommend chemical straightening processes on pre-lightened strands. Such treatments are often excessively strong for delicate locks and can cause chronic issues or undesired tones.

Which typical blunder stands out?

People using the wrong products for their hair type or colour. Some overuse colour-correcting purple shampoo until their blonde or grey strands looks lifeless and muted. A few overdo on protein-rich treatments and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. The other major issue is thermal styling minus a barrier. When applying styling appliances 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. For direct application, minoxidil is highly proven. I also recommend scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to stimulate circulation and promote root strength. Incorporating a clarifying shampoo regularly helps clear out buildup and allows treatments to work more effectively. Oral aids like specialized formulas have also shown positive outcomes. They work internally to benefit externally by addressing hormonal imbalances, anxiety and dietary insufficiencies.

For people looking for something more advanced, PRP therapy – where a concentration from your blood is administered – can be effective. Still, my advice is to 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

Scalp and Hair Scientist and brand president of Philip Kingsley clinics and product ranges for hair loss.

How often do you get your hair cut and coloured?

My trims are every couple of months, but will snip damaged ends myself every two weeks to keep my ends healthy, and have color touches every two months.

What affordable find is essential?

Hair-thickening particles are truly impressive if you have see-through sections. These particles bond to your existing hair, and it comes in a variety of shades, 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 a bad infection previously. Since hair is non-vital, 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?

In cases of hereditary hair loss in females, I’d say medicated treatments. Regarding increased shedding, or telogen effluvium, buying an non-prescription item is fine, but for FPHL you really do need prescription-strength formulas to see the best results. I believe minoxidil mixed with supporting compounds – such as balancing elements, inhibitors and/or calming components – works best.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

Rosemary extracts for shedding. It's ineffective. This belief comes from a minor study from 2015 that compared the effects of a low-dose minoxidil with rosemary oil. A low concentration like 2% is insufficient to do much for hereditary thinning in males, so the study is basically saying they provide similarly low results.

Also, high-dose biotin. Rarely do people lack biotin, so consuming it probably won't help your locks, and it can affect thyroid test results.

What’s the most common mistake you see?

I think the term “hair washing” should be changed to “scalp cleansing” – because the main goal of cleansing is to clear away sebum, debris, sweat and pollutants. Many individuals refrain from cleansing as they think it’s damaging to their locks, when in fact the reverse is correct – particularly with flaky scalp, which is intensified by sebum accumulation. When sebum remains on the skin, they break down and become inflammatory.

Regrettably, follicular health and strand desires can differ, so it’s a balancing act. However, if you cleanse softly and treat damp strands kindly, it won’t be damaging to your strands.

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

With female pattern loss, minoxidil is essential. Scientific support is substantial and tends to show optimal results when mixed with supporting compounds. If you then want to try other things to support minoxidil’s effect, or you choose to avoid it or cannot tolerate it, you could try micro-needling (under professional care), and perhaps platelet-rich plasma or light treatments.

With telogen effluvium, investigation is key. Increased hair loss often stems from an underlying issue. In some instances, the trigger is short-term – such as illness, infection or high stress – and it will resolve on its own. Sometimes, hormonal problems or dietary gaps are responsible – 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