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Jack Martin

Hair Color Expert located in the West Coast who specialises in grey hair. He works with celebrated actors and renowned personalities.

Which budget-friendly product is a must-have?

My top pick is a soft fabric towel, or even a gentle tee to dry your hair. Many are unaware how much harm a standard towel can do, particularly for grey or color-processed hair. This one small change can really lessen brittleness and splitting. Another inexpensive must-have is a large-gap comb, to use during washing. It shields your locks while removing knots and helps preserve the strength of the strands, particularly post-bleaching.

What item or service justifies the extra cost?

A professional-grade heat styling tool – ceramic or tourmaline, with precise heat settings. Grey and blonde hair can yellow or burn easily without the correct device.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

Self-applied color lifting. Online tutorials can be misleading, but the reality is it’s one of the riskiest things you can do to your hair. I’ve seen people melt their hair, break it off or end up with striped effects that are incredibly challenging to remedy. I also don’t recommend chemical straightening processes on pre-lightened strands. These formulations are often too aggressive for already fragile strands and can cause lasting harm or color changes.

What frequent error do you observe?

People using the wrong products for their particular strand characteristics. Certain clients overapply toning shampoo until their blonde or grey strands looks drab and lacking shine. Some depend excessively on high-protein masks and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. Another significant problem is thermal styling minus a barrier. When applying hot tools or dryers without a defensive spray or cream, – particularly on bleached locks – you’re going to see discoloration, dehydration and damage.

Which solutions help with shedding?

Shedding demands a multifaceted plan. Externally, minoxidil remains a top choice. I also recommend scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to boost blood flow and aid in hair growth. Applying a cleansing scalp wash often helps clear out buildup and allows products to perform better. Supplements such as Nutrafol or Viviscal Pro have also shown positive outcomes. They support the body from the inside out by correcting endocrine issues, anxiety and dietary insufficiencies.

For those seeking higher-level solutions, platelet-rich plasma treatments – where a personalized serum is applied – can be beneficial. That said, I always suggest seeing a dermatologist or trichologist first. Thinning can be linked to medical conditions, and it’s important to determine the origin rather than chasing surface-level fixes.

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A Hair and Scalp Specialist

Scalp and Hair Scientist and head of a renowned clinic centers and lines targeting thinning.

How frequently do you schedule salon visits?

I get my hair cut every 10 to 12 weeks, but will trim off splits at home every two weeks to maintain tip integrity, and have color touches every two months.

What affordable find is essential?

Building fibers are absolutely amazing if you have see-through sections. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a range of colors, making it almost invisible. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had a lot of hair fall – and also presently during 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 balanced, nutritious diet.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

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 medicated treatment to see the most effective improvements. In my opinion, minoxidil compounded with other hair-supportive actives – such as hormones, anti-androgens and/or anti-inflammatories – works best.

Which popular remedy is ineffective?

Using rosemary essential oil for thinning. It's ineffective. This belief comes from a minor study from 2015 that compared the effects of 2% minoxidil to rosemary oil. A 2% strength minoxidil isn’t enough to do much for male pattern hair loss, so the study is basically saying they provide similarly low results.

Likewise, mega-doses of biotin. Few individuals have biotin insufficiency, so using it may not benefit your strands, and it can skew thyroid readings in blood tests.

Which error is most frequent?

In my view, we should rename "hair washing" to "scalp cleaning" – because the main goal of cleansing is to rid your scalp of old oils, dead skin cells, sweat and environmental pollution. I notice clients skipping washes as they think it’s damaging to their locks, when in fact the contrary is accurate – especially if you have dandruff, which is worsened by the presence of excess oils. If oils are left on your scalp, they decompose and cause irritation.

Unfortunately, what your scalp needs and what your hair likes don’t always align, so it’s a delicate equilibrium. Provided you wash delicately and manage wet locks gently, it is unlikely to cause damage.

What solutions do you suggest for thinning?

For FPHL, your core treatment should be minoxidil. It has the most robust evidence behind it and tends to be most effective combined with additional ingredients. If you're interested in complementary therapies, or you choose to avoid it or cannot tolerate it, you could try collagen induction therapy (with a specialist), and perhaps platelet-rich plasma or light treatments.

For TE, you need to do some detective work. Noticeable thinning usually relates to a health trigger. 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 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