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Jack Martin

Hair Color Expert located in the Golden State who focuses on platinum tones. His clients include Hollywood stars and well-known figures.

Which budget-friendly product is a must-have?

I highly recommend a soft fabric towel, or even a gentle tee to dry your hair. Most people don’t realise how much stress a typical terrycloth towel can do, particularly for silver or chemically treated hair. This one small change can really lessen brittleness and splitting. Another affordable staple is a large-gap comb, to use while conditioning. It shields your locks while detangling and helps keep the health of the individual hairs, especially after lightening.

What item or service justifies the extra cost?

A high-quality styling iron – ceramic or tourmaline, with smart temperature control. Grey and blonde hair can develop brassy tones or get damaged without the proper tool.

What style or process should you always avoid?

Self-applied color lifting. Internet videos often simplify it, but the truth is it’s one of the biggest gambles you can do to your hair. I’ve seen people severely damage their locks, snap their strands or end up with bands of colour that are incredibly challenging to remedy. It's best to steer clear of keratin or permanent straightening treatments on bleached or silver hair. These chemical systems are often too aggressive for weakened hair and can cause chronic issues or discoloration.

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

Individuals choosing unsuitable formulas for their hair type or colour. Some overuse violet-based cleansers until their blonde or grey strands looks flat and dull. Others rely too much on strengthening conditioners and end up with stiff, brittle hair. A further common mistake is heat styling without protection. In cases where you employ flat irons, curling irons or blow dryers without a protective product, – 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. For direct application, minoxidil is highly proven. I also recommend follicle treatments containing stimulants to enhance nutrient delivery and support follicle health. Using a scalp detox shampoo weekly helps eliminate impurities 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 balancing body chemistry, anxiety and nutritional deficiencies.

For people looking for something more advanced, platelet-rich plasma treatments – where a personalized serum is applied – can be successful. 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 seeking quick fixes.

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Anabel Kingsley

Trichologist and leader in hair health centers and lines targeting thinning.

What’s your routine for trims and color?

I schedule cuts every ten to twelve weeks, but will trim off splits at home fortnightly to preserve strand health, and have color touches every two months.

What affordable find is essential?

Hair-thickening particles are absolutely amazing if you have areas of scalp visibility. 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 significant shedding – and also presently during some considerable hair loss after having a bad infection previously. Because locks are secondary, it’s the initial area to show decline when your intake is insufficient, 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 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 endocrine regulators, blockers and/or soothing agents – works best.

What should you always skip?

Using rosemary essential oil for thinning. It doesn’t work. The whole thing stems from one small study done in 2015 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 work as little as each other.

Additionally, excessive biotin. Hardly anyone is biotin deficient, so consuming it probably won't help your locks, and it can affect thyroid test results.

What blunder stands out often?

In my view, we should rename "hair washing" to "scalp cleaning" – because the real aim of shampooing your hair is to rid your scalp of old oils, dead skin cells, sweat and environmental pollution. I see people avoiding shampooing as they think it’s harmful to their strands, when in fact the contrary is accurate – especially if you have dandruff, which is intensified by sebum accumulation. If oils are left on your scalp, they deteriorate and lead to inflammation.

Sadly, scalp requirements and hair preferences may conflict, so it’s a careful compromise. But as long as you are gentle when you shampoo and handle wet hair with care, it shouldn't harm your hair.

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

With female pattern loss, minoxidil is essential. It has the most robust evidence behind it 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 collagen induction therapy (with a specialist), and perhaps injections or laser devices.

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. 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 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