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Jack Martin

Styling Professional located in the Golden State who excels at platinum tones. Among his clientele are celebrated actors and renowned personalities.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

My top pick is a microfibre towel, or even a smooth cotton shirt to towel-dry your locks. Many are unaware how much harm a regular bath towel can do, notably with lightened or dyed strands. This one small change can really lessen brittleness and splitting. Another affordable staple is a large-gap comb, to use in the shower. It protects the hair while smoothing out tangles and helps maintain the integrity of the individual hairs, especially after lightening.

Which investment truly pays off?

A top-tier thermal appliance – ceramic or tourmaline, with smart temperature control. Silver and light-coloured hair can yellow or burn easily without the right iron.

What style or process should you always avoid?

DIY bleaching. 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 cause irreversible harm, experience breakage or end up with bands of colour that are nearly impossible to correct. I would also avoid keratin or permanent straightening treatments on pre-lightened strands. Such treatments are often excessively strong for weakened hair and can cause lasting harm or discoloration.

What frequent error do you observe?

Individuals choosing unsuitable formulas for their hair type or colour. Certain clients overapply violet-based cleansers until their blonde or grey strands looks flat and dull. A few overdo on high-protein masks and end up with stiff, brittle hair. A further common mistake is thermal styling minus a barrier. If you’re using styling appliances without a protective product, – particularly on bleached locks – you’re going to see yellowing, dryness and breakage.

What would you suggest for thinning hair?

Thinning requires a comprehensive strategy. For direct application, minoxidil is highly proven. I often suggest scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to enhance nutrient delivery and aid in hair growth. Applying a cleansing scalp wash often helps remove residue and allows solutions to be more efficient. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown notable improvements. They enhance overall health for hair benefits by correcting endocrine issues, anxiety and lack of vital nutrients.

In cases requiring advanced options, PRP therapy – where a personalized serum is applied – can be effective. However, I consistently recommend getting a professional diagnosis beforehand. Thinning can be linked to medical conditions, and it’s important to get to the root cause rather than pursuing temporary solutions.

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Anabel Kingsley

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

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 preserve strand health, and have color touches every two months.

What affordable find is essential?

Building fibers are remarkably effective if you have thinning spots. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a range of colors, making it almost invisible. I personally applied it after childbirth when I had significant shedding – and also presently during some significant shedding 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 intake is insufficient, so I would also recommend a well-rounded, nutrient-rich diet.

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 retail solution is fine, but for FPHL you really do need clinical interventions to see the most effective improvements. From my perspective, minoxidil combined with additional ingredients – such as balancing elements, inhibitors and/or calming components – works best.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

Using rosemary essential oil for thinning. It shows no real benefit. This idea originated from a limited 2015 research that compared the effects of a mild minoxidil solution versus rosemary extract. A mild formula such as 2% is inadequate to do much for hereditary thinning in males, so the study is basically saying they work as little as each other.

Likewise, mega-doses of biotin. Hardly anyone is biotin deficient, so consuming it probably won't help your locks, 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 real aim of shampooing your hair is to rid your scalp of old oils, dead skin cells, sweat and environmental pollution. Many individuals refrain from cleansing as they think it’s bad for their hair, when in fact the contrary is accurate – notably in cases of dandruff, which is aggravated by oil buildup. If natural oils stay on the head, they deteriorate and lead to inflammation.

Sadly, scalp requirements and hair preferences may conflict, so it’s a balancing act. However, if you cleanse softly and treat damp strands kindly, it won’t be damaging to your strands.

What solutions do you suggest for thinning?

With female pattern loss, minoxidil is essential. Scientific support is substantial and tends to show optimal results when mixed with supporting compounds. Should you wish to enhance minoxidil's benefits, 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.

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. Noticeable thinning usually relates to a health trigger. In some instances, the trigger is short-term – such as sickness, virus or emotional strain – and it will clear up naturally. 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