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Jack Martin

Hair Color Expert located in the West Coast who specialises in silver hair. Among his clientele are Hollywood stars and Andie MacDowell.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

I swear by a soft fabric towel, or even a smooth cotton shirt to towel-dry your locks. Most people don’t realise how much damage a regular bath towel can do, particularly for lightened or dyed strands. This minor adjustment can really reduce frizz and breakage. A second budget-friendly essential is a broad-toothed comb, to use while conditioning. It shields your locks while removing knots and helps maintain the integrity of the strands, particularly post-bleaching.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

A professional-grade heat styling tool – featuring innovative technology, with precise heat settings. Grey and blonde hair can yellow or burn easily without the right iron.

Which popular practice is a definite no-go?

Self-applied color lifting. Internet videos often simplify it, but the truth is it’s one of the most hazardous actions you can do to your hair. There are cases where individuals cause irreversible harm, experience breakage or end up with bands of colour that are nearly impossible to correct. It's best to steer clear of keratin or permanent straightening treatments on bleached or silver hair. Such treatments are often too aggressive for delicate locks and can cause long-term damage or color changes.

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

People using the wrong products for their specific hair needs. A number of people misuse 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. Another significant problem is using hot tools sans safeguard. If you’re using hot tools or dryers without a protective product, – particularly on bleached locks – you’re going to see discoloration, dehydration and damage.

Which solutions help with shedding?

Hair loss needs a multilayered approach. For direct application, minoxidil is highly proven. I often suggest scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to enhance nutrient delivery and support follicle health. Using a scalp detox shampoo weekly helps eliminate impurities and allows solutions to be more efficient. Supplements such as Nutrafol or Viviscal Pro have also shown great results. They support the body from the inside out by correcting endocrine issues, stress and nutritional deficiencies.

For people looking for something more advanced, PRP therapy – where a personalized serum is applied – can be effective. That said, I always suggest consulting a skin or hair specialist initially. Thinning can be linked to medical conditions, and it’s important to determine the origin rather than pursuing temporary solutions.

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Anabel Kingsley

Follicle Expert and leader in hair health services and items for shedding.

What’s your routine for trims and color?

My trims are every couple of months, but will trim off splits at home every two weeks to maintain tip integrity, and have color touches every two months.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

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 seamlessly blended. I personally applied it after childbirth when I had a lot of hair fall – and also now while experiencing some considerable hair loss after having a bad infection previously. As hair isn’t an essential tissue, it’s the initial area to show decline when your nutrition is inadequate, so I would also recommend a balanced, nutritious diet.

Which premium option is truly valuable?

If you have female pattern hair loss (FPHL), I’d say doctor-recommended solutions. When dealing with temporary hair loss, known as TE, buying an over-the-counter product is fine, but for FPHL you really do need clinical interventions to see the optimal outcomes. 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?

Rosemary extracts for shedding. It doesn’t work. 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 genetic balding in men, so the study is basically saying they are equally minimal in effect.

Likewise, mega-doses of biotin. Rarely do people lack biotin, so using it may not benefit your strands, 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 remove buildup, flakes, perspiration and dirt. I notice clients skipping washes as they think it’s harmful to their strands, when in fact the contrary is accurate – particularly with flaky scalp, which is intensified by sebum accumulation. If natural oils stay on the head, they deteriorate and lead to inflammation.

Unfortunately, what your scalp needs and what your hair likes don’t always align, 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 options help with shedding?

With female pattern loss, minoxidil is essential. It's backed by strong research and tends to be most effective combined with additional ingredients. If you then want to try other things to support minoxidil’s effect, or you simply don’t want to or can’t use 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. Excessive daily shedding occurs in response to an internal factor. Sometimes, the cause is transient – such as sickness, virus or emotional strain – and it will clear up naturally. In other cases, thyroid imbalances or vitamin/mineral deficiencies are the driving factor – 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