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A Color Specialist

Colourist located in California who specialises in grey hair. His clients include celebrated actors and renowned personalities.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

My top pick is a soft fabric towel, or even a gentle tee to remove moisture from your strands. Many are unaware how much harm a typical terrycloth towel can do, notably with lightened or dyed strands. A simple switch can really reduce frizz and breakage. Another affordable staple is a broad-toothed comb, to use during washing. It shields your locks while smoothing out tangles and helps preserve the strength of the strands, particularly post-bleaching.

Which investment truly pays off?

A high-quality styling iron – featuring innovative technology, with smart temperature control. Grey and blonde hair can yellow or burn easily without the proper tool.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

At-home lightening. Social media makes it look easy, but the reality is it’s one of the riskiest things you can do to your hair. I’ve seen people severely damage their locks, 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 color-treated or grey hair. These formulations are often too aggressive for weakened hair and can cause chronic issues or undesired tones.

Which typical blunder stands out?

People using the wrong products for their specific hair needs. Certain clients overapply colour-correcting purple shampoo until their lightened locks looks flat and dull. Others rely too much on protein-rich treatments and end up with rigid, fragile strands. The other major issue is using hot tools sans safeguard. In cases where you employ flat irons, curling irons or blow dryers without a protective product, – notably with color-treated strands – you’re going to see yellowing, dryness and breakage.

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

Thinning requires a comprehensive strategy. Topically, minoxidil is still one of the most effective treatments. I often suggest follicle treatments containing stimulants to boost blood flow and aid in hair growth. Incorporating a clarifying shampoo regularly helps clear out buildup and allows treatments to work more effectively. Supplements such as Nutrafol or Viviscal Pro have also shown notable improvements. They work internally to benefit externally by correcting endocrine issues, stress and lack of vital nutrients.

For people looking for something more advanced, blood-derived therapies – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be beneficial. That said, I always suggest seeing a dermatologist or trichologist first. Shedding may relate to internal factors, and it’s important to identify the source rather than chasing surface-level fixes.

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A Hair and Scalp Specialist

Trichologist and brand president of Philip Kingsley services and items for shedding.

What’s your routine for trims and color?

My trims are every couple of months, but will snip damaged ends myself every two weeks to maintain tip integrity, and have lightening sessions every eight weeks.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Toppik hair fibres are remarkably effective if you have thinning spots. These particles bond to your existing hair, and it comes in a assortment of tones, making it almost invisible. I used it myself in the postpartum period when I had a lot of hair fall – and also now while experiencing some considerable hair loss after having awful flu a few months ago. Since hair is non-vital, it’s the first part of you to suffer when your nutrition is inadequate, so I would also recommend a well-rounded, nutrient-rich diet.

What justifies a higher investment?

If you have female pattern hair loss (FPHL), I’d say medicated treatments. 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 most effective improvements. I believe minoxidil mixed with supporting compounds – such as balancing elements, inhibitors and/or calming components – works best.

What should you always skip?

Using rosemary essential oil for thinning. It shows no real benefit. This belief comes from a minor study from 2015 that compared the effects of a mild minoxidil solution versus rosemary extract. 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.

Likewise, mega-doses of biotin. Rarely do people lack biotin, so using it may not benefit your strands, and it can skew thyroid readings in blood tests.

What blunder stands out often?

I think the term “hair washing” should be changed to “scalp cleansing” – because the main goal of cleansing 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 damaging to their locks, when in fact the opposite is true – particularly with flaky scalp, which is worsened by the presence of excess oils. When sebum remains on the skin, they deteriorate and lead to inflammation.

Regrettably, follicular health and strand desires can differ, so it’s a careful compromise. However, if you cleanse softly and treat damp strands kindly, it shouldn't harm your hair.

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

For FPHL, your core treatment should be minoxidil. It has the most robust evidence behind it 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 PRP or low-level laser therapy.

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. Increased hair loss often stems from an underlying issue. Occasionally, the reason is temporary – such as illness, infection or high stress – and it will resolve on its own. 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