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Jack Martin

Hair Color Expert located in the West Coast who excels at platinum tones. Among his clientele are Jane Fonda and Andie MacDowell.

What affordable item can't you live without?

I swear by a microfibre towel, or even a gentle tee to dry your hair. It's often overlooked how much harm a standard towel can do, notably with silver or chemically treated hair. This one small change can really lessen brittleness and splitting. A second budget-friendly essential is a wide-tooth comb, to use in the shower. It shields your locks while removing knots and helps maintain the integrity of the hair shafts, particularly post-bleaching.

What item or service justifies the extra cost?

A top-tier thermal appliance – made with advanced materials, with smart temperature control. Lightened strands can yellow or burn easily without the right iron.

Which popular practice is a definite no-go?

Self-applied color lifting. Social media makes it look easy, but the reality is it’s one of the most hazardous actions you can do to your hair. I’ve seen people cause irreversible harm, break it off or end up with uneven tones that are extremely difficult to fix. It's best to steer clear of chemical straightening processes on bleached or silver hair. These chemical systems are often excessively strong for weakened hair and can cause lasting harm or undesired tones.

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

Individuals choosing unsuitable formulas for their particular strand characteristics. Some overuse toning shampoo until their lightened locks looks flat and dull. Others rely too much on high-protein masks and end up with stiff, brittle hair. A further common mistake is thermal styling minus a barrier. In cases where you employ hot tools or dryers without a defensive spray or cream, – especially on pre-lightened hair – you’re going to see brassiness, lack of moisture and splitting.

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

Hair loss needs a multilayered approach. Externally, minoxidil remains a top choice. My advice includes scalp formulas with active ingredients to stimulate circulation and promote root strength. Incorporating a clarifying shampoo regularly helps clear out buildup and allows solutions to be more efficient. Oral aids like specialized formulas have also shown notable improvements. They work internally to benefit externally by balancing body chemistry, tension and dietary insufficiencies.

For people looking for something more advanced, PRP therapy – where a personalized serum is applied – can be beneficial. Still, my advice is to seeing a dermatologist or trichologist first. Hair loss is often tied to underlying health issues, and it’s important to determine the origin rather than chasing surface-level fixes.

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Anabel Kingsley

Scalp and Hair Scientist and brand president of Philip Kingsley services and items for shedding.

What’s your routine for trims and color?

I schedule cuts every ten to twelve weeks, but will snip damaged ends myself every two weeks to keep my ends healthy, and have highlights done every eight weeks.

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 seamlessly blended. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had significant shedding – and also now while experiencing some significant shedding after having awful flu a few months ago. Since hair is non-vital, it’s the first part of you to suffer when your diet is lacking, 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 retail solution is fine, but for FPHL you really do need medicated treatment to see the best results. I believe minoxidil mixed with supporting compounds – such as endocrine regulators, blockers and/or soothing agents – works best.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

Rosemary oil for hair loss. 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 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 taking it is unlikely to do your hair any good, and it can affect thyroid test results.

What’s the most common mistake you see?

Personally, I prefer "scalp cleansing" over "hair washing" – because the real aim of shampooing your hair is to remove buildup, flakes, perspiration and dirt. I notice clients skipping washes as they think it’s bad for their hair, when in fact the reverse is correct – especially if you have dandruff, which is aggravated by oil buildup. If natural oils stay on the head, they deteriorate and lead to inflammation.

Regrettably, follicular health and strand desires can differ, so it’s a delicate equilibrium. However, if you cleanse softly and treat damp strands kindly, it is unlikely to cause damage.

Which options help with shedding?

For genetic thinning in women, start with minoxidil. Scientific support is substantial and tends to work best when compounded with other hair-supportive actives. 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 PRP or low-level laser therapy.

For TE, you need to do some detective work. Noticeable thinning usually relates to a health trigger. In some instances, the trigger is short-term – such as illness, infection or high stress – and it will clear up naturally. Alternatively, endocrine issues or nutrient shortages may be the cause – 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