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Jack Martin

Hair Color Expert based in California who specialises in platinum tones. He works with Hollywood stars and renowned personalities.

Which budget-friendly product is a must-have?

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 standard towel can do, particularly for grey or color-processed hair. This minor adjustment can really reduce frizz and breakage. Another inexpensive must-have is a large-gap comb, to use while conditioning. It safeguards your strands while smoothing out tangles and helps preserve the strength of the individual hairs, notably following coloring.

Which investment truly pays off?

A top-tier thermal appliance – ceramic or tourmaline, with precise heat settings. Grey and blonde hair can yellow or burn easily without the proper tool.

What style or process should you always avoid?

DIY bleaching. Online tutorials can be misleading, but the truth is it’s one of the riskiest things you can do to your hair. There are cases where individuals melt their hair, break it off or end up with uneven tones 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 lasting harm or color changes.

Which typical blunder stands out?

Individuals choosing unsuitable formulas for their specific hair needs. Some overuse toning shampoo until their blonde or grey strands looks flat and dull. Others rely too much on high-protein masks and end up with rigid, fragile strands. A further common mistake is heat styling without protection. In cases where you employ hot tools or dryers without a defensive spray or cream, – particularly on bleached locks – you’re going to see brassiness, lack of moisture and splitting.

Which solutions help with shedding?

Thinning requires a comprehensive strategy. Externally, minoxidil remains a top choice. My advice includes scalp formulas with active ingredients to enhance nutrient delivery and promote root strength. Incorporating a clarifying shampoo regularly helps clear out buildup and allows products to perform better. 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.

For those seeking higher-level solutions, blood-derived therapies – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be beneficial. Still, my advice is to consulting a skin or hair specialist initially. Shedding may relate to internal factors, and it’s important to get to the root cause rather than seeking quick fixes.

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A Hair and Scalp Specialist

Scalp and Hair Scientist 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 remove split ends personally bi-weekly to keep my ends healthy, and have color touches every two months.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Toppik hair fibres are absolutely amazing if you have thinning spots. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a variety of shades, making it seamlessly blended. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had noticeable thinning – and also currently as I’m going through some marked thinning after having awful flu a few months ago. As hair isn’t an essential tissue, it’s the first part of you to suffer when your intake is insufficient, so I would also recommend a balanced, nutritious diet.

What justifies a higher investment?

In cases of hereditary hair loss in females, I’d say doctor-recommended solutions. Regarding increased shedding, or telogen effluvium, buying an over-the-counter product is fine, but for FPHL you really do need prescription-strength formulas 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?

Rosemary extracts for shedding. It doesn’t work. The whole thing stems from one small study done in 2015 that compared the effects of a low-dose minoxidil with rosemary oil. A low concentration like 2% is insufficient to do much for hereditary thinning in males, so the study is basically saying they are equally minimal in effect.

Additionally, excessive biotin. Few individuals have biotin insufficiency, so using it may not benefit your strands, and it can skew thyroid readings in blood tests.

What’s the most common mistake you see?

In my view, we should rename "hair washing" to "scalp cleaning" – because the main goal of cleansing is to remove buildup, flakes, perspiration and dirt. I notice clients skipping washes as they think it’s damaging to their locks, when in fact the contrary is accurate – particularly with flaky scalp, which is aggravated by oil buildup. If oils are left on your scalp, they decompose and cause irritation.

Unfortunately, what your scalp needs and what your hair likes don’t always align, so it’s a delicate equilibrium. But as long as you are gentle when you shampoo and handle wet hair with care, it is unlikely to cause damage.

What solutions do you suggest for thinning?

With female pattern loss, minoxidil is essential. It's backed by strong research and tends to work best when compounded with other hair-supportive actives. If you're interested in complementary therapies, or you simply don’t want to or can’t use it, you could try micro-needling (under professional care), and perhaps platelet-rich plasma or light treatments.

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. Noticeable thinning usually relates to a health trigger. Occasionally, the reason is temporary – such as sickness, virus or emotional strain – and it will resolve on its own. Alternatively, endocrine issues or nutrient shortages may be the cause – the typical deficiencies involve iron, B12 and vitamin D – and to {treat the hair loss you need to treat the cause|address shedding, target the underlying issue|combat thinning, focus