🔗 Share this article

Jack Martin

Styling Professional located in California who specialises in platinum tones. He works with Hollywood stars and Andie MacDowell.

What affordable item can't you live without?

I highly recommend a microfibre towel, or even a gentle tee to towel-dry your locks. Most people don’t realise 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 large-gap comb, to use in the shower. It shields your locks while removing knots and helps keep the health of the hair shafts, especially after lightening.

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 develop brassy tones or get damaged without the correct device.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

DIY bleaching. Social media makes it look easy, but the truth 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 incredibly challenging to remedy. I would also avoid long-term smoothing services on pre-lightened strands. These formulations are often too aggressive for weakened hair and can cause long-term damage or undesired tones.

Which typical blunder stands out?

People using the wrong products for their particular strand characteristics. A number of people misuse violet-based cleansers until their blonde or grey strands looks flat and dull. Others rely too much on strengthening conditioners and end up with rigid, fragile strands. The other major issue is heat styling without protection. In cases where you employ hot tools or dryers without a defensive spray or cream, – 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. For direct application, minoxidil is highly proven. My advice includes scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to stimulate circulation and support follicle health. Applying a cleansing scalp wash often helps eliminate impurities and allows products to perform better. Oral aids like specialized formulas have also shown positive outcomes. They work internally to benefit externally by addressing hormonal imbalances, tension and nutritional deficiencies.

For people looking for something more advanced, blood-derived therapies – where a concentration from your blood is administered – can be beneficial. However, I consistently recommend seeing a dermatologist or trichologist first. Hair loss is often tied to underlying health issues, and it’s important to identify the source rather than pursuing temporary solutions.

---

A Hair and Scalp Specialist

Trichologist and head of a renowned clinic clinics and product ranges for hair loss.

How often do you get your hair cut and coloured?

My trims are every couple of months, but will trim off splits at home bi-weekly to keep my ends healthy, and have highlights done every eight weeks.

Which low-cost item is a game-changer?

Hair-thickening particles are truly impressive if you have thinning spots. The fibres cling electrostatically to your own hair, and it comes in a variety of shades, making it almost invisible. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had significant shedding – and also presently during some marked thinning after having a severe illness recently. Since hair is non-vital, it’s the first part of you to suffer when your intake is insufficient, so I would also recommend a well-rounded, nutrient-rich diet.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

For those with genetic thinning in women, I’d say doctor-recommended solutions. When dealing with temporary hair loss, known as TE, buying an non-prescription item is fine, but for FPHL you really do need clinical interventions to see the optimal outcomes. From my perspective, minoxidil combined with additional ingredients – such as balancing elements, inhibitors and/or calming components – works best.

Which popular remedy is ineffective?

Using rosemary essential oil for thinning. It doesn’t work. The whole thing stems from one small study done in 2015 that compared the effects of a mild minoxidil solution versus rosemary extract. A 2% strength minoxidil isn’t enough to do much for hereditary thinning in males, so the study is basically saying they are equally minimal in effect.

Additionally, excessive 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?

In my view, we should rename "hair washing" to "scalp cleaning" – because the primary purpose of washing 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 bad for their hair, when in fact the opposite is true – especially if you have dandruff, which is intensified by sebum accumulation. If natural oils stay on the head, they decompose and cause irritation.

Regrettably, follicular health and strand desires can differ, so it’s a careful compromise. Provided you wash delicately and manage wet locks gently, it is unlikely to cause damage.

Which options help with shedding?

For genetic thinning in women, start with minoxidil. It has the most robust evidence behind it and tends to work best when compounded with other hair-supportive actives. Should you wish to enhance minoxidil's benefits, or you choose to avoid it or cannot tolerate it, you could try micro-needling (under professional care), and perhaps injections or laser devices.

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. Excessive daily shedding occurs in response to an internal factor. In some instances, the trigger is short-term – such as illness, infection or high stress – and it will improve spontaneously. Sometimes, hormonal problems or dietary gaps are responsible – 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