🔗 Share this article

Jack Martin

Styling Professional operating from the Golden State who excels at silver hair. He works with Hollywood stars and Andie MacDowell.

Which budget-friendly product is a must-have?

My top pick is a soft fabric towel, or even a smooth cotton shirt to dry your hair. Many are unaware how much damage a regular bath towel can do, especially to grey or color-processed hair. This one small change can really minimize flyaways and damage. A second budget-friendly essential is a wide-tooth comb, to use while conditioning. It protects the hair while smoothing out tangles and helps keep the health of the hair shafts, especially after lightening.

Which investment truly pays off?

A top-tier thermal appliance – ceramic or tourmaline, with precise heat settings. Silver and light-coloured hair can become discolored or suffer heat stress without the right iron.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

At-home lightening. Online tutorials can be misleading, but the truth is it’s one of the biggest gambles you can do to your hair. I’ve seen people melt their hair, experience breakage or end up with striped effects that are nearly impossible to correct. I also don’t recommend chemical straightening processes on pre-lightened strands. These chemical systems are often overly harsh for delicate locks and can cause long-term damage or color changes.

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

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their hair type or colour. Certain clients overapply colour-correcting purple shampoo until their silver or blond hair looks lifeless and muted. A few overdo on strengthening conditioners and end up with rigid, fragile strands. Another significant problem is thermal styling minus a barrier. When applying styling appliances without a protective product, – especially on pre-lightened hair – you’re going to see discoloration, dehydration and damage.

What would you suggest for thinning hair?

Thinning requires a comprehensive strategy. Topically, minoxidil is still one of the most effective treatments. My advice includes scalp formulas with active ingredients to boost blood flow and promote root strength. Applying a cleansing scalp wash often helps remove residue and allows solutions to be more efficient. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown great results. They support the body from the inside out by correcting endocrine issues, tension and dietary insufficiencies.

For people looking for something more advanced, blood-derived therapies – where a concentration from your blood is administered – can be successful. However, I consistently recommend consulting a skin or hair specialist initially. Hair loss is often tied to underlying health issues, and it’s important to identify the source rather than chasing surface-level fixes.

---

A Hair and Scalp Specialist

Scalp and Hair Scientist and brand president of Philip Kingsley clinics and product ranges for hair loss.

How frequently do you schedule salon visits?

I get my hair cut every 10 to 12 weeks, but will trim off splits at home every two weeks to preserve strand health, and have lightening sessions every eight weeks.

Which low-cost item is a game-changer?

Hair-thickening particles are absolutely amazing if you have see-through sections. The fibres cling electrostatically to your own hair, and it comes in a assortment of tones, making it seamlessly blended. I personally applied it after childbirth when I had noticeable thinning – and also presently during some marked thinning after having awful flu a few months ago. Because locks are secondary, 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 premium option is truly valuable?

If you have female pattern hair loss (FPHL), I’d say prescription hair-loss topicals. When dealing with temporary hair loss, known as TE, buying an retail solution 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 hormones, anti-androgens and/or anti-inflammatories – works best.

What should you always skip?

Rosemary oil for hair loss. It doesn’t work. This belief comes from a minor study from 2015 that compared the effects of a low-dose minoxidil with rosemary oil. 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.

Additionally, excessive biotin. Few individuals have biotin insufficiency, so taking it is unlikely to do your hair any good, and it can affect thyroid test results.

Which error is most frequent?

I think the term “hair washing” should be changed to “scalp cleansing” – because the real aim of shampooing your hair is to rid your scalp of old oils, dead skin cells, sweat and environmental pollution. I notice clients skipping washes as they think it’s damaging to their locks, when in fact the reverse is correct – especially if you have dandruff, which is worsened by the presence of excess oils. If oils are left on your scalp, they deteriorate and lead to inflammation.

Sadly, scalp requirements and hair preferences may conflict, so it’s a delicate equilibrium. But as long as you are gentle when you shampoo and handle wet hair with care, it shouldn't harm your hair.

What solutions do you suggest for thinning?

For genetic thinning in women, start with minoxidil. Scientific support is substantial and tends to work best when compounded with other hair-supportive actives. Should you wish to enhance minoxidil's benefits, or you simply don’t want to or can’t use it, you could try microneedling (see a dermatologist), 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 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 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