🔗 Share this article

Jack Martin

Styling Professional based in the West Coast who focuses on platinum tones. His clients include celebrated actors and well-known figures.

What affordable item can't you live without?

I highly recommend a microfibre towel, or even a smooth cotton shirt to remove moisture from your strands. It's often overlooked how much stress a regular bath towel can do, especially to grey or color-processed hair. This minor adjustment can really reduce frizz and breakage. A second budget-friendly essential is a wide-tooth comb, to use while conditioning. It shields your locks while removing knots and helps maintain the integrity of the strands, notably following coloring.

What item or service justifies the extra cost?

A professional-grade heat styling tool – made with advanced materials, with smart temperature control. Lightened strands can yellow or burn easily without the proper tool.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

Self-applied color lifting. Internet videos often simplify it, but the actual fact is it’s one of the most hazardous actions you can do to your hair. There are cases where individuals melt their hair, experience breakage or end up with bands of colour that are incredibly challenging to remedy. I would also avoid chemical straightening processes on bleached or silver hair. These formulations are often too aggressive for already fragile strands and can cause lasting harm or discoloration.

Which typical blunder stands out?

People using the wrong products for their particular strand characteristics. A number of people misuse toning shampoo until their blonde or grey strands looks flat and dull. Some depend excessively on strengthening conditioners and end up with stiff, brittle hair. A further common mistake is using hot tools sans safeguard. In cases where you employ flat irons, curling irons or blow dryers without a heat protectant, – particularly on bleached locks – you’re going to see yellowing, dryness and breakage.

What would you suggest for thinning hair?

Hair loss needs a multilayered approach. For direct application, minoxidil is highly proven. My advice includes scalp formulas with active ingredients to enhance nutrient delivery and support follicle health. Applying a cleansing scalp wash often helps clear out buildup and allows products to perform better. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown positive outcomes. They support the body from the inside out by balancing body chemistry, stress and dietary insufficiencies.

In cases requiring advanced options, blood-derived therapies – where a personalized serum is applied – can be beneficial. 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 get to the root cause rather than chasing surface-level fixes.

---

A Hair and Scalp Specialist

Scalp and Hair Scientist and head of a renowned clinic centers and lines targeting thinning.

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 preserve strand health, and have color touches every two months.

Which low-cost item is a game-changer?

Toppik hair fibres are remarkably effective if you have areas of scalp visibility. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a range of colors, 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 marked thinning after having a bad infection previously. Because locks are secondary, it’s the earliest indicator of health issues when your nutrition is inadequate, so I would also recommend a healthy, varied eating plan.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

If you have female pattern hair loss (FPHL), I’d say prescription hair-loss topicals. Regarding increased shedding, or telogen effluvium, buying an retail solution is fine, but for FPHL you really do need prescription-strength formulas to see the best results. I believe minoxidil mixed with supporting compounds – such as endocrine regulators, blockers and/or soothing agents – works best.

What should you always skip?

Rosemary oil for hair loss. It shows no real benefit. This idea originated from a limited 2015 research that compared the effects of a mild minoxidil solution versus rosemary extract. A low concentration like 2% is insufficient to do much for genetic balding in men, so the study is basically saying they are equally minimal in effect.

Also, high-dose 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 blunder stands out often?

In my view, we should rename "hair washing" to "scalp cleaning" – because the primary purpose of washing is to clear away sebum, debris, sweat and pollutants. Many individuals refrain from cleansing as they think it’s bad for their hair, when in fact the opposite is true – particularly with flaky scalp, which is worsened by the presence of excess oils. If oils are left on your scalp, they decompose and cause irritation.

Sadly, scalp requirements and hair preferences may conflict, so it’s a delicate equilibrium. Provided you wash delicately and manage wet locks gently, it won’t be damaging to your strands.

What solutions do you suggest for thinning?

For FPHL, your core treatment should be minoxidil. It's backed by strong research and tends to be most effective combined with additional ingredients. If you're interested in complementary therapies, 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.

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. Noticeable thinning usually relates to a health trigger. In some instances, the trigger is short-term – such as flu, Covid or a period of intense stress – and it will resolve on its own. Sometimes, hormonal problems or dietary gaps are responsible – 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