Healthy Hair, Today: Leading Experts Share Preferred Choices – Plus Pitfalls to Steer Clear Of

An Expert Colorist

Colourist located in the West Coast who focuses on platinum tones. His clients include Hollywood stars and renowned personalities.

Which budget-friendly product is a must-have?

I highly recommend a microfibre towel, or even a gentle tee to towel-dry your locks. Many are unaware how much harm a standard towel can do, particularly for grey or color-processed hair. This one small change can really lessen brittleness and splitting. Another inexpensive must-have is a wide-tooth comb, to use in the shower. It safeguards your strands while detangling and helps keep the health of the hair shafts, particularly post-bleaching.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

A high-quality styling iron – featuring innovative technology, with adjustable temperature options. 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?

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. I’ve witnessed clients severely damage their locks, experience breakage or end up with striped effects that are incredibly challenging to remedy. I would also avoid keratin or permanent straightening treatments on pre-lightened strands. These chemical systems are often excessively strong for delicate locks and can cause chronic issues or discoloration.

Which typical blunder stands out?

Individuals choosing unsuitable formulas for their hair type or colour. Some overuse toning shampoo until their lightened locks looks lifeless and muted. Some depend excessively on strengthening conditioners and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. Another significant problem is thermal styling minus a barrier. When applying styling appliances without a protective product, – particularly on bleached locks – you’re going to see discoloration, dehydration and damage.

Which solutions help with shedding?

Thinning requires a comprehensive strategy. Externally, minoxidil remains a top choice. My advice includes follicle treatments containing stimulants to stimulate circulation and aid in hair growth. Using a scalp detox shampoo weekly helps remove residue and allows products to perform better. Oral aids like specialized formulas have also shown great results. They support the body from the inside out by correcting endocrine issues, tension and lack of vital nutrients.

For people looking for something more advanced, blood-derived therapies – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be effective. That said, I always suggest getting a professional diagnosis beforehand. Thinning can be linked to medical conditions, and it’s important to get to the root cause rather than chasing surface-level fixes.

A Trichology Expert

Trichologist and brand president of Philip Kingsley 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 remove split ends personally every two weeks to keep my ends healthy, and have lightening sessions every eight weeks.

What affordable find is essential?

Building fibers 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 seamlessly blended. I used it myself in the postpartum period when I had significant shedding – and also presently during some significant shedding after having awful flu a few months ago. Because locks are secondary, it’s the earliest indicator of health issues when your intake is insufficient, so I would also recommend a well-rounded, nutrient-rich diet.

What justifies a higher investment?

In cases of hereditary hair loss in females, I’d say doctor-recommended solutions. For excessive daily hair shedding, AKA telogen effluvium (TE), buying an non-prescription item 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 balancing elements, inhibitors and/or calming components – works best.

What should you always skip?

Rosemary oil for hair loss. It shows no real benefit. This belief comes from a minor study from 2015 that compared the effects of 2% minoxidil to rosemary oil. A 2% strength minoxidil isn’t enough to do much for genetic balding in men, so the study is basically saying they are equally minimal in effect.

Additionally, excessive biotin. Rarely do people lack biotin, 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?

I think the term “hair washing” should be changed to “scalp cleansing” – because the real aim of shampooing your hair is to remove buildup, flakes, perspiration and dirt. Many individuals refrain from cleansing as they think it’s bad for their hair, when in fact the reverse is correct – especially if you have dandruff, which is intensified by sebum accumulation. When sebum remains on the skin, they break down and become inflammatory.

Regrettably, follicular health and strand desires can differ, so it’s a balancing act. However, if you cleanse softly and treat damp strands kindly, it shouldn't harm your hair.

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. If you're interested in complementary therapies, or you choose to avoid it or cannot tolerate it, you could try micro-needling (under professional care), and perhaps PRP or low-level laser therapy.

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. Increased hair loss often stems from an underlying issue. Sometimes, the cause is transient – such as flu, Covid or a period of intense stress – and it will resolve on its own. 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