Healthy Hair, Instantly: Leading Experts Reveal Favorite Items – And What to Avoid

An Expert Colorist

Hair Color Expert operating from the Golden State who focuses on platinum tones. Among his clientele are Jane Fonda and Andie MacDowell.

What affordable item can't you live without?

My top pick is a soft fabric towel, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to towel-dry your locks. It's often overlooked how much harm a regular bath towel can do, especially to silver or chemically treated hair. This minor adjustment can really lessen brittleness and splitting. Another inexpensive must-have is a broad-toothed comb, to use in the shower. It shields your locks while smoothing out tangles and helps maintain the integrity of the individual hairs, especially after lightening.

Which investment truly pays off?

A high-quality styling iron – featuring innovative technology, with adjustable temperature options. Lightened strands can develop brassy tones or get damaged without the right iron.

Which popular practice is a definite no-go?

At-home lightening. Internet videos often simplify it, but the actual fact is it’s one of the riskiest things you can do to your hair. There are cases where individuals severely damage their locks, experience breakage or end up with striped effects that are incredibly challenging to remedy. I also don’t recommend long-term smoothing services on pre-lightened strands. These formulations are often excessively strong for weakened hair and can cause chronic issues or discoloration.

What frequent error do you observe?

People using the wrong products for their specific hair needs. Some overuse toning shampoo until their blonde or grey strands looks drab and lacking shine. Others rely too much on protein-rich treatments and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. Another significant problem is using hot tools sans safeguard. In cases where you employ flat irons, curling irons or blow dryers without a heat protectant, – 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?

Shedding demands a multifaceted plan. Topically, minoxidil is still one of the most effective treatments. I also recommend scalp formulas with active ingredients to enhance nutrient delivery and promote root strength. Incorporating a clarifying shampoo regularly helps remove residue 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 nutritional deficiencies.

In cases requiring advanced options, blood-derived therapies – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be effective. However, I consistently recommend consulting a skin or hair specialist initially. Shedding may relate to internal factors, and it’s important to identify the source rather than chasing surface-level fixes.

A Trichology Expert

Trichologist and leader in hair health 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 snip damaged ends myself bi-weekly to maintain tip integrity, and have lightening sessions every eight weeks.

Which low-cost item is a game-changer?

Building fibers are absolutely amazing if you have thinning spots. The fibres cling electrostatically to your own hair, and it comes in a variety of shades, making it seamlessly blended. I personally applied it after childbirth when I had significant shedding – and also now while experiencing some significant shedding after having a severe illness recently. As hair isn’t an essential tissue, it’s the earliest indicator of health issues when your diet is lacking, so I would also recommend a healthy, varied eating plan.

What justifies a higher investment?

In cases of hereditary hair loss in females, I’d say prescription hair-loss topicals. For excessive daily hair shedding, AKA telogen effluvium (TE), buying an retail solution is fine, but for FPHL you really do need prescription-strength formulas to see the optimal outcomes. In my opinion, minoxidil compounded with other hair-supportive actives – such as hormones, anti-androgens and/or anti-inflammatories – works best.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

Rosemary extracts for shedding. It's ineffective. The whole thing stems from one small study done in 2015 that compared the effects of 2% minoxidil to rosemary oil. A low concentration like 2% is insufficient to do much for genetic balding in men, so the study is basically saying they work as little as each other.

Additionally, excessive biotin. Few individuals have biotin insufficiency, so consuming it probably won't help your locks, and it can skew thyroid readings in blood tests.

What’s the most common mistake you see?

Personally, I prefer "scalp cleansing" over "hair washing" – because the main goal of cleansing is to clear away sebum, debris, sweat and pollutants. 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. When sebum remains on the skin, they deteriorate and lead to inflammation.

Sadly, scalp requirements and hair preferences may conflict, so it’s a delicate equilibrium. Provided you wash delicately and manage wet locks gently, it shouldn't harm your hair.

Which options help with shedding?

With female pattern loss, minoxidil is essential. 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 collagen induction therapy (with a specialist), and perhaps PRP or low-level laser therapy.

For TE, you need to do some detective work. Excessive daily shedding occurs in response to an internal factor. Occasionally, the reason is temporary – such as flu, Covid or a period of intense stress – and it will improve spontaneously. 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