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A Color Specialist

Hair Color Expert operating from the Golden State who focuses on grey hair. Among his clientele are Hollywood stars and well-known figures.

What affordable item can't you live without?

My top pick is a gentle drying cloth, or even a gentle tee to dry your hair. Many are unaware how much damage a typical terrycloth towel can do, notably with grey or color-processed hair. A simple switch can really reduce frizz and breakage. Another affordable staple is a broad-toothed comb, to use during washing. It shields your locks while smoothing out tangles and helps keep the health of the strands, notably following coloring.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

A top-tier thermal appliance – made with advanced materials, with precise heat settings. Grey and blonde hair can become discolored or suffer heat stress without the proper tool.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

DIY bleaching. Social media makes it look easy, but the reality is it’s one of the most hazardous actions you can do to your hair. I’ve seen people severely damage their locks, snap their strands or end up with striped effects that are incredibly challenging to remedy. I also don’t recommend long-term smoothing services on color-treated or grey hair. These chemical systems 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 specific hair needs. Certain clients overapply toning shampoo until their silver or blond hair looks flat and dull. Others rely too much on high-protein masks and end up with rigid, fragile strands. A further common mistake is thermal styling minus a barrier. When applying flat irons, curling irons or blow dryers without a defensive spray or cream, – notably with color-treated strands – you’re going to see brassiness, lack of moisture and splitting.

Which solutions help with shedding?

Shedding demands a multifaceted plan. For direct application, minoxidil is highly proven. I often suggest scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to boost blood flow and promote root strength. Using a scalp detox shampoo weekly helps clear out buildup and allows solutions to be more efficient. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown positive outcomes. They support the body from the inside out by addressing hormonal imbalances, stress and lack of vital nutrients.

For people looking for something more advanced, PRP therapy – where a personalized serum is applied – can be effective. That said, I always suggest seeing a dermatologist or trichologist first. Shedding may relate to internal factors, and it’s important to get to the root cause rather than chasing surface-level fixes.

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A Trichology Expert

Follicle Expert and brand president of Philip Kingsley services and items for shedding.

How frequently do you schedule salon visits?

I schedule cuts every ten to twelve weeks, but will remove split ends personally every two weeks to maintain tip integrity, and have color touches every two months.

Which low-cost item is a game-changer?

Building fibers are truly impressive if you have see-through sections. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a range of colors, making it seamlessly blended. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had a lot of hair fall – and also currently as I’m going through some marked thinning after having a bad infection previously. Since hair is non-vital, it’s the initial area to show decline when your diet is lacking, so I would also recommend a healthy, varied eating plan.

What justifies a higher investment?

If you have female pattern hair loss (FPHL), I’d say prescription hair-loss topicals. Regarding increased shedding, or telogen effluvium, buying an non-prescription item is fine, but for FPHL you really do need medicated treatment to see the most effective improvements. 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?

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 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.

Also, high-dose biotin. Few individuals have biotin insufficiency, so consuming it probably won't help your locks, and it can alter thyroid level measurements.

Which error is most frequent?

I think the term “hair washing” should be changed to “scalp cleansing” – because the main goal of cleansing is to remove buildup, flakes, perspiration and dirt. I notice clients skipping washes as they think it’s bad for their hair, when in fact the contrary is accurate – particularly with flaky scalp, which is intensified by sebum accumulation. When sebum remains on the skin, they deteriorate and lead to inflammation.

Unfortunately, what your scalp needs and what your hair likes don’t always align, 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. 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 prefer not to use it or are unable, you could try microneedling (see a dermatologist), and perhaps injections or laser devices.

For TE, you need to do some detective work. 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