Perfect Hair, Today: Top Stylists Reveal Preferred Choices – And What to Avoid

A Color Specialist

Colourist based in California who focuses on grey hair. He works with celebrated actors and Andie MacDowell.

Which budget-friendly product is a must-have?

I swear by a soft fabric towel, or even a smooth cotton shirt to remove moisture from your strands. Many are unaware how much damage a typical terrycloth towel can do, especially to silver or chemically treated hair. A simple switch can really minimize flyaways and damage. A second budget-friendly essential is a large-gap comb, to use during washing. It shields your locks while removing knots and helps keep the health of the individual hairs, particularly post-bleaching.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

A top-tier thermal appliance – featuring innovative technology, with smart temperature control. Grey and blonde hair can yellow or burn easily without the proper tool.

Which popular practice is a definite no-go?

At-home lightening. Internet videos often simplify it, but the truth is it’s one of the most hazardous actions you can do to your hair. I’ve witnessed clients melt their hair, experience breakage or end up with uneven tones that are incredibly challenging to remedy. I would also avoid long-term smoothing services on color-treated or grey hair. Such treatments are often overly harsh for weakened hair and can cause chronic issues or color changes.

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

People using the wrong products for their specific hair needs. Some overuse toning shampoo until their silver or blond hair looks lifeless and muted. Some depend excessively on protein-rich treatments and end up with rigid, fragile strands. A further common mistake is heat styling without protection. If you’re using hot tools or 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?

Thinning requires a comprehensive strategy. For direct application, minoxidil is highly proven. My advice includes scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to stimulate circulation and aid in hair growth. Applying a cleansing scalp wash often helps clear out buildup and allows solutions to be more efficient. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown notable improvements. They enhance overall health for hair benefits by addressing hormonal imbalances, stress and lack of vital nutrients.

For those seeking higher-level solutions, platelet-rich plasma treatments – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be successful. Still, my advice is to seeing a dermatologist or trichologist first. Thinning can be linked to medical conditions, and it’s important to identify the source rather than chasing surface-level fixes.

Anabel Kingsley

Trichologist and brand president of Philip Kingsley centers and lines targeting thinning.

How frequently do you schedule salon visits?

My trims are every couple of months, but will snip damaged ends myself every two weeks to preserve strand health, and have lightening sessions every eight weeks.

What affordable find is essential?

Hair-thickening particles are remarkably effective 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 used it myself in the postpartum period when I had a lot of hair fall – and also presently during some marked thinning after having a severe illness recently. As hair isn’t an essential tissue, it’s the first part of you to suffer when your diet is lacking, so I would also recommend a well-rounded, nutrient-rich diet.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

For those with genetic thinning in women, I’d say prescription hair-loss topicals. For excessive daily hair shedding, AKA telogen effluvium (TE), buying an over-the-counter product is fine, but for FPHL you really do need medicated treatment to see the best results. In my opinion, minoxidil compounded with other hair-supportive actives – such as balancing elements, inhibitors and/or calming components – works best.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

Rosemary extracts for shedding. It shows no real benefit. This belief comes from a minor study from 2015 that compared the effects of a mild minoxidil solution versus rosemary extract. A mild formula such as 2% is inadequate to do much for male pattern hair loss, so the study is basically saying they are equally minimal in effect.

Also, high-dose biotin. Hardly anyone is biotin deficient, 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 primary purpose of washing is to clear away sebum, debris, sweat and pollutants. Many individuals refrain from cleansing as they think it’s harmful to their strands, when in fact the opposite is true – particularly with flaky scalp, which is worsened by the presence of excess oils. When sebum remains on the skin, they break down and become inflammatory.

Unfortunately, what your scalp needs and what your hair likes don’t always align, so it’s a careful compromise. But as long as you are gentle when you shampoo and handle wet hair with care, it shouldn't harm your hair.

Which product, treatment or supplement would you recommend for hair loss?

With female pattern loss, minoxidil is essential. It has the most robust evidence behind it and tends to be most effective combined with additional ingredients. 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.

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. Noticeable thinning usually relates to a health trigger. Occasionally, the reason is temporary – such as sickness, virus or emotional strain – and it will clear up naturally. Alternatively, endocrine issues or nutrient shortages may be the cause – the frequent culprits include iron stores, B12 and D insufficiency – and to {treat the hair loss you need to treat the cause|address shedding, target the underlying issue|combat thinning, focus