Right Hair, Right Now: Leading Experts Discuss Favorite Items – Along With Items to Bypass

Jack Martin

Colourist located in the West Coast who specialises in silver hair. His clients include celebrated actors and renowned personalities.

Which budget-friendly product is a must-have?

My top pick is a microfibre towel, or even a smooth cotton shirt to towel-dry your locks. Most people don’t realise how much stress a standard towel can do, especially to lightened or dyed strands. This minor adjustment can really reduce frizz and breakage. Another affordable staple is a broad-toothed comb, to use during washing. It protects the hair while smoothing out tangles and helps maintain the integrity of the strands, especially after lightening.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

A top-tier thermal appliance – ceramic or tourmaline, with smart temperature control. Lightened strands can become discolored or suffer heat stress without the proper tool.

What style or process should you always avoid?

At-home lightening. Internet videos often simplify it, but the reality is it’s one of the riskiest things you can do to your hair. I’ve seen people cause irreversible harm, experience breakage or end up with bands of colour that are extremely difficult to fix. I would also avoid chemical straightening processes on color-treated or grey hair. These formulations are often overly harsh for weakened hair and can cause chronic issues or color changes.

What frequent error do you observe?

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their hair type or colour. Some overuse toning shampoo until their lightened locks looks lifeless and muted. Others rely too much on protein-rich treatments and end up with stiff, brittle hair. The other major issue is using hot tools sans safeguard. In cases where you employ hot tools or dryers without a protective product, – particularly on bleached locks – you’re going to see brassiness, lack of moisture and splitting.

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 often suggest scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to enhance nutrient delivery and support follicle health. Applying a cleansing scalp wash often helps eliminate impurities and allows products to perform better. Supplements such as Nutrafol or Viviscal Pro have also shown great results. They support the body from the inside out by addressing hormonal imbalances, tension and lack of vital nutrients.

In cases requiring advanced options, blood-derived therapies – where a personalized serum is applied – can be beneficial. That said, I always suggest seeing a dermatologist or trichologist first. Shedding may relate to internal factors, and it’s important to determine the origin rather than seeking quick fixes.

A Trichology Expert

Follicle Expert and head of a renowned clinic clinics and product ranges for hair loss.

What’s your routine for trims and color?

I get my hair cut every 10 to 12 weeks, but will remove split ends personally every two weeks to keep my ends healthy, and have lightening sessions every eight weeks.

Which low-cost item is a game-changer?

Building fibers are absolutely amazing if you have see-through sections. The fibres cling electrostatically to your own hair, and it comes in a assortment of tones, making it seamlessly blended. I personally applied it after childbirth when I had a lot of hair fall – and also now while experiencing some significant shedding after having a severe illness recently. Because locks are secondary, it’s the earliest indicator of health issues when your diet is lacking, so I would also recommend a balanced, nutritious diet.

What justifies a higher investment?

If you have female pattern hair loss (FPHL), I’d say doctor-recommended solutions. When dealing with temporary hair loss, known as 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 endocrine regulators, blockers and/or soothing agents – works best.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

Rosemary extracts for shedding. It's ineffective. This belief comes from a minor study from 2015 that compared the effects of a low-dose minoxidil with rosemary oil. A low concentration like 2% is insufficient to do much for hereditary thinning in males, so the study is basically saying they work as little as each other.

Additionally, excessive biotin. Rarely do people lack biotin, so using it may not benefit your strands, and it can skew thyroid readings in blood tests.

What’s the most common mistake you see?

I think the term “hair washing” should be changed to “scalp cleansing” – because the main goal of cleansing is to rid your scalp of old oils, dead skin cells, sweat and environmental pollution. I see people avoiding shampooing as they think it’s harmful to their strands, when in fact the opposite is true – especially if you have dandruff, which is worsened by the presence of excess oils. If oils are left on your scalp, they break down and become inflammatory.

Regrettably, follicular health and strand desires can differ, so it’s a careful compromise. Provided you wash delicately and manage wet locks gently, 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 show optimal results when mixed with supporting compounds. If you then want to try other things to support minoxidil’s effect, or you simply don’t want to or can’t use it, you could try microneedling (see a dermatologist), and perhaps platelet-rich plasma or light treatments.

With telogen effluvium, investigation is key. Noticeable thinning usually relates to a health trigger. Sometimes, the cause is transient – such as flu, Covid or a period of intense stress – and it will improve spontaneously. 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