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Jack Martin

Colourist based in the Golden State who excels at platinum tones. His clients include Hollywood stars and Andie MacDowell.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

My top pick is a soft fabric towel, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to towel-dry your locks. Many are unaware how much stress a regular bath towel can do, notably with grey or color-processed hair. This minor adjustment can really minimize flyaways and damage. Another inexpensive must-have is a wide-tooth comb, to use in the shower. It protects the hair while detangling and helps maintain the integrity of the strands, notably following coloring.

What item or service justifies the extra cost?

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.

What style or process should you always avoid?

DIY bleaching. Social media makes it look easy, but the reality is it’s one of the riskiest things you can do to your hair. There are cases where individuals cause irreversible harm, snap their strands or end up with striped effects that are nearly impossible to correct. I also don’t recommend keratin or permanent straightening treatments on bleached or silver hair. Such treatments are often overly harsh for already fragile strands and can cause chronic issues or discoloration.

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

Individuals choosing unsuitable formulas for their specific hair needs. A number of people misuse toning shampoo until their silver or blond hair looks drab and lacking shine. Others rely too much on high-protein masks and end up with rigid, fragile strands. The other major issue is using hot tools sans safeguard. If you’re using hot tools or dryers without a defensive spray or cream, – 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 serums with caffeine or peptides to boost blood flow and support follicle health. Incorporating a clarifying shampoo regularly helps remove residue and allows products to perform better. Supplements such as Nutrafol or Viviscal Pro have also shown notable improvements. They work internally to benefit externally by balancing body chemistry, tension and lack of vital nutrients.

In cases requiring advanced options, PRP therapy – where a concentration from your blood is administered – can be beneficial. Still, my advice is to getting a professional diagnosis beforehand. Shedding may relate to internal factors, and it’s important to get to the root cause rather than seeking quick fixes.

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A Hair and Scalp Specialist

Follicle Expert and head of a renowned clinic services and items for shedding.

How often do you get your hair cut and coloured?

I schedule cuts every ten to twelve weeks, but will trim off splits at home fortnightly to keep my ends healthy, and have highlights done every eight weeks.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Hair-thickening particles are truly impressive 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. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had noticeable thinning – and also presently during some marked thinning after having awful flu a few months ago. Since hair is non-vital, it’s the first part of you to suffer when your diet is lacking, so I would also recommend a balanced, nutritious diet.

What justifies a higher investment?

For those with genetic thinning in women, I’d say medicated treatments. 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 optimal outcomes. From my perspective, minoxidil combined with additional ingredients – such as hormones, anti-androgens and/or anti-inflammatories – works best.

What should you always skip?

Rosemary extracts for shedding. It doesn’t work. The whole thing stems from one small study done in 2015 that compared the effects of a mild minoxidil solution versus rosemary extract. 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.

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?

Personally, I prefer "scalp cleansing" over "hair washing" – because the real aim of shampooing your hair is to remove buildup, flakes, perspiration and dirt. I see people avoiding shampooing as they think it’s bad for their hair, when in fact the contrary is accurate – especially if you have dandruff, which is aggravated by oil buildup. If natural oils stay on the head, they break down and become inflammatory.

Unfortunately, what your scalp needs and what your hair likes don’t always align, so it’s a delicate equilibrium. However, if you cleanse softly and treat damp strands kindly, it won’t be damaging to your strands.

Which options help with shedding?

For FPHL, your core treatment should be minoxidil. Scientific support is substantial 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 microneedling (see a dermatologist), 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 flu, Covid or a period of intense stress – and it will resolve on its own. 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