Right Hair, Today: Top Stylists Reveal Favorite Items – And What to Avoid

An Expert Colorist

Hair Color Expert operating from the West Coast who excels at platinum tones. Among his clientele are Hollywood stars and well-known figures.

Which budget-friendly product is a must-have?

I swear by a soft fabric towel, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to remove moisture from your strands. Most people don’t realise how much harm a standard towel can do, notably with lightened or dyed strands. This minor adjustment can really reduce frizz and breakage. Another inexpensive must-have is a wide-tooth comb, to use during washing. It protects the hair while detangling and helps keep the health of the individual hairs, particularly post-bleaching.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

A high-quality styling iron – featuring innovative technology, with smart temperature control. Lightened strands can become discolored or suffer heat stress without the correct device.

What style or process should you always avoid?

DIY bleaching. Internet videos often simplify it, but the truth is it’s one of the biggest gambles you can do to your hair. I’ve witnessed clients severely damage their locks, snap their strands or end up with bands of colour that are nearly impossible to correct. It's best to steer clear of keratin or permanent straightening treatments on bleached or silver hair. These chemical systems are often excessively strong for already fragile strands and can cause long-term damage or color changes.

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

Individuals choosing unsuitable formulas for their particular strand characteristics. A number of people misuse violet-based cleansers until their silver or blond hair looks flat and dull. Others rely too much on protein-rich treatments and end up with stiff, brittle hair. Another significant problem is thermal styling minus a barrier. When applying styling appliances without a heat protectant, – especially on pre-lightened hair – you’re going to see brassiness, lack of moisture and splitting.

Which solutions help with shedding?

Shedding demands a multifaceted plan. Externally, minoxidil remains a top choice. I often suggest scalp formulas with active ingredients to boost blood flow and aid in hair growth. Applying a cleansing scalp wash often helps eliminate impurities and allows treatments to work more effectively. Supplements such as Nutrafol or Viviscal Pro have also shown great results. They enhance overall health for hair benefits by correcting endocrine issues, tension and nutritional deficiencies.

For people looking for something more advanced, blood-derived therapies – where a personalized serum is applied – can be effective. However, I consistently recommend consulting a skin or hair specialist initially. Thinning can be linked to medical conditions, and it’s important to determine the origin rather than seeking quick fixes.

Anabel Kingsley

Trichologist and leader in hair health services and items for shedding.

How frequently do you schedule salon visits?

My trims are every couple of months, but will snip damaged ends myself bi-weekly to maintain tip integrity, and have color touches every two months.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Building fibers are truly impressive if you have thinning spots. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a assortment of tones, making it almost invisible. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had a lot of hair fall – and also now while experiencing some considerable hair loss after having a bad infection previously. As hair isn’t an essential tissue, it’s the earliest indicator of health issues when your nutrition is inadequate, so I would also recommend a healthy, varied eating plan.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

In cases of hereditary hair loss in females, 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 clinical interventions to see the most effective improvements. I believe minoxidil mixed with supporting compounds – such as balancing elements, inhibitors and/or calming components – works best.

Which popular remedy is ineffective?

Using rosemary essential oil for thinning. 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 male pattern hair loss, so the study is basically saying they work as little as each other.

Additionally, excessive biotin. Rarely do people lack biotin, so taking it is unlikely to do your hair any good, and it can alter thyroid level measurements.

What blunder stands out often?

Personally, I prefer "scalp cleansing" over "hair washing" – because the primary purpose of washing is to clear away sebum, debris, sweat and pollutants. I see people avoiding shampooing as they think it’s harmful to their strands, when in fact the reverse is correct – especially if you have dandruff, which is intensified by sebum accumulation. When sebum remains on the skin, they deteriorate and lead to inflammation.

Regrettably, follicular health and strand desires can differ, so it’s a balancing act. Provided you wash delicately and manage wet locks gently, it won’t be damaging to your strands.

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

With female pattern loss, minoxidil is essential. It's backed by strong research and tends to be most effective combined with additional ingredients. Should you wish to enhance minoxidil's benefits, or you simply don’t want to or can’t use it, you could try micro-needling (under professional care), and perhaps PRP or low-level laser therapy.

In shedding cases, root cause analysis is crucial. Increased hair loss often stems from an underlying issue. In some instances, the trigger is short-term – such as flu, Covid or a period of intense stress – and it will clear up naturally. In other cases, thyroid imbalances or vitamin/mineral deficiencies are the driving factor – 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