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Jack Martin

Styling Professional based in the West Coast who excels at grey hair. Among his clientele are celebrated actors and renowned personalities.

Which budget-friendly product is a must-have?

My top pick is a soft fabric towel, or even a gentle tee to towel-dry your locks. Most people don’t realise how much stress a regular bath towel can do, particularly for grey or color-processed hair. A simple switch can really minimize flyaways and damage. Another affordable staple is a broad-toothed comb, to use during washing. It protects the hair while removing knots and helps maintain the integrity of the individual hairs, notably following coloring.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

A high-quality styling iron – ceramic or tourmaline, with precise heat settings. Lightened strands can become discolored or suffer heat stress without the right iron.

What style or process should you always avoid?

At-home lightening. Internet videos often simplify it, but the truth is it’s one of the riskiest things you can do to your hair. I’ve seen people melt their hair, snap their strands or end up with bands of colour that are incredibly challenging to remedy. I would also avoid chemical straightening processes on pre-lightened strands. Such treatments are often excessively strong for delicate locks and can cause chronic issues or discoloration.

What frequent error do you observe?

Clients selecting inappropriate items for their particular strand characteristics. Some overuse violet-based cleansers until their lightened locks looks flat and dull. Some depend excessively on protein-rich treatments and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. Another significant problem is heat styling without protection. In cases where you employ hot tools or dryers without a defensive spray or cream, – especially on pre-lightened hair – you’re going to see discoloration, dehydration and damage.

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

Thinning requires a comprehensive strategy. For direct application, minoxidil is highly proven. I often suggest scalp serums with caffeine or peptides to enhance nutrient delivery and aid in hair growth. Using a scalp detox shampoo weekly helps eliminate impurities and allows treatments to work more effectively. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown notable improvements. They work internally to benefit externally by balancing body chemistry, stress and dietary insufficiencies.

For people looking for something more advanced, PRP therapy – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be effective. That said, I always suggest consulting a skin or hair specialist initially. Shedding may relate to internal factors, and it’s important to get to the root cause rather than pursuing temporary solutions.

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A Trichology Expert

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

How frequently do you schedule salon visits?

I get my hair cut every 10 to 12 weeks, but will snip damaged ends myself every two weeks to preserve strand health, and have color touches every two months.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

Hair-thickening particles are absolutely amazing if you have areas of scalp visibility. The fibres cling electrostatically to your own hair, and it comes in a variety of shades, making it almost invisible. It was my go-to post-pregnancy when I had significant shedding – and also now while experiencing some significant shedding after having awful flu a few months ago. Because locks are secondary, it’s the first part of you to suffer when your intake is insufficient, so I would also recommend a healthy, varied eating plan.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

If you have female pattern hair loss (FPHL), I’d say medicated treatments. When dealing with temporary hair loss, known as TE, buying an over-the-counter product is fine, but for FPHL you really do need prescription-strength formulas to see the optimal outcomes. From my perspective, minoxidil combined with additional ingredients – such as endocrine regulators, blockers and/or soothing agents – works best.

Which popular remedy is ineffective?

Rosemary oil for hair loss. 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 hereditary thinning in males, so the study is basically saying they are equally minimal in effect.

Also, high-dose biotin. Rarely do people lack biotin, so using it may not benefit your strands, and it can affect thyroid test results.

What’s the most common mistake you see?

In my view, we should rename "hair washing" to "scalp cleaning" – because the real aim of shampooing your hair is to rid your scalp of old oils, dead skin cells, sweat and environmental pollution. I notice clients skipping washes as they think it’s harmful to their strands, when in fact the opposite is true – especially if you have dandruff, which is aggravated by oil buildup. If oils are left on your scalp, 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. Provided you wash delicately and manage wet locks gently, it is unlikely to cause damage.

Which options help with shedding?

With female pattern loss, minoxidil is essential. It has the most robust evidence behind it and tends to work best when compounded with other hair-supportive actives. Should you wish to enhance minoxidil's benefits, 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. 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 resolve on its own. Alternatively, endocrine issues or nutrient shortages may be the cause – 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