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Jack Martin

Hair Color Expert operating from the Golden State who excels at silver hair. He works with Hollywood stars and well-known figures.

Which budget-friendly product is a must-have?

I highly recommend a microfibre towel, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to remove moisture from your strands. It's often overlooked how much harm a typical terrycloth towel can do, notably with silver or chemically treated hair. This minor adjustment can really minimize flyaways and damage. Another affordable staple is a broad-toothed comb, to use while conditioning. It shields your locks while removing knots and helps keep the health of the strands, particularly post-bleaching.

Which investment truly pays off?

A high-quality styling iron – made with advanced materials, with smart temperature control. Silver and light-coloured hair can develop brassy tones or get damaged without the right iron.

Which popular practice is a definite no-go?

Self-applied color lifting. Social media makes it look easy, but the actual fact is it’s one of the most hazardous actions you can do to your hair. There are cases where individuals melt their hair, break it off or end up with striped effects that are incredibly challenging to remedy. I would also avoid long-term smoothing services on pre-lightened strands. These chemical systems are often overly harsh for weakened hair and can cause lasting harm or undesired tones.

Which typical blunder stands out?

People using the wrong products for their hair type or colour. Some overuse violet-based cleansers until their lightened locks 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 heat styling without protection. If you’re using flat irons, curling irons or blow dryers without a heat protectant, – particularly on bleached locks – 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. Externally, minoxidil remains a top choice. I often suggest follicle treatments containing stimulants to enhance nutrient delivery and support follicle health. Applying a cleansing scalp wash often helps eliminate impurities and allows treatments to work more effectively. Oral aids like specialized formulas have also shown positive outcomes. They enhance overall health for hair benefits by correcting endocrine issues, tension and lack of vital nutrients.

For people looking for something more advanced, PRP therapy – where a personalized serum is applied – can be successful. Still, my advice is to getting a professional diagnosis beforehand. Shedding may relate to internal factors, and it’s important to determine the origin rather than chasing surface-level fixes.

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A Hair and Scalp Specialist

Trichologist 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 remove split ends personally fortnightly to keep my ends healthy, and have color touches every two months.

What affordable find is essential?

Toppik hair fibres are absolutely amazing if you have thinning spots. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a assortment of tones, making it almost invisible. I personally applied it after childbirth when I had noticeable thinning – and also now while experiencing some considerable hair loss after having a severe illness recently. Since hair is non-vital, 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?

For those with genetic thinning in women, I’d say doctor-recommended solutions. For excessive daily hair shedding, AKA telogen effluvium (TE), buying an non-prescription item is fine, but for FPHL you really do need prescription-strength formulas to see the best results. From my perspective, minoxidil combined with additional ingredients – such as hormones, anti-androgens and/or anti-inflammatories – works best.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

Using rosemary essential oil for thinning. It doesn’t work. This idea originated from a limited 2015 research that compared the effects of a low-dose minoxidil with rosemary oil. A mild formula such as 2% is inadequate to do much for hereditary thinning in males, so the study is basically saying they provide similarly low results.

Likewise, mega-doses of 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’s the most common mistake you see?

Personally, I prefer "scalp cleansing" over "hair washing" – because the primary purpose of washing is to remove buildup, flakes, perspiration and dirt. I notice clients skipping washes as they think it’s damaging to their locks, when in fact the reverse is correct – notably in cases of dandruff, which is intensified by sebum accumulation. 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 balancing act. Provided you wash delicately and manage wet locks gently, it won’t be damaging to your strands.

Which options help with shedding?

With female pattern loss, minoxidil is essential. Scientific support is substantial 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.

For TE, you need to do some detective work. Increased hair loss often stems from an underlying issue. Occasionally, the reason is temporary – such as sickness, virus or emotional strain – 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