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Jack Martin

Colourist located in the Golden State who excels at platinum tones. His clients include Hollywood stars and renowned personalities.

Which bargain product do you swear by?

I swear by a soft fabric towel, or even a gentle tee to towel-dry your locks. Many are unaware how much stress a regular bath towel can do, notably with silver or chemically treated hair. This minor adjustment can really lessen brittleness and splitting. Another inexpensive must-have is a large-gap comb, to use while conditioning. It safeguards your strands while detangling and helps preserve the strength of the hair shafts, particularly post-bleaching.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

A high-quality styling iron – made with advanced materials, with adjustable temperature options. Grey and blonde hair can develop brassy tones or get damaged without the proper tool.

Which popular practice is a definite no-go?

DIY bleaching. Online tutorials can be misleading, but the reality 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 striped effects that are extremely difficult to fix. It's best to steer clear of keratin or permanent straightening treatments on pre-lightened strands. These formulations are often overly harsh for weakened hair and can cause chronic issues or color changes.

Which typical blunder stands out?

People using the wrong products for their specific hair needs. Some overuse violet-based cleansers until their silver or blond hair looks drab and lacking shine. Others rely too much on high-protein masks and end up with stiff, brittle hair. A further common mistake is heat styling without protection. When applying flat irons, curling irons or blow dryers without a heat protectant, – 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. Topically, minoxidil is still one of the most effective treatments. I often suggest follicle treatments containing stimulants to stimulate circulation and promote root strength. Applying a cleansing scalp wash often helps clear out buildup and allows products to perform better. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown notable improvements. They work internally to benefit externally by correcting endocrine issues, anxiety and lack of vital nutrients.

For those seeking higher-level solutions, platelet-rich plasma treatments – where your own platelet-rich plasma is injected into the scalp – can be successful. 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 Hair and Scalp Specialist

Scalp and Hair Scientist and leader in hair health clinics and product ranges for hair loss.

What’s your routine for trims and color?

I schedule cuts every ten to twelve weeks, but will remove split ends personally every two weeks to keep my ends healthy, and have highlights done every eight weeks.

Which low-cost item is a game-changer?

Hair-thickening particles are absolutely amazing if you have areas of scalp visibility. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a assortment of tones, making it seamlessly blended. I personally applied it after childbirth when I had noticeable thinning – and also presently during some considerable hair loss after having a bad infection previously. 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 healthy, varied eating plan.

Which product or treatment is worth splurging on?

If you have female pattern hair loss (FPHL), 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 most effective improvements. From my perspective, minoxidil combined with additional ingredients – such as balancing elements, inhibitors and/or calming components – works best.

Which popular remedy is ineffective?

Rosemary oil for hair loss. It shows no real benefit. 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 male pattern hair loss, so the study is basically saying they are equally minimal in effect.

Also, high-dose biotin. Few individuals have biotin insufficiency, so using it may not benefit your strands, and it can affect thyroid test results.

Which error is most frequent?

I think the term “hair washing” should be changed to “scalp cleansing” – because the main goal of cleansing 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 – particularly with flaky scalp, which is aggravated by oil buildup. If natural oils stay on the head, they break down and become inflammatory.

Sadly, scalp requirements and hair preferences may conflict, so it’s a delicate equilibrium. But as long as you are gentle when you shampoo and handle wet hair with care, it shouldn't harm your hair.

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 prefer not to use it or are unable, you could try micro-needling (under professional care), and perhaps PRP or low-level laser therapy.

With telogen effluvium, investigation is key. Increased hair loss often stems from an underlying issue. Occasionally, the reason is temporary – such as flu, Covid or a period of intense stress – and it will clear up naturally. Sometimes, hormonal problems or dietary gaps are responsible – 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