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Jack Martin

Styling Professional operating from the West Coast who focuses on silver hair. He works with Hollywood stars and Andie MacDowell.

Which budget-friendly product is a must-have?

I swear by a gentle drying cloth, or even a soft cotton T-shirt to dry your hair. Many are unaware how much damage a regular bath towel can do, especially to lightened or dyed strands. This one small change can really minimize flyaways and damage. A second budget-friendly essential is a large-gap comb, to use while conditioning. It shields your locks while removing knots and helps maintain the integrity of the hair shafts, particularly post-bleaching.

Which investment truly pays off?

A top-tier thermal appliance – made with advanced materials, with precise heat settings. Silver and light-coloured hair can yellow or burn easily without the right iron.

What style or process should you always avoid?

Self-applied color lifting. Social media makes it look easy, but the truth is it’s one of the most hazardous actions you can do to your hair. There are cases where individuals cause irreversible harm, break it off or end up with striped effects that are extremely difficult to fix. It's best to steer clear of chemical straightening processes on bleached or silver hair. These chemical systems are often overly harsh for already fragile strands and can cause chronic issues or discoloration.

Which typical blunder stands out?

People using the wrong products for their hair type or colour. A number of people misuse toning shampoo until their blonde or grey strands looks flat and dull. Some depend excessively on protein-rich treatments and end up with unmanageable, weak locks. The other major issue is heat styling without protection. If you’re using flat irons, curling irons or blow dryers without a defensive spray or cream, – notably with color-treated strands – you’re going to see brassiness, lack of moisture and splitting.

What would you suggest for thinning hair?

Hair loss needs a multilayered approach. For direct application, minoxidil is highly proven. My advice includes scalp formulas with active ingredients to enhance nutrient delivery and support follicle health. Incorporating a clarifying shampoo regularly helps remove residue and allows treatments to work more effectively. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown positive outcomes. They support the body from the inside out by balancing body chemistry, tension and nutritional deficiencies.

In cases requiring advanced options, blood-derived therapies – where a concentration from your blood is administered – can be effective. Still, my advice is to getting a professional diagnosis beforehand. Shedding may relate to internal factors, and it’s important to identify the source rather than seeking quick fixes.

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A Trichology Expert

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

How often do you get your hair cut and coloured?

I get my hair cut every 10 to 12 weeks, but will trim off splits at home bi-weekly to keep my ends healthy, and have lightening sessions every eight weeks.

What affordable find is essential?

Building fibers are absolutely amazing if you have see-through sections. They attach using static to your strands, and it comes in a variety of shades, making it almost invisible. I personally applied it after childbirth when I had significant shedding – and also now while experiencing some significant shedding after having awful flu a few months ago. As hair isn’t an essential tissue, 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 doctor-recommended solutions. Regarding increased shedding, or telogen effluvium, buying an retail solution is fine, but for FPHL you really do need clinical interventions to see the optimal outcomes. In my opinion, minoxidil compounded with other hair-supportive actives – such as hormones, anti-androgens and/or anti-inflammatories – works best.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

Rosemary extracts for shedding. It doesn’t work. This belief comes from a minor study from 2015 that compared the effects of 2% minoxidil to rosemary oil. A low concentration like 2% is insufficient to do much for genetic balding in men, so the study is basically saying they provide similarly low results.

Likewise, mega-doses of biotin. Few individuals have biotin insufficiency, 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?

I think the term “hair washing” should be changed to “scalp cleansing” – 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 bad for their hair, when in fact the reverse is correct – particularly with flaky scalp, which is worsened by the presence of excess oils. If natural oils stay on the head, they deteriorate and lead to inflammation.

Regrettably, follicular health and strand desires can differ, 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?

For genetic thinning in women, start with minoxidil. It has the most robust evidence behind it 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 collagen induction therapy (with a specialist), and perhaps injections or laser devices.

With telogen effluvium, investigation is key. Increased hair loss often stems from an underlying issue. Sometimes, the cause is transient – such as illness, infection or high stress – and it will resolve on its own. In other cases, thyroid imbalances or vitamin/mineral deficiencies are the driving factor – 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