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Jack Martin

Hair Color Expert operating from the Golden State who specialises in silver hair. His clients include Jane Fonda and well-known figures.

What affordable item can't you live without?

I swear by a gentle drying cloth, or even a smooth cotton shirt to dry your hair. Most people don’t realise how much harm a typical terrycloth towel can do, especially to lightened or dyed strands. This minor adjustment can really reduce frizz and breakage. A second budget-friendly essential is a broad-toothed comb, to use while conditioning. It safeguards your strands while smoothing out tangles and helps maintain the integrity of the individual hairs, particularly post-bleaching.

Which investment truly pays off?

A high-quality styling iron – featuring innovative technology, with adjustable temperature options. Silver and light-coloured hair can become discolored or suffer heat stress without the proper tool.

Which popular practice is a definite no-go?

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 melt their hair, break it off or end up with bands of colour that are incredibly challenging to remedy. It's best to steer clear of chemical straightening processes on pre-lightened strands. These chemical systems are often too aggressive for delicate locks and can cause long-term damage or undesired tones.

Which typical blunder stands out?

Individuals choosing unsuitable formulas for their hair type or colour. Certain clients overapply colour-correcting purple shampoo until their silver or blond hair looks drab and lacking shine. A few overdo on high-protein masks and end up with rigid, fragile strands. The other major issue is heat styling without protection. If you’re using styling appliances without a defensive spray or cream, – particularly on bleached locks – you’re going to see yellowing, dryness and breakage.

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

Thinning requires a comprehensive strategy. For direct application, minoxidil is highly proven. My advice includes scalp formulas with active ingredients to boost blood flow and aid in hair growth. Using a scalp detox shampoo weekly helps clear out buildup and allows solutions to be more efficient. Internal support including clinical supplements have also shown great results. They work internally to benefit externally by addressing hormonal imbalances, anxiety and nutritional deficiencies.

For those seeking higher-level solutions, blood-derived therapies – where a concentration from your blood is administered – can be effective. That said, I always suggest seeing a dermatologist or trichologist first. Thinning can be linked to medical conditions, and it’s important to determine the origin rather than chasing surface-level fixes.

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A Hair and Scalp Specialist

Follicle Expert and head of a renowned clinic clinics and product ranges for hair loss.

How frequently do you schedule salon visits?

My trims are every couple of months, 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?

Toppik hair fibres are absolutely amazing if you have see-through sections. The fibres cling electrostatically to your own hair, and it comes in a range of colors, making it virtually undetectable. I personally applied it after childbirth when I had noticeable thinning – and also presently during some significant shedding after having awful flu a few months ago. 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 well-rounded, nutrient-rich diet.

Which premium option is truly valuable?

If you have female pattern hair loss (FPHL), I’d say prescription hair-loss topicals. Regarding increased shedding, or telogen effluvium, buying an retail solution 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 endocrine regulators, blockers and/or soothing agents – works best.

Which hair trend or treatment would you never recommend?

Rosemary extracts for shedding. 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 2% strength minoxidil isn’t enough to do much for genetic balding in men, so the study is basically saying they work as little as each other.

Likewise, mega-doses of biotin. Rarely do people lack biotin, so consuming it probably won't help your locks, and it can affect thyroid test results.

What’s the most common mistake you see?

Personally, I prefer "scalp cleansing" over "hair washing" – because the main goal of cleansing is to remove buildup, flakes, perspiration and dirt. I notice clients skipping washes as they think it’s bad for their hair, when in fact the contrary is accurate – particularly with flaky scalp, which is worsened by the presence of excess oils. If oils are left on your scalp, they deteriorate and lead to inflammation.

Unfortunately, what your scalp needs and what your hair likes don’t always align, so it’s a delicate equilibrium. But as long as you are gentle when you shampoo and handle wet hair with care, it won’t be damaging to your strands.

Which options help with shedding?

For FPHL, your core treatment should be minoxidil. It's backed by strong research and tends to show optimal results when mixed with supporting compounds. If you then want to try other things to support minoxidil’s effect, or you choose to avoid it or cannot tolerate it, you could try micro-needling (under professional care), and perhaps platelet-rich plasma or light treatments.

For TE, you need to do some detective work. Excessive daily shedding occurs in response to an internal factor. 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 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