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AFTER transforming her thinning hair to an enviable mane, one beauty buff has shared her secret weapon.

Sofia, a hair loss researcher from the UK, previously confirmed that she used to suffer with bald patches and hair thinning – two common concerns for both men and women.

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Naturally, Sofia did some research into the best ways to stop breakage and shedding – and now, rocking thick and luscious locks, she shares her top finds on TikTok.

The trichologist recently took to her page where she revealed ”the best shampoo for hair growth” – and it’s currently on sale at Boots too.

Raving about the wallet-friendly Nizoral Anti Dandruff Shampoo, Sofia said: ”If you’re losing hair and you’re not using this shampoo, you are missing out.”

According to the beauty buff, this haircare product ”is one of the only proven shampoos to actually revere female pattern hair loss” as its formula ”blocks the hormone” that’s behind hair loss.

However, when using the shampoo, Sofia warned there are three things you should be aware of, including not using the weaker formula.

”Don’t waste your money on the 1% – get the pink bottle.”

Whilst you may be tempted to use this shampoo all the time, the whizz warned to not ”overdo it”.

”Nizoral is a very drying shampoo. Something that I actually recommend is combining it with something like a bond-building shampoo.”

Don’t want to fork out a fortune on the viral Olaplex range? The are several more affordable options on the high street, including Elvive Bond Repair range and Pantene Bond Repair line for a fraction of the price.

”Or even just a really hydrating shampoo to make suee your hair is getting damaged and to make sure you’re keeping it in a as good of a condition as possible.”

When shampooing, the TikToker also warned to not apply the product on your ends at all – or risk behind left with a ”really dry” mess.

If you can’t find the exact brand at your local store, Sofia said you can use any shampoo as long as it’s got ”ketoconazole” as an ingredient.

”Lastly, the most important thing I have to say about this is that even though this is a great shampoo to be using and it can definitely help with your results, if you’re not combining it with things like minoxidil and other treatments, you probably won’t see amazing results.”

Minoxidil is a medication that can be taken orally or topically.

Hair Loss 101

HAIR pro Samantha Cusick has revealed everything you need to know about hair loss. 

Why Does Hair Loss Happen?

Hair loss can be influenced by so many factors, from genetics and hormone changes to lifestyle choices.

Stress, diet, and even hair care habits can all impact hair strength.

It’s perfectly normal to lose some hair each day, but sometimes the body can shed more than usual, responding to things like hormonal shifts or even life stressors.

Why It Happens More This Time of Year

Have you ever noticed your hair seems to shed more in autumn? That’s seasonal shedding!

During summer, we hold onto extra hair to protect our scalp from the sun.

As the weather cools, it’s like our body recalibrates and lets go of those extra strands.

Dry, cooler air can also make hair more brittle, making it easier to lose a little extra volume during these months.

Hacks and Affordable Buys to Treat Hair loss

The great news? You don’t need to spend a fortune on pricey treatments to support your hair.

Try daily scalp massages—they’re so simple but really help boost blood flow to the follicles.

Castor oil is another fantastic, budget-friendly option that’s rich in nutrients to strengthen your strands.

Adding a bit more protein to your diet and a biotin supplement can also work wonders for overall hair health.

Products to Avoid

Steer clear of products with high levels of alcohol, sulphates, and parabens – they can be drying and damage hair over time.

Heat styling and chemical treatments can also cause breakage, so try to use them sparingly.

Instead, look for gentle, hydrating formulas to support your scalp and keep hair healthier through the seasons.

It is an over-the-counter product that acts as a vasodilator, taking more blood flow to your scalp.

The treatment shouldn’t be stopped, as hair loss will occur again.

You can purchase topical minoxidil easily on the likes of Amazon where you can bag a bulk of the product to last you several months.

It should be applied to the scalp every single night and means the product cost just 30p per application.

Sofia went on: ”Because if you’re someone who’s dealing with hair loss, the more things that you throw at it, the better your results will be.

”This should be one thing out of a routine of, like, six to seven things if you really want to see results.”

Posted just five days ago, the informative clip has taken the internet by storm, winning the beauty buff more than 212k views and over 7,000 likes.

168 people flooded to comments to share their thoughts and struggles with hair and scalp health.

One person had great success, writing: ”I’ve been using Nizoral shampoo 2% twice a week with Minoxidil foam 5% every night and after 6 months my hair has grown back faster healthier and stronger.”

Another chimed in: ”it’s so expensive I only got 3 washes out of it.”

”Nizoral made my scalp greasier,” a person claimed.

We’re quite possibly at the start of what could be a major technological shift with the onset of artificial intelligence (AI). No one knows what new products, services, or companies will be created. However, with estimates of 25-fold growth in the AI market between 2023 and 2023 (according to a UN Trade and Development report), this can’t be ignored.

Smart investors will consider ways of betting on this trend. But you don’t have to search far and wide. If you’re ready to invest $3,000, here are two top AI stocks to buy and hold for the long term.

Image source: Getty Images.

Dominant forces in the internet age

Two of the most successful businesses of all time are Alphabet (GOOG 1.27%) (GOOGL 1.23%) and Meta Platforms (META -0.26%), which rose to dominance as the internet became much more prevalent. Without a doubt, these are two of the best AI stocks investors should look at.

Alphabet and Meta are in very advantageous positions. They already have thriving business models with offerings that reach vast audiences. Alphabet has six products that each serve more than 2 billion people. During the month of June, Meta’s family of apps had 3.48 billion daily active users.

I believe a sound strategy is to find businesses that are leveraging AI to improve their existing offerings. In this way, the new technology can be used to upgrade the user experience instead of trying to create something completely new. These companies are doing a great job in this regard.

Alphabet’s Gemini model is embedded in its various products and services. And Search, which investors have worried could easily get disrupted by chatbots, counts more than 100 million monthly active users combined on the AI Mode feature in the U.S. and India.

Meta is using AI to provide better content recommendations. This is working so well that it led to a 6% jump in time spent on Instagram in the latest quarter.

These companies generate their revenues primarily from digital advertising efforts. They’re both utilizing AI to help their customers create more effective, creative, and successful ad campaigns. Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg called out the opportunity of improving the ad experience.

“If we deliver on this vision, then over the coming years I think that the increased productivity from AI will make advertising a meaningfully larger share of global GDP than it is today,” he said on the first-quarter earnings call in 2025. This could lead to much more revenue down the road.

I think AI will simply widen the already huge economic moats that Alphabet and Meta have developed. It seems extremely unlikely that these businesses will get disrupted anytime soon. As they push forward with their respective AI capabilities, it becomes even more challenging for companies to encroach on their territory.

Money is not a concern

Businesses are spending huge amounts of money on AI strategies. Alphabet and Meta are no different. Combined, their capital expenditures are set to total $154 billion in 2025, with increases coming in the years ahead. These numbers are hard to overlook.

While the returns from this AI investment are uncertain, which is the market’s biggest worry, these companies are in such strong financial shape that it should be less of a concern. Alphabet ended Q2 with $95 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities on its balance sheet. Meta had $47 billion. With incredibly lucrative business models, demonstrated by the tens of billions in profits generated each quarter, they have the resources to move fast and position themselves to be leaders in the AI age.

Cheapest of the “Magnificent Seven”

What’s particularly exciting about these two companies is that investors don’t have to chase expensive valuations in order to gain exposure to AI in their portfolios. There’s undeniably a lot of buzz in this area of the market. However, Alphabet and Meta trade at the cheapest price-to-earnings ratios of all the “Magnificent Seven” constituents.

With $3,000, investors can buy about six shares of Alphabet and about two shares of Meta. These might be the only AI stocks you’d need to own.

Diving into the stock market can be an excellent way to build lasting wealth. One type of stock that you may find appealing is dividend stocks. A study conducted by Hartford Funds found that, over a 50-year period, dividend stocks consistently outperformed non-dividend payers with lower volatility.

Dividend Kings are companies that have consistently increased their dividends for 50 years or longer. These stalwarts have earned the trust of their shareholders and consistently demonstrated a proven ability to grow payouts year after year, regardless of the economic conditions.

If you’re looking to boost your portfolio with a passive income component and seek steady returns, here are three dividend stocks that could make excellent additions today.

Image source: Getty Images.

Federal Realty Investment Trust

Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRT -0.59%) operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT). It specializes in high-quality retail-based properties, which include shopping centers and mixed-use properties. As a REIT, Federal Realty is required to distribute 90% of its taxable income to shareholders, making it a popular choice among dividend investors.

Federal Realty holds the distinction of being the only REIT to earn Dividend King status, having raised its payout for 57 consecutive years. This impressive streak is a testament to its diversified holdings and strong balance sheet in what can be a volatile real estate market.

The REIT primarily invests in real estate regions characterized by high population density and affluent populations. This approach helps insulate it from changing economic conditions, as more affluent households can be resilient in the face of recessions or inflation in the economy. With a strong business and robust development pipeline supported by steady funds from operations growth, Federal Realty is a quality dividend stock to consider buying today.

Cincinnati Financial

Cincinnati Financial (CINF 0.06%) provides property and casualty (P&C) insurance to corporate and individual customers. It’s one of the top 25 largest P&C insurers in the United States.

In the insurance industry, underwriting profitable policies is the name of the game. Insurers like Cincinnati Financial operate in a highly competitive environment, so accurately assessing risk and pricing policies is crucial.

Over the past five years, Cincinnati Financial’s combined ratio has averaged a solid 94.6%. This means that for every $100 in premiums it writes, it has generated roughly $5 in profit. In the highly competitive insurance industry, the combined ratio tends to average around 100%, so consistently generating an underwriting profit is key to sustainable, long-term growth.

Cincinnati Financial boasts an impressive history of raising its annual cash dividend over the past 65 years. Only seven companies can boast a longer streak. Its long track record is a testament to its sound underwriting and stellar capital management. With a conservative dividend payout ratio of 29%, Cincinnati Financial is well-positioned to keep rewarding investors with a growing dividend.

S&P Global

S&P Global (SPGI -0.03%) provides credit ratings to entities that issue debt worldwide and serves an important role in financial markets. As a credit rating agency, it provides opinions about credit risk and the ability and willingness of entities to meet their financial obligations. Investors rely on these opinions on credit quality to help manage risk.

The company also owns the S&P 500 index (in a joint venture with CME Group), along with a variety of other index benchmarks used by professional investors. Finally, it provides data and analytics, such as through its Capital IQ Pro platform, which offers another stream of cash flow that’s uncorrelated with credit ratings.

S&P Global enjoys a robust 50% share of the credit ratings market, giving it a strong competitive advantage, especially considering the importance of credit ratings for the global economy. With its stable and diverse business model and strong balance sheet, S&P Global has grown its dividend payout for 52 consecutive years and has a solid platform to keep this streak going.

Even in picturesque California, few landscapes are as stunning – or as fragile – as Big Sur. The constant storms and seismic activity that forged its dramatic cliffs and canyons also make its infrastructure a nightmare to maintain.

The primary road through the region, world-famous Highway 1, which clings to cliffs high above the Pacific Ocean in postcard worthy fashion, is almost constantly closed by landslides, isolating communities and stranding weary travelers.

Local hiking trails don’t fare much better.

The Pfeiffer Falls Trail intersects with the Valley View Trail, a lovely loop that provides gorgeous views of the state park clear out to the Pacific.

(Lisa Winner / Save the Redwoods League)

So, as if they had just taken a deep breath and crossed their fingers, California State Parks officials announced this week that one of the region’s most beloved hikes, the Pfeiffer Falls Trail, will finally reopen after a towering redwood collapsed in a 2023 storm taking out its signature pedestrian bridge.

The trail, a .75 mile stroll that cuts through Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and ends with a stunning view of a 60-foot waterfall, is one of the prime draws for a park that attracts roughly 750,000 people each year.

For such a short walk, the trail has a long history.

In 2008, the 162,818-acre Basin Complex Fire devastated much of the route and surrounding forest. It took $2 million and nearly 13 years to complete a renovation project — removing aged and damaged concrete, rerouting the trail and constructing the bridge — to finally reopen the hike in June 2021.

About 18-months later, that storm arrived and a towering redwood crashed the party.

The Pfeiffer Falls Bridge in 2023 after a giant redwood fell on part of the structure, closing the trail.

(California State Parks)

The tree splintered a 15-foot section of the bridge. Crews salvaged much of the original structure but replaced the damaged section with fiber-reinforced polymer in the hope of making the span stronger and more resilient to its unforgiving environment.

“It’s unfortunate that the trail had to close so soon after our original renovations,” said Matthew Gomez, senior parks program manager for Save the Redwoods League, a non-profit that helped with the repairs. “But our close partnership with California State Parks allowed us to rebuild the bridge better than ever.”

It is a truly spectacular hike. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Long Beach resident Ashley Likins was pages away from finishing “Onyx Storm,” the third installment in Rebecca Yarros’ fantasy book series, when a long-haired black kitten hopped into her lap.

Given the foster name Soup Enhancements, the cat was one of the rescues boarding at Cool Cat Collective, a cat-themed boutique at the eastern end of Long Beach’s Fourth Street Corridor. The store, which offers all manner of cat-themed merchandise from kitty treats to cat-printed coasters, doubles as a shelter for cats rescued by TippedEars, a local trap-neuter-return, or TNR, nonprofit.

These resident kittens at Cool Cat Collective spend most of their time in a luxury “catio” in the back corner of the boutique, but twice a month, they are released to roam about during after-hours fundraising events. A popular silent reading party, co-hosted by reading club LB Bookworms, mimics a cat cafe, and according to the book club’s founder, Martha Esquivias, the event has sold out nearly every month since its debut last November.

Deb Escobar reads a book as foster kitten Poolboy creeps around her during a silent reading night at Cool Cat Collective.

It was during the silent reading event in early August that Likins sat, second-guessing the decision she’d made a few days prior to adopt Soup Enhancements. She adored the cat; still, she worried she’d been impulsive and wasn’t truly ready for the responsibility of pet ownership.

But as she watched the kitten nod off in her lap, she glimpsed the future in which the pair would do this routine a thousand times over with Likins devouring a book and the cat sleeping soundly below.

“I’m not just in a kitten craze,” Likins recalled thinking to herself. “This is my cat.”

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It’s that kind of moment Jena Carr, 39, had dreamed of when she and her husband, Matt, 40, opened Cool Cat Collective last year.

Former Washington, D.C., restaurateurs, the Carrs moved to Long Beach in 2022 to be closer to Jena Carr’s family. Once they settled in, Carr threw herself into kitten rescue, a longtime interest. She started as a foster owner and kitten rescue volunteer before assisting TippedEars with its work tracking and capturing cats in Compton.

“Once you start realizing the extent of the cat overpopulation problem, you quickly realize that we can’t foster or adopt our way out of it,” Carr said, calling TNR “the solution that gets to the root of the problem.”

One day during peak kitten season, Carr was out with TippedEars co-founder Renae Woith when she was struck by the number of sick and injured cats on the streets and the challenges of understaffed rescues working to home them.

“It kind of got her wheels working, like, ‘What can I do as a business?’” Woith said.

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1. Foster kittens Bisque, Poolboy and Chauffeur play together during a silent reading night. 2. Foster kitten Sesame walks around a display in the store.

Almost a year later, Cool Cat Collective was born.

It was still warm outside on an early September evening as the last of the daytime visitors left the cat boutique. Once they were gone, Carr made her final touches for the night’s silent reading party: laying cushions in store corners and scattering toy mice across the floor.

In the catio, Poolboy, a domestic shorthair, licked a Churu treat from a visiting reader’s hand. When he and his siblings — all named after blue-collar jobs — arrived in late July, they were timid. But at this silent reading party, they bounded about the room, crawling on attendees’ laps between wrestling matches.

“It makes me so happy when the shy ones become social,” Carr said.

A sign hanging outside the catio tallied good news: 93 adoptions since July 2024. TippedEars co-founder Vita Manzoli said that’s about double the numbers the rescue used to see before the boutique opened.

TippedEars’ partnership with Cool Cat Collective has been a boon for the nonprofit, which receives 100% of the proceeds from the cat boutique’s “First Thursday” silent reading parties and “Third Thursday” doodle nights, which both cost $15 to attend. But it’s not only the financial support that has made a difference for TippedEars cats.

“We’ve gotten volunteers from them — donors, adopters, obviously, but the byproduct of that is really just educating people about the cat overpopulation crisis, what TNR is and how they can help,” Woith said.

Placing rescues at Cool Cat Collective, where they are comfortable and their personalities are on full display, has also allowed TippedEars to give them a better chance at being adopted.

“The cat they may not have looked twice at online, they now are the one [adopters are] taking home, because they actually got to meet them,” Woith said.

“This is a beautiful marrying of my interests,” silent reading party attendee Regan Rudman said of the event. “It also provides a great third space that we’re really missing nowadays.”

Carr has a spreadsheet of potential resident kittens always on her mind, so she’s eager to facilitate adoptions. But everyone is welcome at Cool Cat Collective, whether they’re looking to adopt or not.

“You don’t even have to be shopping,” Carr said. “That was part of our goal: to create a space with a really low barrier to access for people who are cat-curious or just need a little moment of cat joy in their day.”

Regan Rudman, a recent Long Beach transplant, can’t have a cat of her own for health reasons. Still, she visits Cool Cat Collective every month. She tried for three months to snag a ticket to the store’s silent reading night before she secured a spot for the September event.

“Getting to actually interact with cats in an environment that they feel comfortable in just makes my heart so happy,” Rudman said.

Rudman, who works at a publishing company, made an effort to focus on her book during the silent reading hour, but she also hoped her ruffled leg warmers would entice a curious kitten to come over.

“I think everyone is a little distracted by the cats,” said silent reading party attendee Mathilde Hernandez, who befriended foster cat Gumball.

Other attendees, lounging on cushions throughout the boutique, gazed down at their e-readers but peeked as cats bounced around like pinballs in their periphery.

Poolboy and sibling Chauffer, who would find their forever home together that weekend, were particularly rowdy. On the other hand, Bisque — from a litter Carr called “the Soups” — hid in a cardboard house for an hour before she finally stretched a paw out, like a jazz hand through the “front door.”

“There’s always some antic happening,” Carr said. “People are reading, but they also have one eye on the cats as they’re reading. I’d be curious asking people, like, how far into their book they actually get.”

Attendee Lien Nguyen, whose love for the kittens overrode her cat allergy, admitted she’d drop her book the second a cat came into her vicinity. But no matter how hard they tried, scarcely an attendee could successfully attract a kitten. The cats chose their company, not the other way around.

“Part of our goal was to create a space with a really low barrier to access for people who are cat-curious or, you know, just need a little moment of cat joy in their day,” said Jena Carr, co-founder of Cool Cat Collective.

“It was like rejection therapy whenever they went away,” Nguyen said.

That’s why Likins was so touched when Soup Enhancements found her at the August silent reading party. She nearly burst into tears, she said.

Later that evening, she was moved even more when her boyfriend, Max Mineer, bonded with his feline soulmate, Handyman. Happily, Handyman happened to be the only cat Soup Enhancements tolerated.

Now, the two cats live together in Likins and Mineer’s Long Beach apartment. They sleep together, clean each other and, despite being from different litters, generally behave like siblings.

The day Likins brought the cats home, staffers at Cool Cat Collective and TippedEars gave her every resource imaginable, including a 20% off coupon for Chewy products and scratch post recommendations. And there was an easy out: If anything went wrong, the couple could bring the cats back, no questions asked.

“It really made me trust them more to know that they were thinking to the future about these cats,” Likins said. “It wasn’t just a process of making sure that a cat got a home. It was making sure that a cat got a life.”