Good healthy hair makes me feel good. I love great-looking, thick-feeling, effortless hair. We hear and talk about our aging faces, but it happens to our muscles, bones and HAIR! Hair changes with age, just like the rest of the body. When we age, our hair follicles get smaller, our sebum production declines, and some of us (like me) lose pigment cells and go gray!
What’s Happening to my hair
As hormones fluctuate, the hair still sheds, but it grows back more slowly, causing it to thin. In addition, hormones trigger less sebum production that can leave the hair feeling dryer. On top of all that, pigment cells in the hair bulb wane over time, so hair then turns gray.
A doctor can help with treatments like minoxidil and Propecia that work to regrow hair and try and rule out other causes like anemia, iron deficiency, autoimmune disorder, or the side effects of any medication.
Get the Right Hair Cut
Nuri Yurt, owner of Toka Salon both here in DC and NYC, and stylist to so many we cannot even mention, says that as your hair thins, it’s not a bad idea to cut your hair a bit shorter, but you don’t have to cut your hair short once you reach a “certain age.” A longer cut can look great as long as it’s cut in longer layers that move well. These layers give the illusion of fullness. He says to be careful, though, because too many layers only emphasize thinning texture. Long layers hold shape and look full.
When in Doubt, Moisturize Your Hair
Avoid mousses and gels because they are drying and can cause hair to look dull and strip away shine. As part of any self-care routine, use conditioning treatments to hydrate aging strands weekly. (If a mousse is necessary, try one for curly hair because most of them are more moisturizing)
Brush, Brush, Brush Your Hair
Gentle brushing can encourage healthy blood flow to the scalp, which is good for the hair. Some research shows that scalp massage may help increase hair thickness. Using a Mason Pearson soft boar bristle brush because the natural bristles are gentle on delicate strands and will distribute the hair’s natural conditioning oils
Shampoo: Lather up
With a zinc pyrithione shampoo — usually found in dandruff shampoo formulas and this ingredient is hydrating and soothing, whether you have dandruff or not. It helps relieve that feeling of tightness or itchiness due to decreased sebum production on the scalp as we age.
Keep Your Cool
Heat styling can be especially damaging to thinning hair fibers. The stress from styling can cause breakage of those precious strands. Since the hair is producing less sebum, there is less natural protection against the heat. So, use tools sparingly.
With all of these tips in mind, what products to use to maintain healthy hair? I have three great ones!
Favorite Hair Products
- Nutrafol : This hair growth supplement is a five-star winner in my book. I have used it for five years, and I have fuller, shinier, thicker hair! And I feel great too!
- REVLON One-Step Hair Dryer And Volumizer Hot Air Brush: A total game-changer for my at-home, self-done blow-out! Give me a salon, look, and fullness with a low cost and easy effort! Real Hair Game Changer.
- Revitalash Hair Thickening Shampoo: cleans well and improves the thickness of menopause hair, keeping it moisturized! What I like most is that it’s sulfate, paraben, and phthalate-free and contains natural ingredients like flax protein, loquat leaf, willow bark, ginseng, and jojoba seed oil.
