Beauty articles tend to focus on the impact menopause has on skin, body and lifestyle. However, women in their 40s are no strangers to the changes happening to their hair, from greying and thinning to dryness and breakage. In this article, we explore the root causes and symptoms of aging hair along with a few tips and tricks to improve the quality and look of hair as we age.
Hair and Aging
Fluctuating hormones and the changing physiology of the body can affect hair in a variety of ways. Follicles produce less melanin causing hair to gray. Our scalp produces less sebum so hair grows in drier. Follicles shrink and strands becomes thinner. The rate of hair growth also slows, which means when a hair sheds, it takes longer for a new hair to grow back from the same follicle to replace it. Our scalp loses moisture and elasticity (after all, our scalp is skin too!). And our body’s ability to absorb nutrients from the foods we eat decreases, meaning less vitamins and minerals make their way to growing hair follicles resulting in hair that’s weaker overall. The result? Hair strands that are skinnier, weaker and more prone to breakage. To compensate for these changes, many women choose to dye their hair or turn to heat styling products to add back lost volume and fullness, both of which end up compromising the integrity of the hair shaft resulting in increased damage and breakage.
Your Hair has Changed, So Should Your Haircare Routine
Haircare products that worked in your 20s and 30s may not work as well to address the paradoxical issues your hair faces in your 40s , 50s and beyond. Aging hair is drier, requiring more moisture, but also tends to be thinner which means you’ll want to look for products that hydrate without the heaviness. Many haircare products contain products like sulfates, which can create a lovely lather in the shower, but can further dry and strip hair causing it to frizz. And, taking care of your scalp and inner health today with scalp cleansers, serums and daily supplements, can all add up to healthier, thicker, fuller hair tomorrow.
The key is to look for products that were created specifically to renew aging hair. Better Not Younger’s advanced line of sulfate-free, paraben-free, cruelty-free shampoos, conditioners and styling products were designed to instantly restore shine, manageability and fullness to hair while protecting hair’s moisture levels and nourishing the scalp to encourage healthier hair growth. Take Better Not Younger’s Hair Quiz for a customized product recommendation in just 90 seconds and get 20% off your first purchase.
Scalpcare is the new skincare! Taking care of your scalp, which is the incubatory environment for growing hair follicles, can boost hair growth and help hair grow stronger and thicker. Deep cleaning and exfoliating the scalp in the shower once a week will help remove dirt and oils, dead skin cells, and styling product build-up to unclog pores. We like the New Dawn Activated Charcoal Scalp Cleanser which both chemically and physical exfoliates the scalp through its lactic acid and activated charcoal formula and unique built in exfoliating brush. Follow with a nourishing scalp serum like the Superpower Fortifying Hair & Scalp Serum containing niacinamide, ceramides, caffeine, and oleanolic acid along with ginger and kelp extract to help rebalance the scalp, stimulate microcirculation and energize follicles for healthier hair growth.
Aside from aging, hair can be affected by a variety of factors including medications, illness, COVID-19, stress, and IVF. It’s always best to consult a physician if you’re experiencing excessive hair loss or shedding to discuss a treatment that’s right for you. What hair questions would you like us to address in a future post? Drop us a note below.
