As we age, our hair ages with us, often becoming grey, thin, dry and brittle. If you start to notice more hairs on your pillow, or suddenly strain to see past the greys – don’t despair! These changes are all reversible and by taking proper care of our hair, we can soon nurse it back to full health.
Click here to see a video about the top tips to prevent hair loss
Greying gracefully
Grey or white strands are often the first visible signs of ageing hair. These appear as a result of a decrease in the production of melanin which gives hair its normal colour and boosts shine. The average person will notice their first grey hair while in their 30s, and most people in their 40s.
By age 50, half of us will have grey hair. Less melanin also means weaker hair, because without melanin to absorb UV rays, the protein in our hair absorbs them instead. If you want to go grey gracefully, then the most important thing to bring back your shiny strands is a shine-enhancing shampoo. Use it once or twice a week to make your grey hair gleam. Give your tresses strength by protecting against harmful UV rays – a hat or UV blocking spray should do the job. If you would rather cover your grey hair, chose your colour wisely. Go for softer, warmer hues which are much more flattering. Try to stay within a shade or two of your original colour.
Thinning isn’t winning
Getting thinner is usually something that most of us desire – but not when it comes to our hair! It is completely normal to lose up to 100 hairs a day, no matter what age we are, however as we get older our hair also begins to thin, which can be alarming. Hormonal changes in women, such as the menopause, can affect growth patterns, leading to simultaneous thinning and hair loss. As we age our hair follicles get smaller and smaller, producing extremely fine hairs invisible to the naked eye. This is often the cause behind male and female pattern baldness. The best thing to combat fine hair is to use a keratin-enriched formulation. Thinner hair is weak, and has lost much of its strength – keratin or other protein-rich treatments can help to combat this. Rethink your styling routine; avoid backcombing as this will damage already fragile tresses. Minimise exposure to damaging heated styling tools such as the blow-dryer, straitening and curling tongs. If hair loss is something that continues to bother you, a trip to a dermatologist for a stronger remedy could be worthwhile.
Read more about detoxing your hair
Drought conditions
Does your hair seem dryer than before? Is your conditioner no longer doing the trick? This is probably because sebum (oil) production decreases as you age, with your scalp only producing half of what it did before. Although this means you no longer have to worry about greasy strands, the downside is that your hair is more likely to be rougher, duller and harder to manage. Deal with your dry hair the way you deal with dry skin – hydration! Use a leave-in hydrator or apply oil to your hair to bring back the
moisture. Avoid washing your hair too often, as this strips away its natural oils. As an alternative, dry shampoo can be used; this cleans and reinvigorates the scalp, whilst giving your hair a much needed break from the strain of washing and drying. Hair masks once or twice a week can also return much needed moisture to parched manes.
Learn more about damaged hair treatements
Brittle is bad
As we age, our skin is not the only thing which loses elasticity, but our hair too. This causes our hair to become brittle and break more easily, adding to the stress already caused by increased hair loss and thinning. Brittle hair is also the result of an over-reliance on chemicals, dyes and heat-styling products. Give your tresses some TLC with protein-rich treatments instead of piling on the harsh chemicals. Hair vitamins such as biotin and silica can also help provide strength to stiff, dry and weak strands.
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