Aging is inevitable. It carries a lot of changes that tend to differ from one person to another.
In terms of aging hair, though, most people, especially women, share
something in common, that is delicate and dry tresses prone to thinning and breakage.
With age, there is also a high chance for your hair growth cycle to shorten, your hair follicles’ diameter to become smaller, and your scalp to get drier.
All these changes can affect the feel and look of your hair.
Don’t let these common shifts and changes in your hair as you get older frustrate you, though.
Note that you can’t escape them. The only thing that you can do is embrace these changes and learn more about aging hair so you can handle them with grace.
Your hair starts to change as you age due to natural and behavioral factors.
Naturally, your hair ages because of the weathering of your hair follicles.
In some cases, you may notice that with time, they stop producing new follicles completely.
Among the major causes of changes in your hair once you age are the following.
Hormonal changes triggered by age are among the major causes of aging hair in women.
It could be primarily because of your declining estrogen brought on by menopause, which may hamper your hair growth cycle.
Once your estrogen level declines, your hair follicles will be affected in a way that they will go to the resting phase.
The result is faster shedding of hair strands, leading to hair loss.
Low progesterone levels also result in hair loss. The reason is progesterone plays a major role in mitigating DHT levels that trigger thinning hair.
The decline in your estrogen may make your hair more sensitive to DHT.
Hormonal changes linked to age also negatively affect your ability to produce natural oils necessary for keeping your scalp and hair protected.
You need these oils or sebum to moisturize and strengthen your hair and make them more elastic.
They are also necessary for preventing breakage.
Changes in your hormones, though, may cause a sudden reduction in the production of the oils.
Stress is also another reason for aging hair. It can aggravate the symptoms of menopause, including mood swings, depression, and anxiety.
The problem with stress is that it can hinder the healthy function of your follicles.
It can also impact the level of cortisol, which also affects healthy hair growth.
Your hair will also show symptoms of aging because of harsh hairstyling, specifically with hot hairstyling tools.
Your aging hair is already too delicate so you should lessen your use of hot tools and harsh hairstyles.
If you really have to use hairstyling tools that produce heat, like your blow dryer, flat iron, or curling iron, protect your hair first by using heat protection and taming spray.
As you age, you will also become less capable of absorbing essential nutrients.
This means that even if you follow a healthy diet rich in nutrients, it is still insufficient in feeding your vital organs and parts, including your hair.
The fact that your body lacks nutrients also means that your tresses will become thinner and less elastic.
With that, you have to make sure that you pair up your healthy diet with the right supplements, particularly those rich in biotin, folic acid, iron, and Vitamins A, B, C, D, and E.
All these nutrients work together in making your hair look healthy, thick, and shiny and keeping your scalp hydrated.
You will know that your hair is already aging if you experience and notice any of the following:
Gray hair, Brittle or thinning hair, Loss of thickness, shine, and volume, Dullness, Coarseness, Changes in texture, Fading of natural hair color.
Understanding these signs and their possible causes is the ultimate means of preventing your hair from aging prematurely.
There are some symptoms, such as hair loss, that are triggered by genetics or are hereditary.
Other factors that may cause them are harsh hair treatments and vitamin deficiency.
Depending on the symptoms and the cause of aging hair you are experiencing, here are some of the things you can do to manage and handle them.
The frequency of washing your hair usually depends on your hair type.
Note, though, that no matter what type of hair you have, washing too often or over washing may result in brittleness and dryness.
Avoid overdoing the use of shampoo, too.
Also, apply shampoo specifically designed for your hair type, whether it is dry, oily, or normal.
Use the appropriate conditioner and volumizing products.
Conditioner is necessary for keeping your locks healthy.
You need it to moisturize your hair and replenish its natural oils and sheen.
Choose volumizing conditioners and hair products so you can add fullness to your hair, plumping each strand, giving it more volume.
One thing to note about your gray hair as you age is that it is more sensitive to environmental and external factors, such as pollution or weather.
This is the reason why they are prone to getting frizzy and dry.
With that in mind, you need to use the right shampoo.
Go for one designed specifically for gray or silver strands.
Pick one known for hydrating hair, boosting shine, and getting rid of brassiness.
You need to keep your scalp healthy to prevent accelerated changes in texture.
In this case, you may need to incorporate treatment into your hair care routines, such as applying a serum or scrub.
This should help in balancing your scalp.
You may want to use micro exfoliating scalp scrub to remove scalp buildup while moisturizing and hydrating it regardless of your hair texture and type.
You may also want to use a fortifying hair and scalp serum to nourish not only your scalp but also your follicles.
This can condition your roots and skin, which is a good thing as it can develop the perfect environment for hair that looks healthier and stronger.
You can also help your aging hair become healthier and thicker by eating healthily.
As much as possible, your diet should consist of protein rich foods.
The reason is that your hair follicles mainly consist of protein.
Protein deficiency may, therefore, result in hair loss.
To avoid that and support your aging hair, eat some low fat red meat at least twice every week.
Other nutritious foods that can give you healthy and lush locks even as you age are the following:
Green leafy vegetables, like spinach, as they are rich in nutrients that support healthy hair, including Vitamins A and C, iron, and folate.
Eggs that have biotin necessary for hair protein.
Omega 3, You can get this nutrient that is essential for hair growth from fatty fish, such as salmon.
Avocados that have high Omega 3 fatty acid and Vitamin E content that can also promote the good health of your hair.
Berries, including raspberries and strawberries, that are rich in antioxidants and Vitamin C.
These nutrients can benefit your hair and immune system. The high
Vitamin C in berries also supports collagen production, which is a hair protein useful in strengthening your hair.
Combine a healthy diet with a regular intake of multivitamins.
It should be able to replenish nutrients, thereby giving you the help you need to grow hair and fight the symptoms of aging hair.
Author: Mary Cris Dumdum from Better Not Younger
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