How Your Hair Changes As You Age, Plus What to Do About It
It is natural for your hair texture to change as you get older. Depending on your hair type, these changes can vary.
If you notice that your curly hair is less bouncy or that your straight hair is more wavy or coarse, all is not lost.
You can learn how to care for and embrace your new hair texture with some changes to your routine and expert tips.
The hair can change as you get older.
Hair thinning
A change in texture is one of the changes that can be made to your hair as you age. You may notice that your hair is thinner or duller than usual.
According to dermatologist Janiene Luke, MD, this has to do with changing hair growth cycles. Luke notes that the anagen growing phase, or the period when the hair shaft is actively generated and extended, becomes shorter.
Additionally, some follicles may stop producing new hair altogether. This can cause hair density to decrease.
“The diameter of the hair becomes smaller,” says Luke. “Sebum, your body’s natural oil production, declines with age, which results in hair that is not as shiny, soft or smooth.”
The anagen phase can become less effective and cause thinner hair.
Hair loss
Aging is one of the most common causes of hair loss, also known as alopecia areata. That’s because hormone levels change as you age.
It’s normal to lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day because your body continually grows new hair and sheds old hair. This rate stays stable throughout life, though hair growth declines.
Roshan Vara, co-founder of The Treatment Rooms London, notes that hair loss in people assigned male at birth (AMAB) is known as male pattern baldness, while hair loss in people assigned female at birth (AFAB) is known as female pattern baldness.
Both are similar, except that hair loss is different.
Stress can also contribute to hair loss, whether it’s emotional stress or the result of a life-changing event.
“Stress molecules, such as cortisol, can target and damage the hair follicles over time”, explains Simone Thomas, founder of Simone Thomas Wellness Clinic. “These aspects may encourage hair loss as we age.”
Hair loss or bald patches are symptoms.
Graying hair
As you age, your hair can also become gray as it loses melanin.
The melanocytes are produced by melannin, a component that is a pigment. The cells that play a role in the color of your hair are called cells.
“The decrease in melanocytes is thought to be the cause of gray hair. When our cells don’t produce enough melanin, gray hair and white hair can occur.”
As you age, the texture of your hair may change as well.
The change in texture is determined by the hair type.
Understanding your hair type is the key to learning how to style and maintain your hair.
“You can’t prevent hair changes as a result of aging, but you can slow them down by understanding why you experience them.”
External factors can affect how your hair changes over time, according to a proposal by Luke.
These include:
Thomas, who is also a nutrition and hair loss consultant, suggests that poor digestive health and gut conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), can contribute to aging hair loss.
In fact,
Thomas says that stress can affect hair health over time.
“Stress hormones such as cortisol can target and damage the hair follicles, which can trigger hair loss as we age,” she adds. “Significant events such as menopause or thyroid problems may dry out the hair, causing it to feel brittle or break. These issues can cause thinning of the hair, contributing to aging hair loss.”
Your hair is made of one or more of three basic It was thick.nesses.
- fine
- Medium.
- It was thick.
You can apply the thread test to determine your hair It was thick.ness: Fine hair is thinner than a thread, Medium. hair is approximately the same width, and It was thick. or coarser hair is It was thick.er than a thread.
In addition to It was thick.ness, your hair type is determined by
If you want to understand more about your hair type, the Andre Walker hair typing system is a good place to start. It’s the most widely used system to classify hair with four categories of hair types. All four hair types also have subcategories that go into more detail about the tightness or looseness of the curls and coils.
You may have hair at your crown and temples. Your hair could be straight at the root or wavy at the ends.
This can make styling and management difficult. You can tailor your hair care regimen to match your hair type by understanding what it is you want.
Type 1: Straight
Type 1 hair doesn’t have natural curl. The individual strands may be fine or coarse, It was thick. or thin, but they fall without waving from root to tip.
Vara says that if you have straight hair, it will become more natural as you age. The hair is becoming duller and more dry as your skin ages, as it decreases the amount of oil it produces.
Type 2: Wavy
The natural state of wavy hair is soft and smooth. Straight hair can be found from the roots to the eye level. You have a wave from eye level to the end.
If you have wavy or curly hair, you may know that it is possible to have more than one pattern in different parts of your hair. This is more common in older hair.
Type 3: Curly
Curly hair has s-shaped curls that form loose loops. The large end of a candle has a larger circumference than the curls.
As you get older, your curls may drop, loosen, or even form new curl patterns due to hormonal changes, like menopause.
Environmental factors such as gravity, climate, and pollution also play a part. The thinner and weaker your hair is, the less likely it is to curl.
Type 4: Coils
The s-shaped coil is the curl pattern for 4A hair.
As you get older, you may notice your coily hair is more prone to dryness and breakage. This is because coily hair retains less moisture due to the structure of the hair shaft.
Vara says that the hairs lack shine and smoothness.
Your hair may look more unruly and difficult to style.
Vara recommends gentle styling and management as a lack of natural oils can cause dehydration and damage to your hair.
Hair density refers to the number of hairs on your head. If you can see your scalp even without parting your hair, you probably have low hair density.
A new hair care regimen or prescription medication can help with hair loss.
You can find the right hair care regimen for your hair with the help of a few things.
Shampoo and conditioner
Thomas says a healthy hair is dependent on a healthy scalp. It is important to keep your hair well-fed.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends you wash your hair with shampoo often, according to your hair type.
A
If you need help It was thick.ening your hair, Minoxidil (Rogaine) may help. It can be bought over the counter, but it’s important to consider potential side effects before using this treatment, some of which can be serious.
Straight and wavy hair
Straight or wavy hair can become oily if it is.
Your hair can be washed too often. Many people recommend avoiding products such as butters and heavy creams.
According to a
This can involve something.
- Dry or gentle hair removal.
- You can gently dry your hair with a towel.
- Texture sprays can be used to volumize your hair.
“Your hair may become dry as it ages. When it is dry, don’t comb or brush your hair.”
This can cause your hair to split.
Curly and coily hair
Curly and coily hair types are more prone to dry out than straight and wavy hair.
Curly and coily hair is more prone to break and dry than other hair types as it becomes thinner and weaker as you age.
If you want to add bounce and shine to your natural hair, you need a good hair care routine and products.
When buying products, focus on shampoo and conditioners that are specifically designed for curly hair. These products can help add moisture to your hair.
It is best to avoid hair products that will dry out or weigh your hair down.
To care for curly or coily hair, the AAD recommends these tips:
- When you need to wash your hair, wash it.
- Keep your hair dry.
- Take care of your scalp.
- Remove hair.
- Protect your hair from the sun.
- While you sleep, wash your hair.
Your hair is stripped of its protective barrier after it is washed. Vara recommends using a conditioner.
He says that this helps to keep the hair shaft from drying out.
While some people celebrate gray hair as a mark of their maturity and wisdom, others may feel that their youthful appearance is disappearing.
If you are worried about gray hairs, dying your hair may be a solution.
People can camouflage gray hair by rearranging their hair part or using products that target their roots. If someone dyes their hair, I recommend having it done with a professional and spacing out treatments to help decrease cumulative damage over time.
Your hair texture will change as you age.
It may appear gray and less dense.
“It can take a while to get used to, but don’t be discouraged. There are some steps you can take to embrace your hair texture.”
A British-Ghanaian writer, who is an author, is passionate about health equity, reproductive freedom, and justice. She is interested in raising awareness about healthcare issues for Black women. She has written for publications such as Healthline, The Independent, Flo app, Metro UK, and HuffPost. She is working on a book.
