Maintaining Thick and Healthy Hair as You Age
As years go by, you may have noticed thinning or shedding hair on your scalp. This can be frustrating, especially if you have naturally thicker hair. While there is no single, easy answer as to why hair loss occurs as you age, there are several things you can do to help prevent it and maintain healthy hair as you age.
What Causes Hair Loss as You Age?
The primary reason for hair loss in women as they age is the same as it is for men: a loss of estrogen, a female sex hormone. This causes the hair follicles to shrink and become less able to produce hair. Other causes of hair loss in women include: aging, pregnancy, hormonal changes, certain medications, and genetic hair loss. If you notice that your hair is becoming finer and thinner on your scalp, this may be a sign that you have a hormonal imbalance.
The biggest change you’ll notice on your scalp and hair as you age is a reduction in density. Hair follicles tend to shrink and become less able to produce hair. This is often referred to as “sagging” or “old hair.”
But while hair loss is a common symptom of aging, it doesn’t have to be the case. The good news is that there are ways to grow thicker hair as you age — you just have to know what to do and where to find the best resources. Here’s everything you need to know about maintaining healthy hair as you age.
Use Serums and Oils with Friendly Ingredients
When you think of your hair, you probably don’t think of your scalp. But your scalp is an integral part of your hair — it helps support, protect, and nourish your hair. The scalp also produces a variety of hair-related molecules that affect the health and growth of your hair. The most well-known of these is the sebum, a waxy, oily substance secreted by the sebaceous glands of the scalp.
If you want to grow thicker hair, the first thing you need to do is ensure that your body is healthy. This means incorporating a variety of serums and oils into your routine to help your hair, skin, and nails stay healthy. Some of the best serums and oils for hair growth are those that contain biotin, which helps your hair grow stronger and more resilient. Biotin is also a component of many supplements. Coconut oil and argan oil are also very popular due to their ability to restore nutrients such as vitamin E.
Look Into Your Current Diet
Food that you eat on a daily basis can also boost hair growth, in addition to supplements that promote the growth of stronger, thicker hair. Some of the best foods to eat for hair growth are those that contain biotin like organ meats, eggs, fish, meat, seeds, nuts, and certain vegetables. Other foods to consider include chia seeds and avocados, which have a high content of vitamin E and fatty acids.
Know How to Style Your Hair
One of the best ways to grow thicker hair is to style it in a way that works with your hair type. If you have fine hair, for example, it’s best to avoid styles that pull on your strands and damage your hair. Instead, focus on styles that add volume and thickness to your hair. Some of the best ways to do this are to use volumizing products and to use a flat iron on the ends of your hair.
Avoiding regular use of high temperatures on your hair will also decrease damage to your hair. Blow drying, curling and flat ironing regularly will damage delicate hair molecules. Instead, opt for air drying, and scrunching the hair with nourishing products.
Wash Your Hair Less Frequently
Instead of washing your hair every day, try washing your hair less frequently. This will help to keep the hair maintain its natural oils, which will ultimately prevent dry and brittle hair. Try washing every other day as a starting point, and if you find that your hair is still looking slightly stringy and oily, consider using dry shampoo until your next wash day.
Seeking the advice of a professional stylist to help you achieve maximum hair health at any stage in life. Book an appointment with us today at Imagique Salon Suites, and indulge yourself with the help of professionals.