| 5 noticeable changes in your hair after 40 |
| As we fabulously mature in age, some of us begin to notice quite a bit of changes in our body, externally and internally. Changes in the makeup of our hair are no exception. Over the years, I’ve noticed considerable changes in some of my client’s hair, which in turn peaked my curiosity enough to study the hair & scalp even further. I wanted to know why these changes occurred and what could possibly be done about it. Quite a few of my clients have expressed concerns about their hair, wondering what in the world is going on with my hair? Where in the world did my hair go? Is my hair is thinning? etc…. While these are some issues that are guaranteed to occur in most women that are gracefully aging, it is still quite mind boggling to some and certainly not something anyone looks forward to. Nevertheless, it is a subject that many women will eventually have a discussion about with their doctor and/or stylist. In the effort to shed some light on the issue, I have listed below the five most common changes that may occur as we mature along with some solutions to assist with the transition.
(Disclaimer: for some, these changes may occur before or much later in life) 5 changes in the hair affected by age: 1. Color With the exception of those who are genetically gray prematurely, as we age the reduction of melanin produced in the hair follicle decreases, therefore causing the hair strand to grow from the scalp with very little or no color. Ready or not, say hello to the grays. The gray hairs show up in various degrees depending on the individual. These new colorless hairs have a texture all their own and will require a bit of taming and patience :). Solution: 1.Opt to have your hair colored by a professional, with a color line designed to blend and/or cover gray hair. 2.Enhance the gray hair with a clear color gloss for softness and shine 3. Simply embrace your mixture and leave it alone. 2. Density Among other things that change in our 40’s, the loss of density in the hair is quite common and a nagging pain in the Butt for most women. Millions of women suffer from some form of hair loss, the most common cause is hereditary hair loss or androgenetic alopecia. We can chalk this up to our chaotic hormones. Typically what happens is the hair follicles become more sensitive to the male hormone, testosterone which is converted to a more potent hormone ( DHT) , that causes the hair follicle to shrink and can only produce fine, weaker, shorter hairs or in some cases none at all. (click here for further info on DHT http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/… ). Solution: Short of surgical options, you may go the medical or cosmetic route. Medically, the use of 2% minoxidil will stop the hair follicles from shrinking and reverse the hair loss process. Cosmetically, you may use hair products that will offer a temporary fix until the hair is shampooed again. A sprinkle of hair fibers (http://xfusionhair.com/) can also offer a temporary fix in sparse areas of the hair. Finally, there’s always the option of a thickening shampoo & conditioner which plump the hair follicles temporarily. 3. Growth Does it seem as if hair growth has come to a halt? The hair may be spending less time in the growth (anagen) phase and more time in the resting (catagen) phase causing the hair to grow much slower and not as long. In laymen’s terms,the hair is in fact growing, the hair is just hanging out in the non-growth stage much longer than normal. For more info on the hair growth cycle click here:http://www.philipkingsley.com/hair-guide/hair-scie…. Solution: 1.Minoxidil wins again. This solution I mentioned above will allow the hair to stay in the anagen phase (the growth stage) much longer and grow faster. 2.There’s also many natural remedies including essential oils that help improve circulation and stimulate hair growth. Caution, when mixing oils, make sure to educate yourself on oils that are or are not inter-mixable. 3.Making sure your body is getting the sufficient amount of vitamins and minerals is also crucial to a healthy scalp. Start by keeping your blood work updated, this will shed some light on any deficiencies in the body. 4. Strength & Elasticity The hair becomes more fragile and weak as the protein levels begin to drop. In this condition, hair is more prone to breakage if not treated with care. Solution: Treating your tresses to a protein and hydration treatment periodically would assist in keeping the integrity, strength and moisture balance of the hair intact. Using a heat protectant product before applying any heat is ideal. If at all possible, try to avoid using hot tools on soiled (un-clean) hair. 5. Shine & texture Dull, lackluster hair is certainly not cute and yet it seems there comes a time when no matter what you do, you just can’t get that shine and body you once had. Unfortunately, the loss of fatty acids and keratin makes hair more prone to dull looking hair. In addition, the gray hairs that are now surfacing tend to be more on the wiry lackluster side and can add to the lackluster hair. Solution 1.Outside of regular basicconditioners. a more intense hydrating conditioning treatment, with steam, would be ideal. 2.Adding a color gloss can also add some shine and dimension to dull lackluster hair. 3. Using a light oil can keep dryness at bay in between shampoos. If you are experiencing any of the above issues, I encourage you to have the conversation with your doctor and hairstylist to find the best solution for you. |
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