We go through a lot of changes as we age, but wrinkles and creaky bones aren’t the only things to look forward to as we get older. Unfortunately, we also have to deal with aging hair. Most people experience at least some hair loss as they get older. That thick mane you rocked in your youth will gradually become finer and even lighter in color. The good news is that you can enjoy healthy hair long into your golden years if you pay attention to your hair care routine, use the right hair products, and make a few essential changes to your lifestyle. Here's everything you need to know about feeling great about your hair at any age.
Why Does Aging Lead to Hair Loss?
As you get older, not only does the rate of hair growth slow down, but the strands become smaller. This leads to thinning hair and hair loss. Also, your hair follicles make less melanin, which can cause gray hair. In addition, both men and women can develop a type of baldness as they age, as hair becomes less dense and the scalp starts to show through. Other hair changes can include dry hair due to shrinking oil glands that keep natural oils from reaching the end of the hair shaft.
But like your favorite fine wine, there’s no reason why both you and your hair can't get better with age and grow old gracefully together. Here are a few easy ways to care for your locks now and for the long term.
Choose Hair Care Products that Work for You, Not Against You
Although we can’t stop the hands of time, we can slow them down by choosing the right hair products to support our hair. You've heard about keratin, the protein that the body produces to make hair, skin, and nails. Over time, we produce less and less keratin, which makes up 95% of hair. Adding more of this protein to your hair care routine is a great way to counter this natural slowing. Impossible Keratin™️ by Lu is a plant-based keratin formulation that increases the hair's tensile strength and helps it retain more moisture, which leads to less breakage and split ends - two common side effects of aging hair. In fact, Impossible Keratin gives you three times the strength and flexibility of regular keratin, giving you shinier, healthier hair with every wash.
Another anti-aging hair care routine to adopt is to ditch any shampoos, conditioners, and other products with harsh chemicals that can stress and damage your hair. And while you're at it, give those heat styling tools a rest, too. A gentle shampoo and conditioner not only cleans, but protects your locks. Lu offers a full range of hair care products that are free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and colorants. Lu's custom formulations lock in moisture, nourish the hair shaft, and prevent further damage and breakage. It's a more natural (not to mention cruelty-free) way to improve your hair health today, tomorrow, and for years to come.
Change Your Diet
People tend to eat less as they get older due to changes to their digestive system, hormones, and even the way things taste. This can lead to nutritional deficiencies that in turn impact hair health. Changing your diet can make a big difference to your hair and your body fighting the onset of aging for longer. Shop for hair-friendly foods that are rich in vitamins B12 and D, biotin, riboflavin and iron, like:
- Eggs - an excellent source of biotin, which can help restore your roots
- Spinach - packed full of vitamins and iron to give your hair a boost
- Fatty fish - provides omega-3 that can increase hair density
Go Longer Between Washes
Age is just a number, right? Make this statement a reality by supporting your body in any way you can. One way to do this is by going longer between washes. The natural oil production by your scalp is another thing that slows down as we age, which means older people don’t produce as much oil, or sebum, as younger people, especially women who have already gone through menopause. That means you can extend the time between washes as you get older without your hair becoming too greasy. Going longer between washes can have a number of positive effects, including slowing hair loss, less breakages and split ends, and more volume.
Embrace the Gray
Gray hair, also known as “wisdom highlights,” are nothing to be afraid of. They're a natural part of the aging process, and hey, at least you still have hair to go gray! There’s definitely an empowering movement around celebrating the natural color of our locks, rather than using hair color to appear more youthful. If you're skeptical, don't worry, Salma Hayek is here to show you how it's done!
As soon as you decide to put the hair dye down, pick up Lu’s Rescue Collection. This restorative shampoo, conditioner and leave-in cream contains shatavari-infused glycerin, a medicinal plant rich in phytonutrients, antioxidants and vitamins, as well as Impossible Keratin. These powerful ingredients work together to fight the root cause of hair damage to deliver extreme shine and softness to every strand, and leave you with the bold, natural look you never knew you wanted.
Switch Up Your Style
[Image: Mature Latina woman with a youthful, tousled bob or a pixie cut]
If you’re still clinging onto the same look you’ve had since prom, it might be time to switch up your style. Of course, women can rock a range of styles and lengths as they get older, but there are some classic cuts that are easier to maintain as you age. Trying new things can help you live longer, so it might be time to shock your hairstylist with one of these new 'dos on your next visit to the salon:
- Curly girls may want to try a pixie cut with a V-cut nape, which creates a shaped look to show off the angles of the face.
- A tousled bob is a choppy look that looks even better when messy, and is great for any hair type.
- Try asymmetrical bangs for a fresh new look that shapes the face and looks great for all occasions.
As your hair ages, it may change its shape, color, and feel. A little TLC now can do wonders down the road for your locks, hell with healthy hair growth, and keep those wisdom highlights looking their best.
