Brain fog, lack of energy, sagging everything; there's a lot to cope with when it comes to the changes that occur in midlife. Just like our bodies, our tresses change as we age. Hair can become more coarse and unruly, it can thin or develop bare spots or lose its body. While this process can be frustrating or even scary, knowing some of the causes and things we can do to protect our hair integrity can relieve some of the confusion and anxiety.
The biggest player in how hair ages is genetics. If you want to peek into the future to see what your hair will do as it ages, take a look at your parents. Did they gray early? Did their hair thin significantly as they aged? Chances are your hair will follow a similar pattern.
Hormonal shifts have a huge effect on your hair. Menopause can trigger textural changes as estrogen drops and androgen hormones rise. Androgen hormones decrease hair's diameter, decreasing overall volume. Pregnancy also affects your hair. It's pretty common to have fuller, shinier hair during pregnancy with little to no shedding. 2-4 months postpartum, you can suddenly shed all of this extra hair. It can be pretty scary to see clumps of hair coming out in the shower, but rest assured, this is normal and won't last.
Diet, stress and mechanical damage also impact hair fullness and health. Making sure you are getting adequate amounts of protein, omega 3s and iron can ensure that your strands stay thicker longer. Stock up on superfoods like salmon, avocado, oysters and eggs to boost your mane's health.
Modern life is stressful and this added stress can raise levels of male hormones, causing hair to shed and appear thinner. Average daily shed is 50-100 strands per day so shedding should only be considered risky if you are losing more than this daily. Easy ways to reduce stress are regular exercise, yoga, and meditation.
How and what we use to style our hair can also affect how full it looks. If you notice your hair thinning at the ends rather than the roots, your hot tool habits may be damaging your hair. Make sure you are using high quality tools, preferably purchased from a salon. If you are using good tools, but still seeing breakage, try turning the heat down and use a heat protectant before flat ironing and curling.
So If your hair is starting to feel the effects of aging, work on managing stress, eat your superfoods and turn the hot tools down! Taking a multi-targeted approach promotes holistic health from roots to tip.