Ageing is a fact. But often when we hear the term, what comes to mind is skincare.
Even though our skin tends to show signs of ageing more than our hair, the fact is ageing hair needs the same attention and consideration. However, before we understand how to take care of ageing hair lets first identify the signs of an ageing mane.
- Hair loss – except alopecia areata which is an autoimmune condition, hair loss can happen as your hair ages. Over time, the hair follicles produce finer strands which end up falling out. Additionally, hair production may stop. Its worth to note that factors like nutrition, genetics, hormonal changes also play a role in this.
- Grey hair – Grey hair is as a result of changes in the natural pigment which happen as we age. The decrease in pigment cells products leads to the hair colour fading and eventually turning grey. Grey hair is recognised as the most common sign of ageing and it can occur in people of different ages. From as young as 15 to as old as can be.
- Hair texture changes – since ageing leads to finer hair strands it is possible to notice some changes in hair texture. Another factor is menopause, which estrogen levels and thus thin and stalled hair growth. These are the 7 reasons why your hair is damaged and how to repair it
How then should you take care of ageing hair?
- Wash your hair less often
How often you should wash your hair depends on several factors. These include your hair porosity, your routine, mood, occasion or hair texture.
For instance, while it might be common for people with finer hair textures to wash hair more often, washing kinky hair as much could lead to dryness and brittleness.
Hair porosity also tends to influence how frequent you should wash your hair to avoid stripping it of moisture or the hair accumulating too much build-up.
Nevertheless, washing ageing hair too often does more damage than good. According to research our scalps age six times faster than our facial skin. This causes a dry scalp on top of the fact that hormonal changes also decrease sebum production. Therefore washing hair frequently does not only strip the hair of its natural oils, but it also leads to dryness, brittleness, itching and dandruff. Here’s a guide to preventing excess hair breakage
2. Massage your scalp regularly
Make it a habit to massage your scalp to stimulate blood flow towards the hair follicles and the release of natural oils. You can massage your hair as you shampoo it or whenever you oil it. Massaging the scalp is also beneficial since it promotes hair growth.
3. Invest in ultra-moisturising formulas
Not to scare you but what this means is that you should always opt for products that can add moisture to your hair as opposed to those that strip it off. Avoid clarifying shampoos and conditioners that contain drying agents such as sodium lauryl sulphates and isopropyl alcohols.
4. Try a scalp exfoliating treatment
Product build-up and dirt can cause the pores on your scalp to clog. Over time this could affect the absorption of protein, which is essential in strengthening the hair. Eventually, you might start noticing your hair thinning and increased breakage. This is where a scalp exfoliating treatment comes in. A scalp exfoliating treatment unclogs pores- for better absorption of products and protein treatments, stimulates cells turnover, and promotes hair growth. This reduces hair thinning and prevents further hair loss.
5. Avoid heat styling
Heat causes damage to your hair. However, the damage is even much worse on ageing hair. This is because ageing hair is thinner and it tends to lose moisture faster than young hair. For this reason, it is important not to subject ageing hair to too much heat and styling as it could lose elasticity and break even more. But if you must use heat first apply a heat protectant.
Learn more on how to take care of natural hair and How To Take Care Of Colour Treated Hair
