If you are blessed enough it will happen to you too, aging. Just about everything changes with age, some for the better and some not. I think the younger generation has a better grasp on caring for their skin and hair than we did when we were young. But it is never too soon or late to begin a good routine. I have been asking myself over the past several years: why is my hair so dry as I age?!
Some days I feel it more than others, aching bones, can’t eat what I used to, wrinkles, and dry, brittle hair. It seems like we should be rewarded for all the stressful times in life that we go through! I guess the reward is that we are blessed to have another year to spend with our loved ones. Who can complain about that? I seem to be able to when I am waking up in the middle of the night with hip pain! Lol!
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Are My Lack of Hormones Making My Hair Dry?
As we age our hormones change also. They can affect both our hair and skin. A dip in hormone levels, especially Estrogen, triggers a reduction in sebum production. That in turn creates a drier scalp and hair strands. We did a blog post a while ago, The Connection Between Mature Dry Skin. You can read that here.
Have you noticed your hair looking dull, dry, and brittle? And are you over the age of 40? You might want to chat with your doctor about having your hormone levels checked. As your Estrogen production decreases, it slows down your body’s oil production and it also reduces the body’s ability to keep moisture.
Loss of Pigmentation
Have you noticed more gray or white hair? I know I have! Especially after I lost a ton of hair after having Covid. The hair that grew back has a lot of white/gray in it. As we age our hair follicles produce less pigmentation (melanin) which causes our hair to turn gray or white. So gray hair has less pigmentation and less sebum and that’s what gives it that wiry and dry texture.
Unhealthy Scalp
I have said it many times around here and I will keep saying it! Lol! You cannot have healthy hair without a healthy scalp. Part of the problem as we age is the lack of oil production. Actually, it’s a big problem! We did a blog post a while ago, The Secret to A Healthy Scalp. You can read that here.
As our scalp ages, scientists have found that over time hair follicles get smaller, and the scalp gets drier. That is one of the many reasons some people feel like their hair feels thinner and drier.
Tips To Help Your Hair as It Ages
We don’t have to wait until we hit a certain age to start doing these things. These are a good idea for everyone, but they will help if you are having issues due to getting a little older!
• See Your Doctor:
Start with seeing your doctor to make sure everything is good! Have them check your hormone levels. This will also give you peace of mind!
• Oil Treatments:
A big part of having a healthy scalp no matter what your age is doing a weekly oil treatment. My favorite oil to use is Rejuveniqe Oil. You can find that here. Doing a weekly oil treatment will help to balance and hydrate your scalp and hair.
• Hydrate:
That’s right! Drink your water! Staying hydrated will help keep your scalp and hair from becoming dehydrated and dry. Our body is made up of about 50-70% water. So, staying hydrated is important. Experts recommend that you drink half your body weight in ounces.
• Turn Down the Water Temperature:
I know that taking a hot shower or bath feels so good, but it can dry out your scalp and hair. Hot water can strip your hair of its natural oils. And since our mature hair is already starting to lack some of its natural oils let’s not help it out any! Just turn down the temperature a little.
• Protect from Sun Damage:
Yep even our scalp and hair need to be protected from sun damage. You can get skin cancer on your scalp. The sun can also make our hair drier and fade our color. I recommend using sunscreen for your scalp and hair like Coola Scalp & Hair Mist. Or wearing a wide-brim sun hat.
• Wash Less Often:
I used to wash my hair every day. I do not anymore. And most people do not need to, especially if they feel like their scalp and hair, are on the dry side. It is a good idea to reevaluate our wash routine every couple of years. Just because you always washed your hair every other day doesn’t mean you still should. As we age and our hair stops producing as much oil, we don’t need to wash it as often. Over-shampooing can cause our scalp to become drier or trick it into thinking we have an oily scalp when we don’t.
I hope this post helped with any questions you have about why your hair is so dry as you age. We have several blog posts that you might find helpful if you are looking for hair tips. Take a look around! And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter so you don’t miss anything!
Please share your thoughts below in the comments. Are you struggling with any of these issues currently?
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