The Better Blog

Usually, we can expect to shed about 100 hairs each day. It’s part of the natural balance of your hair biology. Your hair follicles go through a cycle that includes growth, transition, and rest — but for many women, it may seem like their follicles are spending too much time resting. When your growth cycle is interrupted, and more hair falls out then grows in, hair loss occurs.

During our reproductive years, estrogen exists in our bodies at much higher levels. Our estrogen levels taper off throughout perimenopause and into menopause, causing dry skin, shrunken follicles, and tresses that seem to stop growing no matter what we do. Research has shown that estrogen can significantly impact skin physiology, including the sebaceous gland and hair follicle. Notably, aging effects can be delayed considerably by administering estrogen. This seems to indicate that estrogen helps hair growth. However, too much estrogen may hinder hair growth.

On average, women reach menopause at 51, and the years leading up to this milestone are known as perimenopause. Hormonal imbalances and other natural processes that we experience during perimenopause trigger a multitude of changes in our bodies: metabolism grows sluggish, wrinkles deepen, and our hair thins, dries up, and falls out!

Hair loss afflicts millions of people worldwide and causes a significant decrease in quality of life for patients. It is a common but difficult problem to treat since it has multiple causes. Therefore, combination treatments usually work best to combat hair loss. Hair loss can be a naturally occurring event in the life cycle of the hair.  The life cycle of hair has 3 phases: a long anagen (growth) phase, a very short catagen (transition) phase, and a short telogen (resting) phase where hairs fall out.

As the years go by, the volume and shine associated with young-looking hair may be replaced by brittle, fine, and dull hair, generally linked to aging. This transformation results from environmental and genetic influences that affect your hair shaft and follicle cells. Locating the best hair serum to counteract the unique hair-raising issues of aging is not a simple task. This is because not all serums are created equally — some can weigh your hair down while others leave it feeling sticky and often fail to treat the root problem.

In our quest for shiny, beautiful hair, we put our aging hair and scalps through a lot — we switch from sticky gels to mousses, to sprays, trying to infuse life into our dull, frizzy locks. The more products we use, the more residue is left behind on our scalps. Product buildup can interfere with the natural pH of your scalp, making it impossible to sprout glossy, hydrated locks. Cleaning the gunk and toxin buildup from your scalp unclogs your hair follicles, balancing your natural sebum oils and scalp pH.

Everyone yearns for healthy nails and vibrant hair. When we experience frizzy, lackluster locks, and dry, brittle nails no matter what we try, it can be disheartening. Most people identify Teflon nails and silky hair as a signal of health. Remaining active and eating a balanced diet are essential; however, sometimes, your nails and hair may need a boost. Taking nutritional supplements can invigorate scalp function and promote healthier, thicker hair while also improving your nails.

Many women feel reborn in their 40s and beyond, and exfoliation can bolster that renewed energy feeling. After all, through exfoliation, we literally buff away dead skin cells while making room for new ones to shine. This renewal-through-scrubbing has become a perpetual component of our face and body’s daily or weekly skincare regimen. Nevertheless, many of us forget that the scalp that anchors our hair is made of skin, too.

Color treatments, poor nutrition, lack of sunlight, too much sunlight, aging — it can all play a part in causing your dry and brittle hair. As you grow older, moisture-depleted dullness replaces the shine and volume that once came so naturally to your hair.

To achieve healthier, stronger, and thicker hair, you need a thriving scalp. Oil, dirt, sweat, and bulky hair products can leave residue behind that builds up on your scalp. This buildup causes dryness, itching, flakes, and ultimately leads to thinner and weaker hair.

Over the years, we witness our bodies changing — sagging, wrinkles, age spots, menopause. Hopefully, we have come to accept and love our evolving bodies; however, our aging hair may be a different story. Thinner hair can leave you feeling older than your years. Many women try to fix this problem by pulling out the hairspray or mousse to “pump up the volume,” which may have worked 25 years ago, but your locks have matured. Hairspray and mousse can stiffen and damage your hair, leaving you frustrated and sapping your self-esteem.

We have all heard the idiom, "fake it till you make it." But as our hair ages, we find ourselves experiencing more faking than making. Our follicles shrink as they age, making fewer or thinner hairs. Nearly 55% of women face hair loss by the time they reach 70 years old; the most common is called female pattern hair loss. In your 40s and beyond, your hair biology is more vulnerable than ever; therefore, it is crucial to find thickening products that work and are good for your hair and scalp.