The Better Blog

Whether your hair was a perpetual styling challenge or you were blessed with voluminous locks that effortlessly fell into place, menopause is the great equalizer. Age-related hair changes affect us all to some degree or another. Hormonal fluctuations dry out our scalps, interrupt hair growth cycles, and shrivel our follicles. In place of our robust strands grow wispy fibers that shed when we sneeze. With each passing year, this trend continues until we finally ask ourselves, “How can I thicken my hair?”

We often hear hair loss and hair shedding used interchangeably, but there is a difference between hair shedding and hair loss.

Hair shedding is a normal part of the hair growth cycle as the hair releases from the bulb, sheds and is replaced by new hair growth. Hair shedding occurs during the final phase of our natural hair growth cycle, while our follicles prepare for the start of the new cycle. There are times when hair shedding may seem pronounced and this may be an instance of seasonal hair shedding—but this too is normal and temporary.

Hair loss occurs when the natural hair growth cycle is disrupted (by something external or internal) and hair strands shed prematurely or grow back more slowly—at the far end of this spectrum is when hair growth stops completely and follicles no longer produce new hair strands. In cases of excessive shedding that lead to hair loss, healthy hair growth won’t resume until the cause of the hair loss stops or until treatment occurs. 

Keep reading to learn more about your natural hair growth cycle, how much hair shedding is normal and how you can fight excess hair shedding and hair loss.

TikTok is a treasure trove of all manner of things. Whether you’re looking for comedy skits, baby animals, baby animals doing comedy skits, or something else entirely, you’re sure to find it on the social media platform. What you can also find are all kinds of tips, tricks and hacks for your everyday life. One of the most plentiful things you’ll find are TikTok hair trends. 

TikTok hair trends can include anything from cool, new haircuts to hair color combos to try. But in this corner of TikTok, you’ll also find “hacks” for growing your hair longer, making it shinier and more. The thing about TikTok, though, is you can’t always count on it being true. 

If you’ve been scrolling and wondered, does brushing my hair before I shower prevent hair loss or can I bleach my hair with toothpaste? Let us help you get to the bottom of these TikTok hair trends and find out if they’re fact or fiction.

Hairspray can make or break a bad hair day. It fixes flyaways and helps keep gorgeous updos in place. And if you're like us, you've probably been using hairspray for decades. Using hairspray correctly seems like a no-brainer on the surface—simply apply the hairspray until your hair holds the style you want, right? 

Not exactly. 

Many of us aren't using hairspray correctly, which can damage our hair and cause a loss of hair shine and hair volume due to buildup. Keep reading to learn more about six common mistakes we make when applying hairspray and how you can make sure you're using hairspray correctly!

After the hot, muggy days of summer, crisp, cool autumn days are a welcome change! There's nothing better than kissing humidity and frizz goodbye for the year. Plus, there's football, cozy outfits and pumpkin spice lattes—yes, please! 

But these changes aren't the only ones that come with autumn. Along with switching up your outfits and latte orders, it's also essential to update your summer hair-care routine for one better suited to autumn weather and its decrease in sunlight for hair growth. (You can check out our after-summer hair-care guide here.) 

We know that we get less sunlight in autumn, but what is the effect of sunlight on our hair, exactly? Does it help or hurt our hair? And how do the sun's UV rays and vitamin D factor into sunlight's effect on our hair? 

Not to worry—we've got you! We dug into the role of sunlight for hair growth, how shorter days can impact our hair growth cycle and even the benefits of drying your hair in the sun. (Yes, there are benefits!) Keep reading to learn more about the effect of sunlight on your hair and how you can have healthy, gorgeous locks this autumn!

Rosemary is having a major moment in the spotlight, and we don't mean as a food seasoning. (Even though we love it for that, too!) TikTok and Instagram influencers tout the benefits of rosemary for hair, including increasing hair shine and preventing hair loss. From rosemary hair serums to homemade rosemary recipes for scalp care, the internet is buzzing about this herb's hair- and scalp-care possibilities! 

But does rosemary live up to all the hype? Do rosemary's hair benefits really include adding hair shine and fighting hair loss? 

We dug into what the science says about the benefits of rosemary for hair and scalp care to learn more about rosemary's real hair benefits. Keep reading to learn more about why we love rosemary hair serums for shinier-, thicker-looking hair and a healthier scalp!

We all know that heat styling can take a toll on our hair, and this includes blow-drying. While air-drying saves our strands from being subjected to heat, it can take a while for our hair to completely dry, leaving our scalps damp for longer and susceptible to irritation and fungal and bacterial growth. The best way to dry your hair without damaging it is to do a little bit of both: Air-dry your hair briefly and follow up with a quality blow-dryer.

If you're like many women over 40, you've probably noticed some of the first signs of hair thinning. Maybe your ponytail looks smaller or your stylist has commented on your thinning locks. Or maybe you've just noticed more hair in the shower drain and on your hairbrush.