The Better Blog

Sulfates are primarily responsible for the thick lather that forms when you clean with soaps and detergents. Some people say their hair feels cleaner after using sulfate shampoos; however, these shampoos can have a detrimental effect on your hair and scalp — exacerbating the challenges aging women face with hormone-related thinning and fine-textured hair.

Though most women ingest enough nutrients to support hair and scalp health through their diet, aging, medical conditions, and other issues could lead to vitamin deficiencies.

Hair supplements are products containing vitamins, minerals, and other micronutrients designed to ensure you are getting enough vital substances your body needs to produce dense, thriving locks.

All hair, nail, and skin supplements typically include vitamins A, C, and E, plus B-complex vitamins, and biotin. Marine collagens are also found in supplements promoted for healthy hair. Though uncommon, women with vitamin deficiencies can experience a number of side effects.

For example, biotin deficiency can lead to hair loss and scalp eczema, while insufficient consumption of A and E vitamins can leave you with dry skin and brittle hair. Read on to learn how hair supplements work.

Hair loss is a fact of life a lot of us will have to face. According to the Cleveland Clinic, one out of two women will face noticeable thinning. Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is the most common cause, affecting nearly 30 million U.S. women. No matter how healthy and voluminous your locks have been, at some point, we are bound to notice more scalp showing through our strands. Age-related hair loss can be challenging to contend with; however, there are methods available to treat it.

Nothing messes up a relaxing hot shower like the discovery of a clump of hair in your drain. More likely than not, you are dealing with seasonal hair loss. According to research studies, your hair’s growth cycle follows a seasonal trend related to how your body reacts to the changes to the amount of sunlight it receives. The good news is that you can help slow shedding and boost hair and scalp health during the colder seasons. Keep reading to learn why we lose more hair during the fall and winter months and what we can do about it.

The scalp is where our follicles are, where the hair strand is still alive and can benefit from the proper care. Sebaceous glands are also located in the scalp, producing oils that help coat hair strands providing elasticity and resilience and also helping to keep scalp skin moisturized. Underneath the first layer of the skin there are many capillary bases, an area with many blood vessels that help nourish the hair.

Who doesn’t love those 10 or 15 minutes of lying, head back, in the salon sink, and receiving a tranquil scalp massage from their stylist? That is usually the best part of the appointment because it feels incredible and yields a number of health benefits, from the exfoliating of product build-up to generating stronger strands. It can be especially beneficial for those of us with aging hair and scalps. Regular scalp massages can wake up skin oil production, improving the quality and texture of our tresses. Read on to further explore whether it’s a good idea to get regular scalp massages.

Many of us use serums as part of our daily skincare routines to smooth wrinkles, reduce age spots, lift bags, and moisturize our face and neck. Just as vital is scalp and hair care serums. Quality hair and scalp serums can curb thinning, hair loss, breakage, and other age-related issues. However, just as the different types of serums vary, so do the different ways to apply them to get the best results. To get the most out of the hair care products you purchase, make sure you are using them correctly. Let's look at the different types of serums and whether it is better to put each on wet or dry hair.

Baby fine hair is soft to touch and looks great on babies — not so much on us. When we reach menopause, most of us are looking for ways to thicken our locks and improve density. It can be challenging to make our mane appear thicker because many products weigh down your hair, or worse, make it look greasy. However, there are answers to your thin-hair dilemma, so read on to discover what products make hair look thicker.

Conditioning alone may not be enough to keep our strands looking shiny and strong. As we age, our hair biology turns our once hydrated, healthy locks into a brittle straw. A hair mask (or masque) moisturizes, nourishes, and repairs your hair — safeguarding it against injury from harsh products, high-temp styling tools, and over-brushing. Masques are perfect for age-related thinning and dryness and are formulated with a blend of hydrating butters that contain hair softeners to moisturize your hair and scalp.

The roles of hair masks and conditioners can sometimes be confusing. Some women think that because they use conditioners, they can forgo hair masks. This may be true for certain women; however, when we hit our 40s and head into our 50s, our hair becomes drier and thinner. Our scalps start lacking the proper nutrients to produce healthy strands, our follicles begin shrinking, and our hair texture becomes finer than it once was.

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!

Sulfate-free shampoos incorporate low-lather cleansers and natural hydrating agents that gently clean and nourish your hair and scalp. The distinction between sulfate and sulfate-free shampoos can, by and large, have a lasting impact on the pleasure you get from your aging hair.