Is Vitamin A really the best haircare defense against hair loss and breakage? As we age, hair becomes much more prone to loss, thinning, and breakage. Understanding which essential vitamins and minerals your body and hair need is the first step to enjoying thick and healthy hair at any age. For women over 40, vitamin deficiencies can be a key element in hair loss. What are the best vitamins and minerals for hair loss in women over 40?
Hair length is an essential topic for many women. It can take effort to maintain, but the confidence we feel with long hair can outweigh the downside. Long hair needs regular trims, a healthy diet, and plenty of TLC. Long hair maintenance becomes even more troubling once we reach our 40s and 50s. Physiological challenges, including menopause, can hinder our ability to “grow it, show it — long as I can grow it” as the song lyrics go.
A healthy hair count starts with a healthy scalp. Through the years, our bodies change, and our skin becomes dryer and loses elasticity. This is true for our scalps as well. Located in the outer layer (epidermis) are tiny pockets called hair follicles in charge of growing nearly 100,000 hairs on your scalp. Physiological changes in your body lead to "follicular miniaturization," where strands grow in wispier, and some follicles shut down completely.
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.
