The Better Blog
Help! Iâm Seeing Sunspots Around My Hairline
If you have noticed light brown or grayish patches on your skin at midlife, you're not alone! Nearly 83 million older Americans have discolored patches known as sunspots. They're especially common on the parts of the body most exposed to sunlight: the neck, forearms, hands and faceâand this includes your hairline.Â
The good news is that even though these sunspots might be unwanted and bothersome, they usually aren't cause for concern. They're simply clumps of melanin that appear due to sun exposure. And even though preventing sunspots is ideal, there are many ways to treat your existing sunspots to lighten and minimize the appearance of these dark patches and prevent further spots.Â
Read on to learn more about preventing sunspots on your face and hairline, and what you can do about sunspots if you already have them!
How to Bring Bounce Back to Your Curls
Throughout our lives, our hair is constantly changing, and as we get older, our hair absolutely needs more love than ever. Our strands start to age, which means theyâre a bit weaker, a bit grayer and less springyâespecially if weâve got curls and even damaged curly hair. The natural curl pattern in our hair inevitably changes (and often not in a way we welcome), but getting curls back to the bounce we want can be done with the right techniques and the right products.Â
If youâre looking to restore your natural curl pattern because your curls have lost their bounce or you have no curl definition at the roots and want to restore elasticity to natural hair, hereâs everything you need to know.
How Humidity Affects Different Hair Types
Why Does My Hair Tangle So Easily When Wet?
Tangled hair is a total pain. If your hair gets matted when wet or if your hair tangles after a shower you know how frustrating it can be, especially if you have thin aging hair thatâs already a bit high-maintenance. Wet hair is one of the most common causes of tangled hair youâll deal withâthough your strands can get tangled for a number of reasons (more on that a little later!). The good news? Getting knots out of hair doesnât have to be hard if you set yourself up for success.Â
Taking care of your hair properlyâlike using the right products and understanding your hair typeâcan make it so that next time your hair is tangled after a shower, it wonât be an absolute nightmare. Hereâs everything you need to know about why your hair gets so tangled, what to do when your hair gets matted when wet and why getting knots out of hair is no cause for panic.
Got Frizz? Summer Alone Isn't to Blame
With age, especially as we enter menopause, frizzy hair can become an everyday battle. Along with more significant fatigue, hot flashes, and thinning hair, a change in hair smoothness from hormonal fluctuations is yet another menopause symptom (though one that often surprises many of us), and the hot, humid days of summer only make matters worse. But unruly, frizzy hair during or after menopause doesnât have to be part of the plan. Keep reading for our list of 10 ways to tame menopause frizzy hair for smooth, manageable tresses all year round!
20 Haircare Hacks for Any Summer Adventure
Whether you're skipping town solo for a weekend to recharge or embarking on a road trip with family and friends, nothing beats a summer escape! But trying to pack lightly for these trips usually means leaving our full beauty and hair-care routine behind. Thatâs why we compiled 20 hair-care hacks to keep your locks looking gorgeous even when you're away from home! Read to learn more about traveling with natural hair, prep tips for protecting your aging tresses from the elements and the best travel hair-care products to bring along to keep your hair looking sleek and healthy while you're on the road!
Summer Fruits We Love for Our Hair
Fruits for hair health might not be something you ever considered when you sat down by the pool with your summer smoothie. But thereâs more to that refreshing drink than just the delicious flavor! Some of your favorite fruits are actually quite beneficial when it comes to hair loss, scalp moisture and strengthening hair follicles.Â
When we say fruits for hair, though, we donât necessarily mean that you should take a strawberry and smash it up into your strands. While it may smell niceâand there are certainly plenty of DIY fruit hair masks you can whip up to nourish your hair and supplement the fruits you already feed your hair through your dietâthere are added benefits to an actual fruit hair product thatâs formulated to help your hair.
Hair-care products often use fruit extracts and oils, which can help boost scalp moisture and tone down breakage. These ingredients can do even more, though, like protect hair from free radicals, nourish hair follicles, and even bring back shine to dull, aging hair. Plus, fruit hair products often smell good, too!Â
Thereâs a lot to love about fruits for hair health and how they can benefit your locks. Check out four of our favorite summer fruits for hair health and find out which Better Not Younger products you should reach for if you want to give fruit hair products a try.
Should You Mix Salicylic Acid and Retinol During Menopause?
As we enter perimenopause and menopause, it's no secret that our skin undergoes some significant changes. Aging skin tends to be drier and less elastic than younger skin, and we might start experiencing the breakouts we dealt with as teenagers again. It's incredibly frustrating to be dealing with breakouts and aging skin simultaneously! Is there a way to tackle both at once?Â
The answer is yes, by using salicylic acid and retinol. But proceed with caution so you don't irritate your skin!Â
Salicylic acid is the gold standard for acne prevention, and topical retinol is the first-line treatment for wrinkles and loss of elasticity in aging skin. Keep reading to learn how to add salicylic acid and retinol into your skincare routine safely!
Can I Take Hair, Skin and Nail Vitamins While Pregnant?
Nothing beats the glowy skin and thicker, healthier hair that comes with pregnancy! As our bodies change and our hormones fluctuate, the increased estrogen and blood flow nourish the scalp, supporting healthy hair growth and optimal sebum production. (All this while growing a babyâaren't our bodies just incredible?)
Many of us see this gorgeous skin and hair and wonder if there's a way to support healthy hair, skin and nails even more while pregnant? What about taking biotin during pregnancy or a dedicated hair, skin and nail vitamin? Read on to learn more about taking hair, skin and nail vitamins while pregnant, what to watch out for, and some hair, skin and nail supplement options we love!
Is It Better to Air-Dry or Diffuse Curly Hair?
Curly hair is having a moment in the spotlight! Tutorials for how to style curly locks are all over social media, and it seems like everyone wants to rock a curly look. Those of us with natural curls know that proper curl care is essential, especially during the drying phase.
With this new attention to curl care, people are debating whether it's better to air-dry or diffuse curly hair and whether we should diffuse our curls with hot or cold air for the best look.
We dug into the pros and cons of air-drying versus diffusing curly hair, along with the best temperature to use if you choose to diffuse. Keep reading to learn more about which option is best for your curls!