The Better Blog

Maybe you color your hair to cover up your grays or to express your individuality. A fresh new shade or even a root touch-up can boost your self-esteem and help you feel like you can take on the world.

You love and boldly embrace your gray hair as a celebration of a new you. Then one morning, a glance in the mirror lets you know the celebration is over — your silvery strands have become brassy and dull. Lack of shine is one of the most common complaints women make about their gray hair. Shine and texture are both affected by internal and external factors, and your slate locks can quickly lose luster without the proper care.

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.

Whether you feel your grays are the new blonde, stripes of earned wisdom, or an appreciation of your natural beauty, your gray hairs are a powerful expression of a new you — and with this great power comes great responsibility.

Social distancing and stay-at-home orders have caused a lot of us to slack off. But as life returns to normal, it may be time shape-up — and shaping-up includes our hair. Slacking on exercise and proper nutrition can weaken our bodies, so why should it be any different for our tresses? Unfortunately, with some stylists and salons closed up, it can be problematic to receive the deep conditioning or keratin treatments your hair may need.

Maybe you have practiced social distancing for too long and are skipping regular shampoos — or you have been experimenting with bolder styling products trying new looks before a return to society. Changes to your routine can lead to flakes and an itchy head from sticky scalp buildup. Over time dry shampoos, hairsprays, mousses, gels, oils, sweat, and dead skin cause residue accumulation clogging pores and blocking new follicle development. When this happens, your hair thins and can grow at a snail’s pace.

You are not the person you were at 20, and why would you want to be? Beauty brands spend billions of dollars researching and developing ways for you to turn back the clock when all you want are products that work and are tailored for your hair today. Beauty aisles are crowded with products to disguise your grays and care for color-treated hair; however, little is available for the increasing number of women like you only want to nurture your silvery locks.

Finding a shampoo to add the bounce back into your hair and reach the volume heights you once had can feel tiresome, even futile — especially if you are using a shampoo not designed for your transitioning hair. The thing about your aging hair is that it is not just your hair color that is changing — your underlying hair biology is evolving, too.

Caring for and styling thin hair can be challenging, especially in the hot and humid summer months. Thin hair tends to frizz easily, especially if it is fine or damaged, and our attempts to shape it up often fall flat. We may try ever-more styling products and conditioners that make bold claims to moisturize, thicken, and smooth our locks, none of which may be good for thin hair.

Becoming an entrepreneur has made me so much more disciplined and organized because I don’t have an assistant to help respond to my emails, book meetings, and schedule trips. But that’s alright because I feel so productive for everything that I accomplish. Furthermore, my day starts different every day —I’ve always gone to bed early, which means I’m up early.

Like your skin, your hair and follicles are subject to the intrinsic effects of aging: a decrease in hair production, a drop in pigmentation, and shrinking follicles that churn out thinner and shorter hairs. Now each shampoo you try seems to take you further from your goal of healthy-looking, full-bodied hair. You are not asking for younger hair; you just want better. So what shampoo is best for fine hair?