Our bodies undergo a natural process of aging, characterized by a myriad of changes that affect us both inside and out. From the tiniest cells to the largest organs, every part of our body is impacted in one way or another. This includes our scalp and hair.

In this article we’ll discuss the most common signs of aging for your scalp, and subsequently your hair, and how you can manage, or possibly delay, the symptoms by implementing preventative care.

But first, why does our scalp and hair age?

The most common reason is due to a decrease in production of essential hormones and nutrients such as estrogen, testosterone, and melanin.

To illustrate these effects, a decrease in estrogen results in thinning hair and a dry scalp and a decrease in melanin production can lead to gray hair.

And then there are lifestyle choices that affect how we age as well. Namely, excessive sun exposure, smoking, a poor diet, drinking alcohol and pollution. These factors can lead to oxidative stress on the scalp which can result in damaging the hair follicles, reducing scalp moisture, a decrease in production of essential nutrients which can lead to hair loss, thinning and other scalp related issues.

What does scalp and hair aging look like?

We’ve touched on some of these above but let’s go into a bit more detail of the four most common signs

1. Thinning hair

This is the most common sign of aging, and it is onset by hormonal changes, genetics and lifestyle. A study showed that hair loss affects up to 50% of men and women over the age of 50, that’s one out of every two adults.

Whats the solution?

It is important to be proactive. The best way to do this is first, maintaining a healthy diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals such as iron, zinc and biotin.  

Second, take care of your scalp. We give our face so much attention because it is so visible. But our scalp is “hidden” so we pay less attention to it until the results of an ignored scalp shows in the quality of the hair we grow.

A good, consistent scalp routine will do wonders in how your scalp operates. This includes massages, application of a high-quality scalp oil like our Scalp Elixir and keeping your scalp clean

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Click here to find out how to take care of your scalp 

2. Gray Hair

As we age, our hair follicles produce less melanin, the pigment that gives hair its color. This results in gray hair.

Whats the solution?

Unfortunately, there are no proven methods to reverse grays. If your grays are really bothering you, the only option is to dye your hair.

3. Dry Scalp

Over time our skin produces less oil, which can lead to a dry and itchy scalp. Studies have proben time and time again that the production of scalp sebum decreases with age.

Whats the solution?

To combat dry scalp, it's important to use gentle shampoos and conditioners that do not strip the scalp of its natural oils. Additionally, using scalp treatments can help to moisturize the scalp and reduce itching.

But remember to keep a good balance of oil and moisture. If you are dealing with a dry scalp, don’t drown your scalp in oil. Using a high-quality scalp oil, like our Scalp Elixir, requires just a light application on your scalp while still delivering big benefits.

Click here to learn about the Scalp Elixir

4. Brittle or dry hair

With an aging scalp, come aging hair follicles. Aging hair follicles tend to produce lower quality hair. Lower quality hair means that the elasticity of your hair reduces because it is quite dry and brittle, making it prone to breakage.

Whats the solution?

To combat brittle hair, it's important to use gentle hair care products and avoid excessive heat styling. Additionally, using hair masks and deep conditioning treatments can help to strengthen the hair and reduce breakage.

It would also be worth looking at your wash day schedule as we find as you age, because you are producing less oils, you don’t need to wash your hair as often.

Click here to find out how often you should wash your hair

In summary

Aging is a natural process that our body goes through, and with it comes very beautiful changes in our body. No matter your age, start taking care of your scalp and hair now because either catching the signs early or delaying them will make it a lot easier to manage your hair later on.

Having an understanding of your hair and scalp will allow you to better plan your hair care schedule and know when to adjust it.

At the basic level, keep your body nourished, massage your scalp, keep it clean and do a scalp treatment. Your hair will thank you.

 

References

Shin, H., Ryu, H. H., & Yoon, J. H. (2015). Aging hair: changes in hair follicle stem cells, hair matrix keratinocytes and dermal papilla cells. International journal of trichology, 7(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-7753.153450

Sennett, R., & Rendl, M. (2012). Mesenchymal-epithelial interactions during hair follicle morphogenesis and cycling. Seminars in cell & developmental biology, 23(8), 917–927. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semcdb.2012.07.002

Robbins, C. R., Lou, W., & McCarthy, S. (2012). Hair shaft damage from heat and drying time of hair dryer. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 67(5), 1019–1024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2012.03.005