It’s expected for your hair to change as you grow older. You might see it lose its color, become thinner, or break more easily. But using the right products and giving it the care it deserves can help.
As you get older, it’s natural for your hair texture to change. These changes can vary depending on your hair type.
If you’ve noticed your curly locks are less bouncy or your straight hair has become more wavy or coarse, all is not lost!
With some tweaks to your routine and expert tips, you can learn to care for and embrace your new hair texture.
Hair thinning
You may notice your hair looks duller and thinner than usual.
According to dermatologist Janiene Luke, MD, this has to do with changing hair growth cycles. Luke notes that the anagen growing phase, or the period when your hair shaft is actively generated and extended, becomes shorter.
Some follicles may stop producing new hair altogether. This may cause your hair density to decrease. Hair density refers to the number of hairs on your head.
If you can see your scalp even without parting your hair, you probably have low hair density.
“The diameter of the hair becomes smaller,” says Luke. “Sebum, your body’s natural oil production, declines with age, which results in hair that is not as shiny, soft or smooth.”
Hair loss
Hair loss is known as androgenetic alopecia. You may experience this as your hormone levels change with age.
It’s expected to lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day because your body continually grows new hair and sheds old hair. This rate stays stable throughout life, though hair growth declines.
Roshan Vara, co-founder of The Treatment Rooms London, notes that hair loss in people assigned male at birth is known as male pattern baldness, while hair loss in people assigned female at birth is known as female pattern baldness.
Both are similar, except the hair loss usually occurs in a different pattern.
Stress, whether emotional or the result of a life changing event, may also contribute to hair loss. Symptoms can include hair shedding or bald patches.
“Stress molecules, such as cortisol, can target and damage the hair follicles over time,” explains Simone Thomas, founder of Simone Thomas Wellness Clinic. “These aspects may encourage hair loss as we age.”
Graying hair
Your hair may become gray over time as it loses melanin. Melanin is a pigment-producing component that produces melanocyte cells, which play an important role in the color of your hair.
“Gray hair is thought to be the result of a decreased number of melanocytes,” Luke says. “As we age, our cells don’t produce as much melanin, which results in gray hair — or white hair when melanin is absent.”
The texture of your hair is also associated with natural curl, shine, softness, and smoothness — all of which may change as you age.
“The change in texture is determined by your hair type,” says Vara.
You can’t prevent all hair changes due to getting older, but understanding why you experience them may help slow them down.
Luke proposes that external factors may affect how your hair changes over time, including:
- inflammation
- ultraviolet light
- smoking cigarettes
- genetic factors
- oxidative stress
Thomas, who is also a nutrition and hair loss consultant, suggests that low quality digestive health and gut conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease, may contribute to hair loss from aging.
A 2018 research review suggests that nutrient deficiency in childhood or early adulthood can impact hair loss, though research is ongoing.
Related studies
“Significant events such as menopause or thyroid problems may dry out the hair, causing it to feel brittle or break,” Thomas says. “These issues can cause thinning of the hair, contributing to aging hair loss.”
Your hair has one of three basic thicknesses, which you can determine with the thread test:
- Fine: Your hair is thinner than a thread.
- Medium: Your hair is approximately the same width as a thread.
- Thick: Your hair is thicker than a thread.
Type 1: Straight
Type 1 hair doesn’t have a natural curl. The individual strands may be fine or coarse, thick or thin, but they fall without waving from root to tip.
“If you have straight hair, you can expect the hair to become slightly curlier in nature as you age,” says Vara. “We also see the hair becoming duller and drier in texture, as your skin naturally decreases the amount of oil it produces after the age of 40.”
Type 2: Wavy
The natural state of wavy hair is a gentle, tousled texture. From the roots to approximately eye level, your hair may be fairly straight. From eye level to the ends, you likely have a loose, undefined wave.
If you have wavy or curly hair, you may already know that it’s possible to have more than one curl pattern in different sections of your hair. This is also common in aging hair.
Type 3: Curly
With curly hair, particularly 3A types, S-shaped curls form loose loops. The curls have a circumference a little wider than the large end of a taper candle.
As you get older, hormonal changes like menopause may cause your curls to drop, loosen, or form new patterns. The thinner and weaker your aging curly hair is, the less likely it is to curl.
Environmental factors such as gravity, climate, and pollution may also play a part.
Type 4: Coils
The curl pattern for 4A hair is an S-shaped coil you can wrap around a chopstick.
As you get older, you may notice your coily hair is more prone to dryness and breakage. This is because coily hair retains less moisture due to the structure of the hair shaft.
“Visually, this means the hairs lack shine and smoothness,” says Vara.
As a result, your coily hair may look more frizzy and be harder to manage when styling.
Vara recommends gentle styling and management, as a lack of natural oils leaves your hair more prone to dehydration and damage.
With some help, you can find the right products and a hair care regimen that works best for your hair and hair concerns.
Shampoo and conditioner
According to Thomas, a healthy scalp is the foundation of healthy hair. It’s important to keep your scalp well-nourished.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends you wash your hair with shampoo often, according to your hair type.
If you need help thickening your hair, Minoxidil (Rogaine) may help. It’s available over-the-counter, but it’s important to consider potential side effects before using this treatment.
Straight and wavy hair
If your hair type is straight or wavy, it may appear oily or greasy quickly. However, washing it too often can cause your scalp to overproduce oils.
Many stylists also recommend avoiding products such as heavy serums or butters.
Straight or wavy hair may require a more gentle hair care regimen. This may involve:
- gentle shampoos or dry shampoos
- gently drying your hair with a towel
- texture sprays to help volumize your hair
As your hair ages, it may naturally become drier in texture. Avoid combing or brushing your wavy or straight hair when it’s dry. This may result in split ends, making your hair appear brittle.
Curly and coily hair
Curly and coily hair types tend to lack moisture and dry out more easily. It may be more likely to thin and weaken as you age, making your hair more prone to breakage and dryness than other hair types.
When buying products, focus on shampoos and conditioners specifically designed for curly hair. These products add moisture to your hair. It’s best to avoid any hair products that’ll dry out or weigh it down.
To care for curly or coily hair, the AAD recommends:
- Only wash your hair when needed.
- Keep your hair moisturized.
- Take care of your scalp.
- Detangle your hair.
- Protect your curls from the sun.
- Care for your hair while you sleep.
Shampooing strips your hair of its natural protective barrier. Vara recommends rehydrating with a conditioner.
“This helps to prevent the hair shaft from drying out and maintains a better shine,” he says.
While some people may celebrate gray hair as a mark of maturity, you may feel differently.
If you’re worried because you’ve spotted a few gray hairs, dying your hair could be a solution.
“People can camouflage gray hair by rearranging their hair part or using products that target their roots,” says Luke. “If someone chooses to dye their hair, I recommend having it done with a professional stylist and consider spacing out treatments to help decrease cumulative damage over time.”
As you age, your hair texture will most likely change, too. It may turn gray due to less melanin and lose some of its volume. Its density may also decrease.
It can take getting used to, but don’t be disheartened. Start embracing your changing hair texture throughout your life with just a few steps and changes to your hair care regimen.
Vanessa Haye, MBA, is a British-Ghanaian writer passionate about health equity, reproductive freedom, and justice, particularly within BIPOC communities. She’s especially interested in raising awareness about Black women’s healthcare disparities, including reproductive health, maternal health, and mental health outcomes. Vanessa has written for publications such as Healthline, The Independent, Flo app, Metro UK, and HuffPost, among many others. She is currently working on her first book.
