10 Tips to Maintain Healthy Age-Proof Hair

As if going gray is not traumatic enough, aging also brings on other hair issues:

• Hair loss – While some people are genetically predisposed to hair loss, hair follicles in general shrink and fade away over time, producing fewer hairs as well as ones that are finer and shorter.
• Slower growth - Over time, the reproduction and repair of cells decline, which results in slower growth.
• Diminished thickness – This is caused by fewer follicles per square inch, as noted before.
• Dryer texture – Follicles produce less oil over time, causing hair to feel dry and brittle.

To maintain healthy hair, there are steps you can take to encourage cell repair and develop new, healthy cells to replace the damaged ones.

Wash Hair Less Frequently

Every time hair is washed, it is weakened until it can dry again. Washing and drying hair can cause strands to rub together and against towels, leading to breakage. Hair also becomes dry and brittle when washed too often, as frequent washing removes the protective oils from the scalp and hair, leaving them prone to damage. Wash hair once or twice a week to maintain its strength and health.

Avoid Heated Tools

Heated styling tools such as hair dryers, curling irons, and hair straighteners can damage hair. Adding heat to the hair can not only cause burns and damage but also weaken the hair shafts and disrupt the production of protective oils. Allowing the hair to air-dry naturally, without excessive towel-drying or using a hairdryer, will help protect the hair's health. When heated tools are required, it is important to use a protective spray before applying heat to the hair. This will help protect the hair by sealing in moisture.

Use Gentle Products

Many treatments are harsh and can damage hair, including perms, coloring, lighteners, and straightening products. Avoid as many of these as possible. Gentle hair products strip less of the protective oil and, with moisturizing ingredients, can add softness to the hair.

Let personal care fit naturally into your budget. When spending feels organized, consistency gets easier.

Consume Appropriate Vitamins and Nutrients

Ensuring you have the right amounts of essential vitamins and nutrients can help scalp cells grow more quickly, encouraging healthy hair. These include calcium, vitamin D, vitamin C, and Vitamin E. You can take supplements, but it’s better to get these vitamins through food like eggs, avocados, nuts, beans, and berries.

Avoid Lightening Products

When coloring the hair, there are many products to choose from. There are those that don’t damage hair, but many products designed to lighten often weaken the strands, leading to breakage and other harm. Bleaches are among the leading causes of dry, damaged hair because they strip the protective layers and cause thinning as they remove color.

Brush Hair Daily

Brushing hair every day can help to maintain healthy hair and encourage hair growth. It spreads the protective oil from the scalp throughout the hair, protecting the entire strand length from environmental pollutants and heat.

Brushing also stimulates hair follicles and keeps them free of buildup of oil, dead cells, and care products, allowing hair to grow more easily. It helps hair stay untangled and prevents it from knotting together, which can lead to breakage. Brushing hair twice daily with a gentle-bristle brush with no plastic ends or harsh materials will help keep hair healthy and promote faster growth.

Cut Hair Frequently

All hair becomes weaker at the ends, where it is more susceptible to damage. As ends become dry and split, they can continue to split further up the hair over time, making one's entire head of hair appear damaged, dry, and often frizzy. Cutting hair regularly every 6-8 weeks can remove damaged portions before they spread or worsen, leaving the remaining hair healthy and encouraging growth.

Change Your Pillowcase

Friction against the pillowcase during sleep can cause hair to break and fall out. Switching to a satin or silk pillowcase reduces friction, keeping hair stronger and less damaged throughout the night.

Avoid Elastics with Metal Connectors

Elastic hair binders can hold the hair back in situations where it could be damaged if left down. However, many have a metal or plastic connector that maintains the elastic's shape. Those can get caught in the hair, pulling strands from the root or breaking them off partway down. Avoiding these can help protect the hair's health and keep it growing strong.

Watch the Water Temperature

Use warm, not hot, water to wash hair. Warm water gently cleanses hair of dirt and buildup while hot water opens the pores and allows debris to enter, disrupting natural oil production. Using cool or cold water to rinse will help seal the pores, keeping hair healthy and protected from damage.

Consider Minoxidil

Are you finding too many hairs in the sink or on your pillow each morning? It’s natural to lose hair as we age, but you might be able to slow down hair loss by applying the medication, minoxidil, to your scalp twice daily. Minoxidil is an over-the-counter medication that helps follicles stay active longer by increasing blood flow around them. This supports growth and slows shedding and miniaturization of existing hairs. The medication generally takes about 3-6 months of consistent use to reach optimal results. If minoxidil use stops, however, hair loss resumes. Talk to your doctor if you want to make sure minoxidil is right for you.

Paying attention to how hair reacts to daily routines makes a bigger difference than chasing fixes. Simple choices like how often you wash, how you style, and how gently you handle it shape how your hair looks and feels month after month. Treat it with a little care and restraint, and it tends to return the favor.

Earn cash back on personal care purchases. From hair products to salon visits, everyday spending can give something back.