Ways to Restore Your Hair Health and Youth Today

How is your hair? There are connections between hair issues and health conditions. However, normal aging can also be tough on our hair. Steps can keep your hair healthy.
Updated: November 27th, 2024
Ashley Lipman

Contributor

Ashley Lipman

As you get into middle age, things in your body start changing. You can’t just pull all-nighters at work like you used to or go out for the night with your friends and recover in a single weekend. 

Of course, your overall health isn’t the only thing that suffers. So does your skin, hair, and nails. It is not unusual or vain to think about the state of your hair. Several basic dos and don’ts can go a long way in helping your hair look soft, shiny, and healthy well into your 40s. 

Of course, your overall health isn't the only thing that suffers. So does your skin, hair, and nails. It is not unusual or vain to think about the state of your hair. Several basic dos and don'ts can go a long way in helping your hair look soft, shiny, and healthy well into your 40s. If you're seeking ways to address specific concerns like thinning edges, learning how to quickly regrow edges of African American hair can be particularly beneficial.

Aging hair varies significantly across different ethnicities, reflecting unique structural and biological characteristics. White individuals often experience more noticeable thinning and graying earlier, as their hair is finer and more prone to breakage with age. While generally coarser and denser, African American hair tends to become more brittle and dry over time, partly due to its unique curl pattern that limits natural oil distribution along the strands. Asian hair, typically thicker and straighter, may maintain its structure longer but often becomes flatter, loses volume, and also grays with age. These differences are influenced by factors like hair density, follicle shape, and melanin production, making tailored care important for each group as hair ages.

Don’t Style Your Hair Too Often 

A brush, comb, some hair clips, hair straightener, and a blow driver.

Styling your hair can seem like the easy, foolproof way to make sure you have a good hair day almost daily, but what about what it actually does to your hair? Styling your hair with heat and chemical treatments is probably the fastest way to cause some severe damage.

Straightening or curling your hair robs it of moisture, damages its natural structure, and makes it frizzy and hard to manage. The best thing you can do for your hair is to stop styling it regularly or avoid it altogether. If you are still facing heavy hair loss, consult with online dermatologists from the comfort of your home.

If you absolutely must do it, invest in some argan oil to put in your hair before using the hair straightener. Argan oil or any other heat protection serum can minimize damage and protect your hair while you subject it to the hot iron. 

Focus On Your Diet 

Your hair isn’t just magically there. It grows from your scalp and feeds on the nutrients in your body. The better your diet, the healthier your hair. If you do not have the time to invest in your diet or to prepare home-cooked meals, you can also take hair supplements and vitamins to better your hair health. 

A table set with a few salads.

Many busy people also take the weekends to prep all their meals for the rest of the week. This way, they don’t have to take time off work to prepare their meals and don’t end up ordering unhealthy fast food when they’re too tired. 

De-stress Often 

Stress and fatigue are both the leading causes of hair fall and poor hair health. Getting away from a stressful environment can noticeably help your hair health, which is why so much importance is placed on taking breaks and taking time off work, especially once you approach your older years. 

Being in a stressful environment forces your body to be in “fight or flight” mode over long intervals of time. The hormones your body releases are great if you really need an extra rush of energy, but not so much when you’re just sitting at your office desk and worried about whether you’ll make your next deadline or not. 

Use Essential Oils 

A woman with very nice hair.

Nature really is your best friend, and there's nothing better than essential oils taken straight from there when it comes to taking care of your hair's health. Every kind of essential oil out there has its own benefits, and regular massages with these hair oils can make your hair healthy, thick, and shiny. 

Many stores online sell essential oils for your hair, but it's important only to buy them from reputable shops to avoid ill effects. At the end of the day, all your hair really needs is moisture, the proper nutrients, and lots of love to thrive and look its best. 

Health Problems Can Adversely Impact Hair

Several health problems can cause issues with your hair and even hair loss. In fact, your hair could be one of the first signs you have a health problem that should require medical attention. 

Your doctor can help you determine if a health condition is related to your hair problem. However, we can take steps to enjoy healthy hair with normal aging.

Hair Health and Cost of Hair Styling

The use of harsh shampoos, treatments, styling products, and excessive brushing contribute the most to poor hair health. The hair roots are usually the healthiest as the hair has not been subjected to harsh brushing, chemical treatments, or heat styling.

Better quality salons will use better products to improve your hair's health. The cost will be higher for better quality products. The costs of hairstyling vary depending on several factors. A men's haircut is usually much less than a woman's cut. Women, in general, pay more for hair than men do.

Often black women are charged more for hairstyling than white women. The reason given by hair professionals is styling natural hair was "harder" and required a special skill set. This site will help black women judge the cost of hair - AfroLovely: Black Hair Blog.

Aging Hair and Professional Hair Stylists

Professional hair stylists will also notice changes in your hair health. Using experienced professionals will not only help you 'look better,' but they will help you maintain better hair health as well.

Your age will also impact your hair and hair health. Older people should avoid Excessive heat styling. While heat styling can damage any hair, it can be particularly damaging for seniors due to the nature of aging hair. 

Older adults should avoid the overuse of blow dryers, straightening irons, curling wands, and other heat styling tools whenever possible.

 

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