As we get older, only the lucky few among us manage to hold on to the
thick, strong hair we had when we were younger. At the very least, the colour begins to fade and we end up desperately trying to cover up the greys. We asked Trichologist Vanessa Bailey what happens to hair with age and the best ways to hold on to healthy hair for as long as possible.
“As we age a few things tend to happen to our hair, but perhaps one of the most feared changes is hair thinning. Genetics play a part in this process and determine when hair thinning starts, but many other factors and lifestyle choices can cause hair loss problems at any age. The most common of these factors are iron deficiencies, under or over active thyroid conditions, poor diets, crash dieting, sudden weight loss, stress, long term use of anti-blood clotting drugs and anti-depressants and systemic infections.
For most women, the menopause may trigger some hair changes. The dip in the level of female hormone production at this time can change how hair feels and behaves, it can be dryer than usual with reduced elasticity and may therefore be more likely to snap or break as a result. The menopause could also trigger hair thinning, particularly if it runs in the family. Another common hair event noticed as we age is of course going grey. This is all down to genetics; the colour producing cells of our hair follicles are genetically programmed to stop production at a pre-determined time, for some people this is as early as twenty, for others their fi rst white hair may not appear until over seventy, although the vast majority of us notice the start of these changes at around mid-forties. If over time your hair has changed a little or a lot, good hair care products are worth investing in. On the whole, when it comes to shampoos, treatments and vitamin supplements, the products that are at least around the mid-range price mark are usually better than the cheapest, although you don’t have to go mad and break the bank! But it’s the quality and quantity of the active ingredients that you pay for. Even if good quality hair care products are used, hair can still become damaged, whether from using hair colourants to cover greys, or from using heated hairstyling equipment to help increase hair volume. To help repair damaged hair, always use intensive hair conditioning treatments or masks on a weekly basis as these help increase hair moisture and elasticity. Also, use a lower heat setting on heated styling equipment and have a trim every six weeks at least. Good nutrition plays a major role in the health of our hair, in fact, it is absolutely vital. In particular, foods that promote hair growth, strength and shine are: green leafy vegetables (such as spinach and broccoli), eggs, chicken, fi sh, red meats, vegetable oils, fresh or dried fruits, soya beans, lentils, chick peas, almonds, fl ax seeds, rye bread, wholemeal bread and wholemeal cereals.
However, many hair problems,including age related hair problems, often require additional supplementation even when a healthy diet is in place and the most highlyrecommended nutrients and vitamins in these cases are: iron, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, biotin, folic acid, vitamin C, amino acids L-lysine and cystine, zinc, silica and vitamin E. In such cases, taking a simple practical step like this can really help in the maintenance of healthy hair.”
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