Ensure You Have Lustrous Hair for Life

Many men and women past the age of fifty begin experiencing the effects of aging on hair. The effects can be graying, thinning, brittleness, and more. As the years go on, you may notice more hair in your brush than before.

You may also notice that your hair is drier and thinner. Although this happens to everyone as they age, there are things you can do to prevent it or reverse the effects.

Reversing Gray Hair

Most people notice their first gray or white hair by the time they’re in their thirties. At this young age, the color change isn’t readily noticeable unless you’re looking for these hairs.

By the time 40 rolls in, the gray will start to be more visible, often in closely clumped strands. There’s no definite cause of gray or white hair besides aging. Those with extremely great genes may be able to get into their late fifties or early sixties before showing the signs.

The reason that hair turns gray or white is because your body’s cells stop producing pigment. This happens naturally as you age. When the cells are producing pigment, it gives your hair its natural color.

There are also a few conditions that can lead to prematurely gray hair. Thyroid conditions like Grave’s disease and hyperthyroidism, among others, can give you gray hair.

Vitiligo is another condition that can cause prematurely gray hair. The condition causes your skin to lose melanocytes - which results in your skin having extremely light patches.

If you have a deficiency in vitamin B12, you can also experience gray hair earlier on in life. Smoking and early menopause can also be causes of prematurely gray hair.

As you get older, your body needs more nutrients and vitamins because it doesn’t hang onto them as long anymore. Deficiencies in vitamins A and B, as well as minerals like zinc, copper, and iron can cause gray hair.

Supplements may be needed not just for your hair, but your body as well. Diet and exercise may be part of reversing gray hair. When you eat fruits and vegetables like beets, tomatoes, carrots, cantaloupe, spinach, and sweet potatoes, they contain vitamins and nutrients that can protect your skin cells, resulting in the slowing of decreasing pigmentation.

Eating protein found in chicken helps produce melanin, which is the pigment that provides your hair with its natural color. Turkey, soy, and whole grains also produce melanin.

Exercise is also beneficial because it increases proper blood flow and circulation, both of which are needed to ensure that the nutrients and vitamins you’re consuming reach your skin and hair. Regularly massaging your scalp with oils can also be beneficial.

If you want to reverse graying, you can try using Amla. This Indian gooseberry is one of the best and most trusted ways to prevent gray hair. You can make the paste on your own or buy it from a health and beauty store.

A less expensive treatment is to use coconut oil and lemon. Both of these treatments are used to strengthen the hair as well as keep the gray at bay.

Preventing Thinning and Balding

Hair thinning and hair loss usually occur in the late 40s and early 50s. If thinning and balding runs in your family, it can start even earlier than that. Although hair loss happens to almost everyone, there are things you can do to keep it at bay.

There are a few hormonal factors that can be the cause of hair loss. The most common types are male-pattern and female-pattern baldness. These are hereditary and can start as early as puberty.

Although it’s more common in men, women can experience it too. Other hormonal factors that can cause baldness can be linked to menopause, pregnancy, and childbirth.

When linked to pregnancy or childbirth, the baldness and thinning is almost always temporary. Skin disorders and scalp infections can cause baldness. If the baldness is linked to a scalp infection, curing the infection can allow the hair to grow back.

For a skin disorder, it would depend on the condition. Some conditions, like certain types of lupus, can cause scarring. When this happens, hair won’t grow back where the scars are.

Certain thyroid conditions can also be the culprit of thinness and balding. Because your thyroid glands help keep the hormones in your body regulated, a thyroid disease can cause hair loss.

There’s also a disease called alopecia areata, which is a condition where your immune system attacks your hair follicles. This results in smooth and round bald patches.

Medications that are used to treat cancer, depression, high blood pressure, heart problems, and more can be the cause of sudden hair loss. Certain hairstyles can also cause thinning.

If you wear your hair pulled tight, like in a braid or high ponytail, for a long period of time, the hair loss can be gradual. Your hair may also start thinning if you don’t have the proper nutrition your body needs.

Every diet should have plenty of protein and iron. You also need vitamin C, omega-3 acids, and biotin (a B vitamin). Focus on foods, fruits, and vegetables that are high in these vitamins and nutrients.

When your diet is lacking important nutrients, your hair can thin. If you fix your diet, your hair will gain some of its body and thickness back. You may also want to consider taking supplements to prevent or slow down hair loss.

Look for supplements that contain biotin, vitamin C, inositol, and iron. Avoid subjecting your hair to frequent heating tools like flat irons, curling irons, hot rollers, and more.

Chemical treatments and dyeing the hair can also cause thinning. Use a mild shampoo in the shower and be gentle when you wash your hair. Instead of rubbing your hair dry with a towel, pat it dry.

Rubbing it can cause breakage in your hair. Refrain from using a brush when you have a tangle. Work it out with your fingers and then smooth it with a brush. Your fingers are gentler and will cause less breakage than a brush.

If you want medication or treatments for your hair thinning or loss, there are a few that may be able to help. Rogaine, used by both men and women, is one of the most popular medications for hair loss.

Rogaine is sprayed onto the head twice a day and helps to stop hair loss. Another medication, Propecia, is an oral drug. It’s not recommended for those who are attempting to conceive children.

There are also other options such as hair transplants. During this procedure, a few hairs at a time are transported. The results are natural looking hair that appears full. This procedure is usually done for male-pattern baldness.

Getting Rid of Coarseness

Coarse hair is the opposite of thinning hair. It’s actually strong and very tough. It’s often hard to style and feels rough to the touch. It’s hard to treat with beauty and hair care products. Coarse hair usually tangles easily and is very thick.

Like graying and thinning hair, coarseness can be caused by a number of factors, including a poor diet. The proper vitamins and nutrients are needed to keep your hair not only looking, but also feeling healthy.

If you have an under-active thyroid, that can be the cause of coarse hair. The reason is because the thyroid glands aren’t producing the hormones your hair needs to keep its softness and natural feel, resulting in a tough feel.

Split ends and breakage are also factors that can cause coarse hair. It’s important that you get your hair trimmed every six weeks to prevent split ends. The ends of your hair are the first to begin to feel tough and coarse. The longer you let them grow, the worse they’ll get.

One of the main causes in the development of coarse hair is the slowing of sebum production as you age. This causes the elasticity of the hair to lesson so that’s the culprit behind losing the softer feel.

Try using an organic shampoo because it helps make your hair softer. Refrain from washing your hair every day. Many shampoos strip your hair of essential oils and more that gives your hair its natural shine and feel.

Consider using shampoos that contain vitamin E, to give your hair back some of its body without making the coarseness worse. If store bought conditioners don’t work for you, try massaging a small amount of coconut oil into your hair.

It should be done when your hair is slightly damp, but not dripping. The oil will relax your hair and make it feel softer. During cold weather, make sure you keep your hair protected from the elements. During the winter, the air is dry, which will only make coarse hair worse. Use a relaxer or conditioner in the morning to help soften hair.