Ageing hair: 5 Things that happen to your hair as you get older
Get clued up about aged hair here!
As we get older, it’s not just our skin and bodies that age – our hair does too. And just like the rest of our bodies, the ageing process of hair depends on numerous things, such as genetics, hormonal factors, lifestyle and hair habits. Now, as well as noticing that your hair is turning grey, there are a few other things that will happen to your mane as you age. Find out what they are below, and see which products we recommend to help revitalise ageing hair.
Ageing hair: Things that happen to your mane as you age
1. Your hair loses it’s colour, turning grey or white.
“Melanin is the pigment that gives colour to our hair and it’s produced by the hair follicle. By getting old, the hair follicle produces less and less melanin, which leads to a less deep and rich hair colour first, and eventually to a complete loss of colour.” – Francesca Rapolla, Unilever R&D Technical Manager for hair, UK.
2. You lose fullness and volume.
As you age, your hair follicles shrink, so fewer and thinner hairs grow; thus, your hair can often look flat, limp and lifeless (sigh!). But don’t worry: you can fake your way to fuller-looking locks with the Dove Youthful Vitality Shampoo and Conditioner, which helps to create the appearance of youthful-looking hair, that’s full of bouncy volume!
3. Your hair can become rough and coarse
If you have ageing hair, you may have noticed that your strands feel dry and less smooth. This is because the structure of the cuticle and the surface layer of the hair fibre change as we go older. They become characterised by cracks and unevenness, which result in more roughness.
4. Your hair and scalp become more dry
“Nourished hair requires sebum to help keep the scalp moisturised and the hair conditioned. With age, the scalp decreases sebum production, which results in the hair feeling drier and more brittle, as well as less smooth and manageable. In addition, the scalp can feel dryer and create discomfort.” – Francesca.
5. Your hair becomes weaker
The rate of hair growth remains quite stable with age, but the hair growth cycles are shorter, which means that the hair doesn’t grow as long as it used to, and grows with a different and weaker structure. Hence, ageing hair breaks more easily!
Editor’s tip: The Dove Advanced Hair Series Youthful Vitality BB Cream is infused with anti-oxidants and a UV complex, meaning the formula helps to protect and fortify ageing hair against breakage. Just dispense 4 or 5 pumps into your hand, and then smooth the product through damp hair, making sure to avoid the roots.
So, now that you’re clued up on what happens to your hair when you age, why not find out the best shampoo and conditioner to use on ageing hair? Trust us, with a good hair care routine under your belt, you’ll have more youthful looking locks in no time!
