Beauty
Some hair thinning can be expected leading up to menopause, thanks to hormonal changes. But any one of these things could be making it worse.
You don’t give much thought to your scalp
There’s only so much you can do with hair products. “All of us are more about instant gratification,” says celebrity stylist Nunzio Saviano, founder of Nunzio Saviano Salon in New York. “You do all the things you’re supposed to do on the outside, but you’re not taking care of the root of the problem—and the root of the problem is taking care of the scalp and hair follicles.” The older you get, the more you lose the small veins in your scalp, meaning your hair follicles aren’t getting the nutrients they need, he says. One easy way to get the blood flowing—and make your hair lush again—is by giving your hair that classic 100 strokes a day. Sure, it might smooth your hair, but best of all, it stimulates your scalp.
You have the wrong hairbrush
Those plastic-knobbed brushes might be cheap, but they’re not doing your hair any favors. The plastic can easily snag hair, damaging tresses. Instead, buy a boar bristle brush, which will stimulate the scalp without harming your hair, recommends New York City-based TV hair stylist Laura Burns. “They kind of glide through the hair and don’t pull it,” she says.
You wash your hair every day
The texture of your hair might change as you get older for the same reason that you’ve been noticing your skin is losing its glow: Your skin stops secreting as much oil, says dermatologist Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, FAAD. She recommends cutting back on how often you wash your hair—stick to about two or three times a week—and using a gentler shampoo when you do suds up. A sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner will keep your scalp and hair from drying out too much in the shower, she says.