In your forties, you may begin to notice an inevitable sign of aging hair—dryness. Dry hair occurs when your strands aren’t receiving or retaining adequate moisture. Here’s the good news, in many cases dry hair can be treated. No one has time for brittle hair, so read on for 5 tips to treat dry hair over 40.
Common Causes of Dry Hair
There are a variety of factors that can cause dry hair in your 40’s. Menopausal hormone fluctuations and underlying health problems can spark unfavorable hair changes. Dryness that stems from controllable causes like excessive styling, over-washing, and poor nutrition can be easily corrected.
5 Tips for Dry Hair
Who says you can’t have your healthiest hair in your 40’s? Introduce these five tips into your hair routine to boost your strands’ hydration.
- Don’t Over Wash
When you over wash your hair, your oil glands over-compensate for the loss of oils stripped by your shampoo. Instead, you have to train the oil glands to not over-produce oil, thus washing your hair less. Only wash your hair 2-3 times a week to retain your natural oil and keep your hair moisturized. Additionally, consider using a gentle sulfate-free shampoo to prevent scalp and hair dryness.
- Mask it Up Weekly
Hair masks are filled with oils, butters, lipids and other humectants to restore and nourish your hair. Deep-conditioning masks can help fight frizz, dryness, and breakage. To fight dryness, look for masks that contain olive oil, tea tree oil, honey, apple cider vinegar or brown sugar.
- Take a Break from Heat
Try embracing your hair’s natural texture by taking a break from heat styling. Heat strips your hair of natural oils that keep it moisturized and smooth. It removes keratin at the follicle level, which can result in thin and course hair. If you do choose to use hot tools, always use an alcohol-free heat protectant and use a low temperature setting.
- Use Essential Oils
Treating your hair with oils will help hydrate and strengthen your strands and scalp. Keep in mind, oil repels water, so it is typically more effective to apply oils to dry hair.
Try nourishing your strands with these hydrating oils:
- Avocado oil
- Olive oil
- Coconut oil
- Jojoba oil
- Castor oil
- Argan oil
- Vitamins for Dry Hair
A critical part of treating dry and brittle hair is providing your scalp and hair with the nutrients needed to fight follicle fatigue. To keep dryness at bay, implement these vitamins into your diet:
- Biotin
- Collagen
- Vitamin E
- Omega-3
- Iron
Following these tips will help keep older hair nourished and looking spectacular!
