Aging, as we know it, is certainly a beautiful thing in its own right, however, it can also be unbelievably frustrating. You find your perfect remedy to one ailment, only to be struck a week later by the next in what seems like a never-ending saga of bodily changes. So what is it about getting older and your hair changing so much, – we’re talking thinning, color change, coarseness, and curl – and what on earth are we supposed to do about it?
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The good news is, it may be somewhat reversible. By that, I mean your hair may be negatively reacting to one or more factors in your life that can be easily changed. And while it may still be genetic, there are a number of things you might be able to do to repair your otherwise unruly hair to get it back to its former glory.

One way to combat this is to introduce naturally estrogen-saturated foods into your diets, such as nuts, seeds, plant-based proteins like tofu and soybeans, berries, and red wine. While post-partum hair loss may seem extreme, it is temporary and simply due to your body getting back on track. Of course, if you think this is due to a change in birth control, talk to your doctor about what your other options may be.

Environmental Hazards

Have you ever noticed that your hair seems to have a mind of its own on a humid day? That’s because water molecules are like tiny magnets that are pulling on your hair creating a lot more hydrogen bonds than would happen in a dryer climate. This causes it to react in different ways, i.e. become wavy or curly. Hard water can also wreak havoc on your locks, as it may be contaminated with chlorine, calcium, magnesium, or other harsh chemicals. This can cause your hair to seem dry and dull.

A simple way to correct both of these is to use a hydrating shampoo. These shampoos and conditioners are not only hydrating, bringing life back to your hair, but can also be incredibly restorative. They can work to repair breakage and split ends and strengthen hair against future damage.

Loss of Collagen and Protein

While collagen is most known for its ability to keep wrinkles and cellulite at bay, it is also a key player in the heath of your hair. As we age our bodies naturally begin to produce less collagen. Surprisingly this change typically begins around age 25, but as we now know, the hair follicle plays a huge role in the texture of our hair. So, as our skin loses elasticity and the follicle becomes weaker, it’s not so surprising that hair is the next thing affected. Collagen acts as an antioxidant, which your body uses to fight free radicals, or the buildup from environmental pollutants on the scalp, then causing damage and thinning to the hair itself. It also may lead to premature graying.
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Along with this, too much or a lack of protein in your diet may be the culprit. Protein functions to support fine or medium hair, giving it strength and silkiness. However, if you have thick, curly hair, too much protein can actually do the exact opposite resulting in rough, brittle, or dry strands.

There are a few ways to introduce more collagen into your routine, including shampoos, Collagen infused vita-gummies, and powders you can mix into food such as smoothies, coffee, and homemade energy bites like these raspberry chocolate ones. As far as protein, the suggested amount of daily intake is about 0.36 grams of protein per pound of body weight. However, you know your body best, so don’t be afraid to experiment and see what works best for you.

Routine, Routine, Routine

We all know that too much stress for too long can catapult us into premature aging resulting in hair loss, hair thinning, and hair turning gray. What you may not realize is the hair re-growth cycle lasts anywhere from four to seven years, meaning every four to seven years each strand of hair is completely replaced by a new one. This new mane is likely to have its own set of properties that may or may not look and feel like the old one.

We are constantly bombarding our hair with heat tools, styling products, over-brushing, and over-cutting. Heat and color can damage the hair, while overuse of products can clog pores and cause damage to the follicles themselves. While your body is taking care of the hair by re-growing it, you can try the New Dawn scalp cleanser from Better Not Younger to give it that extra boost. Note this can also help with those free radicals we mentioned earlier.
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There are an alarming amount of seemingly minuscule factors that can cause the texture of your hair to change. Although certain changes are inevitable, like thinning and graying, there are certainly ways to slow these processes down, and even reverse some premature effects. The top things I recommend paying close attention to our protein intake, if you’re coloring or heat treating your hair often and the types of products you’re putting on your hair. If none of these seem to be the culprit try combatting texture changes with specially formulated products, diet, and supplements, as they can make an incredible difference. And of course, don’t forget to drink water.

Typically, when we’re categorizing our hair and how to treat it, we’re looking at how thick or long it is. We’ll also look at what texture it is and whether or not it’s processed to determine how often we need a trim. But another, lesser-known metric that should be taken into consideration is hair density.

Um, what exactly is hair density?

Simply put, hair density is the number of individual strands per square inch on your scalp. (Fun fact: The average person has approximately 2,200 strands of hair per square inch on their head. The average person also sheds between 50 and 100 hairs per day.)
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While hair thinness or thickness refers to the circumference of each strand, hair density refers to how thin or thick the collective group of hairs is. That said, someone could have very fine hair that is also very dense (meaning they have a lot of fine hairs per square inch), or they could have thick, but low-density hair (meaning they have thick strands but not so many of them per square inch).

How do I figure out what my hair density is? 
Though you could bust out a microscope and get to counting if you really want to kill some time, the much easier way to measure your hair density is to just look at your ponytail.

To do this, tie your hair back and measure the circumference of your tail. If it’s less than two inches, you have low-density hair, if it’s two to three inches, you have medium-density hair and if it’s four or more inches thick in circumference, you have high-density hair.

For ladies (and gentlemen) who have a short bob or pixie that can’t be pulled back into a ponytail, take a closer look at your scalp. If you can easily see it without touching or moving your hair around, you likely have low-density hair. If your scalp is somewhat visible from the top of your head, then you have medium-density hair. And if your scalp is barely visible then you have high-density hair.

Since we’re measuring things now, how do you measure your hair thickness?

There are two main ways to go about this. (One is decidedly less painful than the other, but it also depends on how long your hair is.) The first option is to pluck a single strand of hair from your head. We’d recommend pulling one from the back of your head as opposed to a spot in the front.

Now compare the strand to a piece of thread. If the strand is thinner than the thread, you have thin hair. If your hair is the same width as the thread, you have medium hair. If your strand is wider than the thread, you have thick hair.

The other way to test for hair thickness (which is easier if you have longer hair) is to grab a single strand between your fingers and feel it. If you can barely feel anything, you have thin hair and if you can feel it, you have thicker hair. This method is (ahem) a hair less precise than the former, but it will give you a general idea.

Great, now what do I do with this info?

You mean other than having another fascinating tidbit to share the next time you’re in a conversational lull with someone? (We kid.)

In all seriousness, knowing your hair density is helpful in figuring out what products to use, how to style your hair and how to cut it.

What should I do if I have low-density hair?

For low-density hair, you’ll want to steer clear of heavier creams and butters and instead opt for lightweight styling products that won’t weigh your hair down, like leave-in sprays, dry shampoos or volumizing foams and/or mousses.

As for what to tell your stylist? You want straight or rounded ends (over feathered cuts or layers) to create more weight and add fullness to your style.

What are your tips for medium-density hair?

For medium-density hair, you can use a variety of products to enhance your natural texture. For example, try a mousse and dry shampoo to boost volume at the roots—or creams and butters to calm down the lengths of your hair.

And how should I approach high-density hair?

For high-density hair, you’ll want a product with heavier hold like a gel, a cream or a styling butter—especially if you have curly or coily and dense hair. This will help hold your strands together and minimize any puffiness (a la Hermione Granger pre- Goblet of Fire glow up).
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High-density hair has a tendency to look and feel a bit heavy, so you can ask your stylist to remove some excess weight (or debulk) your hair. Avoid blunt ends, which can create that pyramid effect, and for any cut that’s above your shoulders, make sure your stylist carefully thins out your ends to lighten things up and give your overall style some movement.
 
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Most of us are not only tied to our hair physically, but emotionally, too. It’s an extension of our identity—an important part of our physical appearance that gives us a keen type of confidence. That’s why it’s so common to feel incomplete after your hair starts thinning or falling out. While it’s perfectly normal to shed strands (in fact, most people lose 50 to 100 hairs per day on average), large clumps of hair should not be falling out and clogging the shower drain, explains celebrity hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons

One of the biggest culprits that cause thinning hair is simply aging. “As women go through menopause, they create less estrogen and progesterone, which leaves their hair more susceptible to the effects of androgens (testosterone), hormones that thin the hair and slow down its growth,” says Erum Ilyas, MD, a dermatologist at Montgomery Dermatology in Pennsylvania. “Aside from aging, certain autoimmune conditions (frontal fibrosing alopecia and lichen planopilaris) can cause hair loss and result in inflammation at the base of the hair follicles, which can actually scar the hair follicle and has a risk of permanent hair loss.”

Other less severe factors may be to blame for thinning hair, too. “Crash dieting, surgeries, family stress, new jobs, having the flu, long distance travel, you name it—all can have a direct impact when it comes to shedding of the hair and its inability to grow faster,” says Dr. Ilyas. “When a major stress occurs, there is a shift in the hair cycle of growth and less hair follicles are stimulated to grow.”

Vitamin deficiencies caused by a poor diet, such as a lack of iron and vitamin B12 deficiency, have been linked to thinning hair as well. If you’re someone who hops on and off the latest diet bandwagon, especially if those diets are quite aggressive, your hair follicles can be impacted, causing aggressive fall out with no new regrowth.
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The good news: Although some hair shedding is inevitable, there are plenty of solutions and tricks of the trade to help you grow a fuller, thicker head of hair relatively fast (though patience is a must!). Here, hair and skin experts share their best kept secrets for healthier and longer hair.