HOW YOUR HAIR CHANGES AS YOU AGE, ACCORDING TO A TRICHOLOGIST (AND WHAT WE CAN DO TO SUPPORT IT)

We may be prepared to spot a few greys here and there as we celebrate getting older, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Like our skin and health, our hair can change significantly every year we blow out another birthday candle.

So, if you’ve found your hair doesn’t seem to stay hydrated, no matter how long you soak it in a trusty hair mask, it could be down to a couple of factors. While there’s nothing we can do to stop the passage of time, there are a few things we can do to support our fragile strands through the process.

From follicle sensitivity to hairs growing shorter, here’s everything a trichologist recommends to help you look after your hair as you age. 

How can ageing affect your hair?

It happens gradually, but one day it might seem like your haircare routine just isn’t cutting it. But it’s often a lot deeper than that.

“The most common changes we see in ageing hair are shorter growth phases, gradual shrinking of the follicle, reduced density, loss of pigment-producing cells and a decrease in sebum production – resulting in slower growing shorter hair, finer strands, thinning density, greying, and hair that feels drier or more brittle,” says Afọpẹ́ Atoyebi, a trichologist and cosmetic scientist specialising in the biology of hair growth and scalp health. It’s why hair might start not growing beyond a certain length and why it doesn’t seem to appear glossy, no matter how many oils and rich lotions we apply to strands.

The important thing to note is that this is all normal. “These changes naturally occur as multiple biological systems that support the follicle gradually become less efficient: declining stem-cell activity, reduced blood supply, increased follicle sensitivity to hormonal signalling and increased oxidative stress. All of this reduces the follicle’s ability to produce thick, pigmented hair over time,” says Atoyebi.

Don’t worry, these changes won’t all happen at once or occur overnight after a certain age, but you might start to see these symptoms in your 30s until your 60s. “Generally speaking, hair growth tends to be most robust between our late teens to early 30s. After that, with every subsequent decade, the anagen (growth) phase gradually shortens, meaning our hair grows progressively slower and reaches shorter maximum lengths. For women, some of these changes can become more noticeable around perimenopause (mid-40s to mid-50s) when hormonal shifts can increase follicle sensitivity to androgens and reduce sebum production,” she says.

For those with fine hair already, strands thinning even a touch more can make it seem like your style looks flatter and less full. “Follicle miniaturisation means the hairs that grow are even thinner than before, while there may also be simultaneous decline in follicle density,” adds Atoyebi. This is why the change can sometimes appear quite drastic.

Those with curly or coily hair might suffer more with dryness. “Sebum production tends to decline, and the oil being produced will also travel less easily along the tightly coiled strands. This can make the hair feel less supple or more fragile compared to earlier years,” she explains. The good news? The products you use can make a world of difference. 

How should your haircare routine change as you get older?

As always, prioritising your scalp is an important first step to make (it’s literally the roots of good hair, after all). “As hair ages, routines should focus on supporting the scalp environment and fortifying the structure and robustness of the hair fibre,” says Atoyebi.

She recommends opting for conditioners that contain conditioning polymers. These reduce damage and friction by creating a protective layer over strands, leaving you with a smoother finish.

Also, keeping an eye out for products containing ceramides and rich lipids will add softness, while lightweight proteins, peptides and amino acids can help maintain the structural integrity of the hair. Bond repair treatments for strength wouldn’t go amiss here either. 

Are there lifestyle changes we can make to support hair as we age?

While ageing is a privilege, we know that with topics such as hair loss, our lifestyles and environment play a role, and this applies here also. “Hair damage is cumulative, so avoiding regular use of extreme styling tools and/or practices also plays an important role in caring for hair that becomes more vulnerable with age,” says Atoyebi. If you can’t go without your tools, make sure to add heat protection to your haircare routine ASAP.

“Because the hair and scalp do not exist in isolation from the body, but are deeply intertwined with it, the same habits that support healthy ageing in the body also support the long-term health of the hair follicle,” she says. These factors include everything from supplements we take to how often we go out for a run.

“Research consistently links adequate protein intake, sufficient iron, vitamin D and other micronutrients, good metabolic health, regular exercise and quality sleep with better long-term hair growth,” says Atoyebi. Anything that helps with circulation and reducing chronic inflammation is valuable to our follicles. 

These small haircare tweaks can have a significant impact on supporting our hair in the long term and promoting the longevity of our strands. 

Images: AdobeStock; Getty

2026-03-13T08:18:36Z