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Age comes with many wonderful things—wisdom, bravery and just the ability to care less about the things that don’t matter. But one of the unfortunate things it also sometimes comes with is hair loss.
If you’re noticing your hair isn’t as thick as it used to be, don’t stress: You’re not alone. And there are fixes—both quick and more time-consuming, based on whatever you’re looking for. We’ve rounded up top hairstylists and trichologists to give you the ultimate guide on what to avoid if you’re dealing with thinning locks over 50. So put down that teasing comb and get ready for some hair-raising advice that’ll have you feeling fab in no time!
Related: The 6 Best Hairstyles for Women Over 50, According to Celebrity Stylists
How Do You Know if You Have Thinning Hair?
Before we dive into the don’ts, let’s talk about how to spot thinning hair. Our experts, including hairstylist Wes Sharpton, lead educator at Hairstory, and Jay Small, co-founder of Arey and Trichologist, point out these telltale signs:
- Increased hair shedding in your brush, shower drain or pillow
- More visible scalp or a wider part
- Lack of volume, with hair looking limp and flat
- Changes in hair texture or growth rate
“When determining the difference between normal daily shedding and longer-term hair thinning, you first want to evaluate if there are any factors that could be causing your hair to thin,” Small explains. “Examples of causation factors could be pregnancy, menopause, surgery, illness or medication.”
Related: The One Thing You Should Never, Ever Do if You’re a Woman Who Wants To Avoid Thinning Hair as You Age
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What To Avoid When You Have Thinning Hair Over 50, According to Stylists
1. Stop over-processing your hair
Maria McCool, hairstylist and founder of Calista, warns, “Our hair naturally thins as we age, so harsh chemicals and too many styling treatments will compound that damage and leave hair thinner than before.”
2. Ditch the silicones and heavy products
Clyde Haygood, a celebrity hairstylist (whose clients include Katy Perry, Demi Lovato and the Kardashians), and a PURA D’OR partner says, “Avoid products with silicones – they can clog the hair follicle and make thinning hair look oily and lifeless.”
Sharpton adds, “Don’t use heavy products at the scalp that can clog your pores. You want to make sure that you have a healthy scalp to help keep hair loss under control.”
Related: Is It Normal To Lose Hair in the Shower? Here’s What Derms Say
3. Say goodbye to tight hairstyles
Gretchen Friese, Bosley MD Trichologist, cautions, “Too much tension on the follicles can cause hair to fall out.”
4. Practice good sleep-hygiene
Friese suggests swapping your cotton pillowcase for silk or satin ones to reduce friction. Some favorites include Grace & Company’s vegan satin pillowcases which are made from pure Grade A Satin and are easy on your hair and skin or Slip’s 100% silk pillowcase is made with slipsilk, which not only helps with hair but also keeps your face smooth all through the night.
5. Stop skipping washes
Friese explains, “Keeping the scalp as clean as possible is better when the hair is thinning.”
However, Small warns, “Avoid aerosol dry shampoo—often these products contain 70-90% propellants none of which help prolong time in between washing. These ingredients can actually cause buildup on the scalp which in time can affect hair growth.”
Related: Can Dehydration Impact Hair Loss? Dermatologists Share the Truth
6. Avoid high heat styling
Sharpton advises, “Frequent use of hot tools like blow dryers, curling irons, and straighteners can damage hair. Use these tools on the lowest heat setting and always apply a heat protectant.”
7. Don’t ignore your diet and stress levels
Celebrity hairstylist William Whatley, the creative education director for Scruples Haircare, emphasizes the importance of a protein-rich diet.
Small adds, “When we are stressed and we’re not taking care of ourselves, oftentimes, our bodies will respond with hair loss.”
8. Stop relying on harsh chemicals:
Small cautions, “Avoid using scalp hair dye too frequently, the chemicals that we use to dye our hair can also cause significant stress to our scalps.”
9. Quit ignoring UV protection:
Small notes, “UV rays from the sun all year round can cause oxidative stress to our scalps. Especially as hair thins, this can lead to more stress as there is less hair to absorb the sun’s rays.”
10. Stop playing with your hair
Laverne Amara, seasoned loctician, natural hair advocate and founder at NVLX Labs, says, “Be more aware of your habits. Do you unconsciously twirl your hair when you are nervous? Do you wear your hair in the same style every day? These habits may unknowingly cause traction alopecia and lead to thinning.”
11. Don’t delay seeking professional help
“Avoid stressing about your hair or delaying treatment,” Small advises. “When you notice any changes in your hair, seek the advice of a trichologist, dermatologist or anyone you trust to discuss these changes.”
12. Choose your hats carefully
Amara suggest to make sure to wear hats with silk liners inside. “Materials like wool may create friction against the hair which can lead to tangling and breakage.”
Related: 30 of the Most Stylish and Practical Types of Hats for Fun(ctional) Fashion
13 Other Tips and Tricks for Thinning Hair from the Experts
1. Be proactive about hormone regulation
“For those experiencing thinning over 50, the main thing I would focus on is being proactive about hormone regulation,” Small explains. “The reason our hair will thin over 50 is the imbalance of estrogen to testosterone in our bodies.”
Related: ‘I Tried to Balance My Hormones Naturally for a Month—Here’s Exactly What I Did, and Why I Recommend It to Everyone’
2. Consider supplements
Whatley advises, “I recommend a multivitamin that has biotin which is a great component for thinning fine hair.” Our experts specifically mentioned the BosleyMD Healthy Hair Supplements for Women.
However, always consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplements.
3. Stay hydrated
Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated is key for your overall health, including hair health.
Related: The #1 Sign You Aren’t Drinking Enough Water—and How To Tell if You’re *Overhydrated*
4. Explore professional treatments
Consider options including low-level laser therapy, like FoLix, the First FDA-cleared fractional laser for hair loss treatment, or PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy, which have been shown to help with hair regrowth in some cases.
You could also consider treatments with minoxidil, the only topical ingredient approved by the FDA to regrow hair—this includes popular products from Rogaine, like Women’s 5% Minoxidil Unscented Foam and Women’s 2% Minoxidil Solution. Our experts also recommend the Vegamour GRO+ Advanced System and Viviscal hair growth vitamins.
5. Consider a different cut
Sharpton suggests, “Shorter hair looks fuller. So maybe consider a textured bob or even a short crop. If that’s too scary, just getting bangs that start farther back can hide a thinning part.”
Related: What Is ‘Old Money Blonde’? Why This Hair Color Works for These 17 Celebs and Could Work for You Too
6. Focus on scalp care
Regularly massage your scalp to stimulate blood circulation, which can support hair growth. Use gentle, circular motions to avoid damage.
7. Invest in quality products
Haygood recommends looking for “products with Niacin, Biotin, Copper Tripeptide, Argan Oil and other natural ingredients that help invigorate and purify the scalp while encouraging strand strength and resiliency.”
Experts recommend Aveda’s new Invati Ultra Advanced hair care collection, a clinically tested multi-step solution for thinning hair, PURA D’OR haircare line, Calista’s Jousse Cleanse and Condition and Scruples ER Emergency Repair Deep Conditioner.
8. Try a new part
Haygood suggests, “If you have bald spots from thinning hair, a simple flip of your part can instantly add lift, volume and instant coverage.”
9. Embrace scalp care
Zanya Gissler, founder of Zanya Spa Salon, emphasizes, “Hair growth starts with the hair follicle, so feeding it and taking care of the scalp are key in preventing hair loss.”
10. Tell your friends
Spread the word that you don’t have to just “deal” with thinning hair as you age—there are things you can do. If you’re looking for a gift, Matrix makes a Wow! That’s What I Call Volume haircare gift set that includes silicone-free formulas to boost the structure of fine, limp hair. LUSH Growth haircare kit, which features some of their hair nourishing products, is also an adorable gift set.
Related: 5 Must-Have Hair Accessories if You’re Over 50, According to Stylists
11. Massage your scalp
Whatley recommends, “Make sure that you have great communication with your doctor. Several medications that we take as we get older such as heart medication, thyroid blood pressure and others can have side effects that cause the hair to thin.”
12. Try volumizing tools
Gissler suggests, “Use rollers! This will give the appearance of more fullness and thicker looking hair when you style your hair!”
Hairstylist Julius Michael, VOLOOM’s brand ambassador, recommends the VOLOOM Hair Volumizing Iron, designed specifically for thin or thinning hair. Another excellent option is Mane by Jen Atkin’s versatile curling iron to give your tresses a major boost. If you’ve got curly hair, Volume Root Clips from Bounce Curl are great for major volume.
13. Be gentle
McCool says, “Wearing your hair in a slightly shorter style will give a thicker appearance.”
Up Next:
Related: Here’s Exactly How To Let Your Hair Go Gray, According to Celebrity Hair Stylists
Expert Sources
- Wes Sharpton, hairstylist, lead educator at Hairstory
- Jay Small, co-founder of Arey and Trichologist
- Maria McCool, hairstylist and founder of Calista
- Clyde Haygood, a celebrity hairstylist whose clients include Katy Perry, Demi Lovato, the Kardashians, and is a PURA D’OR partner
- Gretchen Friese, Bosley MD Trichologist
- Celebrity hairstylist William Whatley, the creative education director for Scruples Haircare
- Laverne Amara, seasoned loctician, natural hair advocate, and founder at NVLX Labs
- Zanya Gissler, founder of Zanya Spa Salon
- Julius Michael, hairstylist, VOLOOM’s brand ambassador
