Combat Thinning and Aging Hair with these Tips and Tricks.

It probably crept up on you, didn’t it? A few more hairs in your brush when you come

Maybe you noticed just a few more hairs in your brush or comb every day, or that you’re gathering less hair into your ponytail each morning.

Female balding and hair thinning is a part of aging for most women. But what causes our hair to thin as we get older? And is there anything we can do to stop it?

You’ve probably heard of Rogaine before as a way to treat male pattern baldness, but did you know that it could also be an effective treatment for females who suffer from the disorder?

While it’s not common for women to lose all of their hair in the same way that men do, female pattern baldness is usually characterized by the thinning of hair around the crown. It’s normally hereditary and, luckily, is treatable.

Over the counter topical treatments that contain 2% Minoxidil are the only FDA approved method of combating female pattern baldness. It helps regrow hair and prevents further hair loss, but stops working when you discontinue use.

However there are some things you can do in your daily life to give your aging tresses some love.

When you were younger, your hair probably seemed a lot less dry or even a little greasy, right? That’s because our hair follicles contain sebaceous glands, which secrete the oil that coats our strands and keeps them moisturized and healthy

But as we age, those glands start to shrink and produce less and less oil, making our hair feel drier than it did in our teens. This is bad news because dry hair is more likely to break, making our hair look even thinner.

Luckily, you can combat this by adding oil back into your hair with the products you use. There are many different brands of hair oil, and almost all of them do an excellent job of replenishing your dry, tired hair.

And while we’re on the subject of dry hair, be careful not to overdo it on hot styling tools, like blow driers and curling irons. If used too often or improperly, they can cause major damage and breakage.

It’s also smart to change up the type of products you use. Like the rest of our bodies, our hair- and its needs- changes as we grow older. It’s very important that we address those changes in how we TREAT our hair.

Look for products designed for mature hair, as they’re less harsh and tend to contain fewer chemicals, keeping your dry and brittle strands conditioned. Remember, the goal here is to keep your hair healthy and strong so you lose as little as possible.

But if we’re honest, you could be doing everything right when it comes to taking care of your hair and still experience some loss. Is there anything you can do to fake a fuller head of hair?

I spent some time talking to some of my hairstylist friends to get their opinions on the subject. The general consensus is that with the right haircut and styling, you can draw attention away from your thinning locks. Here are some of their recommendations.

Cuts that hit between your chin and collarbone tend to be the most flattering for thinner hair. Steer away from short choppy layers (they can make your hair look even finer) and, instead, ask for long layers that frame your face.  If you like the look of bangs, light side-swept styles are often the most flattering and can give the illusion of more volume.  

If you like to color your hair, opt for a root color that’s slightly darker than the rest of your hair to give it more contrast and depth

Finally, when it comes to styling, keep your products light. You don’t want anything that’s going to weigh down your hair and make it appear limp. Mousse is a great choice because it gives your hair texture and hold, without making it look stiff and flat.

With a little TLC you can have hair that looks as young as you feel.