MANE EVENT
I’m a hair expert – shedding is inevitable as you age but my tips can reverse it… just get a £2 Amazon buy
There's one product trichologist Bridgitte Hill steers clear of when it comes to looking after her scalp
HAIR thinning and shedding is inevitable as we age - but there’s little hacks we can try to restore it to its former voluminous glory.
Even the tiniest shift in hormones can lead to dramatic changes to the scalp and hair loss, certified trichologist Bridgitte Hill shared.
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So, it makes sense that, due to the menopause, women in their late forties and fifties are more impacted by slower hair growth and dryer stands.
There’s also the challenge of less volume and a loss of pigmentation which leads to grey and white hairs as we get older.
“As we age and don’t engage in proper scalp care or maintenance, our ageing scalps lead to deteriorating hair follicles,” Bridgitte told British Vogue.
“The skin of the scalp experiences similar shifts just as the skin on our faces.”
According to the expert, we should be applying the same principles as skincare when it comes to scalp and hair health.
That is, eating well and having a gentle but effective cleansing, exfoliating and moisturising routine.
“Hair is an extension of the scalp,” Bridgitte added.
“The more stable you keep your scalp’s microbiome and skin barrier, the better it will function, [lessening] chances of unwanted scalp conditions and hair loss.”
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REVERSE AGE YOUR SCALP
As well as seeking out barrier-boosting shampoos and conditioners, you should be exfoliating your scalp.
And the most accessible method of exfoliation is totally free.
According to Bridgette’s article with British Vogue, a soft scalp massage with your finger tips or hair brush should do the trick.
Similarly, silicone brushes designed to give the scalp a massage as you use it are as cheap as £2 on Amazon.
Blood flow to the scalp may decrease with age, resulting in reduced delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicles.
As a result, this can lead to hair shedding, weaker follicles and thinner strands.
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Tips to age well
There are a number of habits you can take up to care for your health and wellbeing as you age.
Age UK shared the following tips:
- Do things that you enjoy everyday - whether that's cooking, seeing friends or enjoying a good book
- Stay hydrated - drink six to eight cups of water a day
- Eat plenty of fruit and veggies to lower your risk of heart disease and certain cancers, have beans, pulses, fish, eggs and meat to repair your body after injury, starchy carbs for energy dairy to help keep bones strong
- Manage long-term health conditions to prevent them progressing or having a greater impact on your health
- Quit smoking and reduce alcohol intake to no more than 14 units a week
- Make mental health a priority and get treatment for it, as it can also impact physical health
- Make sure you're getting quality sleep
- Keep socialising - and call a friend or loved one if you can't make it out the house
- Be physically active to lower the risk of depression and dementia, heart disease, stroke, Parkinson’s and some cancers
Scalp massages improve blood circulation and flow to the area, giving your follicles the chance to work hard again and produce better quality hair.
It’ll also clear away congestion that’s clogging up your follicles.
Congestion can include both natural oils and styling products you’ve put on your hair since its last wash.
EXFOLIATION STATION
If you want to take your scalp routine one step further, a deep exfoliation every four to six weeks is recommended by Bridgette.
“Proper scalp exfoliation loosens debris and dead skin cells from the scalp, as well as encourages cellular turnover,” she explained on Instagram.
“Many scalp exfoliating products are made with ingredients that also encourage blood circulation.
“When the scalp is properly cleansed and nurtured, the microbiome remains in a balanced state to function properly leading to optimal hair growth with quality hair fibres.
“Depending on your hair type and texture, you want to exfoliate every four to six weeks.
“I prefer to stay away from coarse or grainy exfoliants, which can leave debris or residue on the scalp.
“Instead, opt for oil-based exfoliants or cream-based scalp masks”
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She encouraged women to seek out products with fruit and plant extracts or essential oils combined with the latest in biochemistry.
Ideally, your products should contain salicylic acid, vitamin B5, fruit extracts and saw palmetto.