It has become the biggest topic in my salon, with female age ranges from 35 years to 60 years. There are so many reasons hair becomes thinner than what it was in our teen years, and even in our 20’s. If you feel something else is happening besides aging, speak with your family doctor. But the main cause is simply age. And here is why…

Just like the aging process in the rest of our body, our hair begins a decline in reproduction. We lose approximately 150-200 hairs per day. Yikes! I know that’s a pretty scary number, but if one only knew just how many hairs were actually coming out of the scalp, one would be amazed. Sorry, ladies and gents. It’s simply the truth of the matter. And I’m pretty sure you already know this. But just for the sake of making it obvious, let’s examine what happens as the years of becoming mature, do to our hair. To our reproductive cycle in the scalp.

1) Since the hair follicles are structures in the scalp and skin that help hair grow, as we age, the hair follicles start producing less pigment. This causes the hair to turn gray and the thickness we once enjoyed is now becoming thin. That is the number one reason for thinning hair. And graying hair…

2) Hair strands become smaller as less pigment is pumped to the strands. So the thick, coarse hair of a young adult eventually becomes thin, fine, light-colored hair. Many hair follicles just stop producing new hairs all-together. Men may start showing signs of baldness and/or gray by the time they are 30 years old. Yep. Tis true. I have a brother in law this happened to. He had a full head of jet black hair, married my sister, and in a matter of 10 years (or so), he had a full head of white hair. But that’s another story. 😉

3) Now, scientists have uncovered a new mechanism behind hair loss: When stem cells in hair follicles are damaged by age, they turn themselves into skin. Ever notice how wide that part of yours is getting? Over time, this happens to more and more stem cells, causing hair follicles to shrink and eventually disappear. Isn’t this exciting? Our follicles, that actually produced our luscious locks of hair, actually begin to disappear as we age. Doesn’t matter how thick of a mane we begin with, there will be death to some of our hair follicles. Others may not notice it, but we sure will.

The good news is that we can slow down this process, early on, by having good nutrition, which is essential for the growth and maintenance of healthy hair. Please read that again!

Even though other things can cause hair loss, aging is the main culprit. Aging, and mega stress. And because we like to play the blame game with everything, because, hey! It can’t be our own fault, we like to say “because of Covid, I’m losing my hair.” Disclaimer: That can actually be true, but it will come back within 3-4 months, unlike nature taking it’s pay with the death of the follicle.

So…since I’ve given you a bouquet of dead flowers, I’ll just let ya think about the futility of using a ton of hair growing products (nope, I don’t sell that stuff…it doesn’t work), in HOPE (that’s what they’re really selling), of bringing forth a new hair.

You’re beautiful anyway!!! No hair needed. Or…there are really great wigs that are worth the money, should it get so bad we can’t believe just how beautiful we are without hair. You will have to spend a buck (or a thousand) to get one that looks like it’s actually growing out of your head. But well worth it, if you’re as self conscious as I am.

Wishing you all things beautiful,

Mary

P.S. There are hair styles that can make it appear as though you have more hair than you actually do. Talk with me. Maybe you and I can come up with a plan to help you navigate to look your beautiful best!