Nearly everyone has some hair loss with aging. The rate of hair growth also slows. Hair strands become smaller and have less pigment. So the thick, coarse hair of a young adult eventually becomes thin, fine, light-colored hair.
Age: Hair grows fastest between the ages of 15 and 30, before slowing down. Some follicles stop working altogether as people get older. This is why some people get thinner hair or go bald.
You Can Grow Your Hair Long Past Your 50s
Growing long hair past your 50s is not only possible, but it is also probable. You should not be forced to cut your hair because of breakage, dryness, or other age-related damage. As we understand aging and its impact on hair, products can be developed to counter its effects.
Why Hair Growth Slows Down As We Age. But as we age, the symptoms of hair loss are only compounded by slower hair growth, because the follicles we have take more time to grow out. Healthy hair growth is just like healing injuries or fighting illness. It's a process that your body becomes less efficient with over time.
For most women, this occurs sometime between the ages of 44 and 55. When your ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone—two hormones key to menstruating—this is when you go into menopause. Estrogen and progesterone also happen to be linked to your hair's health, including its growth.
Over time, hair fibers become thinner and drop out; unfortunately, they never regenerate. There are natural pigment changes that occur in hair as you age as well.
Hair growth rate slows at midlife and beyond—it spends less time in the growth phase and more in the resting phase, which means it will grow more slowly, and won't be able to grow as long as it once did.
Minoxidil is FDA approved age 18 to 65. Given the extreme stability of your hair loss over the past 2 decades it is unlikely to benefit. Minoxidil is used after age 65 in what is called an "off label" use and may help a very small proportion of men with ongoing genetic or age-related hair loss.
Pubic hair and hair on the body doesn't usually grow back after the menopause, this is due to levels of estrogen and progesterone remaining low as we continue to age.
For older women, keeping your hair youthful (without trying to look too young) will make you look and feel younger. Long hair can make you feel youthful. If your hair is very healthy and shiny, long hair shows it off. There are many ways to wear long hair, including braids, ponytails, upsweeps and more.
"Your hair bundles peak at around 12 years old." Then, sadly, as you age, bundles of four become bundles of three, bundles of three become bundles of two, and it's all downhill from there. End result: hair appears thinner and less full.
Essentially, the idea behind increasing hair growth is to extend the hair growth phase, or rather stop it from prematurely moving into the resting phase before falling. Your hair's maximum length depends on the length of this growth cycle and that can be anywhere between 12-42 inches.
As we mature, more strands fall out, and fewer grow back to replace them. This is known as androgenetic alopecia or female-pattern hair loss. It usually presents as a general overall thinning in women. Female pattern hair loss is triggered by menopause-associated fluctuations in dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels.
Loose waves are more younger-looking, while straight hair can be aging. Play around with face-framing layers to give your hair some softness and movement. Layers can also make your hair appear to be more luscious and healthy. Parra recommends asking your stylist for perimeter layers that are cut in a straight line.
Take Care of Your Scalp to Stimulate Hair Growth
"That said, not washing your hair too frequently, avoiding color, harsh processing and chemicals, as well as massaging your scalp can all help to stimulate growth."
“Vitamins are essential for healthy hair growth and may help in preventing hair shedding and thinning,” says Michele Green, M.D., a cosmetic dermatologist in New York. “The best vitamins for hair growth include B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc, biotin and iron.
Doing things like towel-drying your hair, using too much product, using too little product, brushing your hair aggressively, washing your hair with steaming hot water, etc, are all things that can lead to breakage and therefore lead to no hair growth.
Only riboflavin, biotin, folate, and vitamin B12 deficiencies have been associated with hair loss.
Generally speaking, older adults may only need to wash their hair around once per week. For seniors who are hesitant to wash with greater frequency, dry shampoos can be effective in the days between wet washing.
Lifestyle factors could include using certain hair products, wearing your hair up too tightly, experiencing high stress levels, or not getting enough of certain vitamins and minerals in your diet. People who have immune system deficiencies could also have thinning hair.