Getting older comes with several pros and cons. On the one hand, you’ve experienced more life, so you’re a bit wiser. On the other side, aging bodies can present certain challenges. This is especially true for women in their 40s and 50s, when estrogen and progesterone plummet.
This period when hormone levels are dropping for women is called perimenopause, and it precedes menopause — you are officially menopausal when you haven’t had a menstrual cycle for 12 months. Along with hot flashes, brain fog and joint pain, perimenopause can also impact your hair health, causing it to thin and get dry.
To explain how menopause impacts your hair and what you can do about it, we spoke to three board-certified dermatologists. Below, they explain what you need to know and how you can address the hair shifts brought on by “the change.”
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What happens to your hair during menopause?
As mentioned, during menopause, natural levels of estrogen and progesterone drop, which can lead to certain changes within your body. When it comes to your hair, this loss of estrogen may be noticeable.
“Estrogen plays a critical role in hair density, fullness and growth, so it is natural to see more shedding in menopause, causing thinning of the hair and widening of the hair part,” says Dr. Melanie Palm, a board-certified dermatologist at Art of Skin in San Diego, California. “With the sudden drop in estrogen hormones during this season of life, women will also experience an increase in androgens, which can also contribute to hair loss — especially in women with a history of male or female pattern baldness.”
In addition to hair loss, some women notice a change in their hair texture. “Hair may become drier and more brittle as natural oil production declines,” says Dr. Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder, CEO, and medical director of EliteMD in Danville, California. This dryness makes your hair more prone to breakage, adds Dr. Cristina Del Toro Badessa, a board-certified physician specializing in personalized and integrative medicine and director at Artisan Beaute, a medical spa in Atlanta.
What can you do about menopause hair?
Just because menopause is inevitable, doesn’t mean you have to live with thinning, dry hair. “Managing menopause-related hair changes requires a combination of lifestyle adjustments and targeted treatments,” says Badreshia-Bansal. “Staying hydrated, consuming a nutrient-rich diet with plenty of antioxidants, and incorporating omega-3 fatty acids can support skin and hair health. Supplements like collagen peptides and biotin may also help improve hair strength.”
In addition to the above, prioritizing products that maintain your hair’s health can help. Here are the most important things to look for in products when trying to address changes brought on by menopause:
- Hydrating ingredients: Since menopause dries out your hair, your goal should be to infuse moisture. “With that in mind, prioritize hydrating ingredients for the hair, like biotin, keratin, and natural oils, like jojoba, argan and avocado oil,” says Palm. “Humectants like glycerin and hyaluronic acid will also help your hair retain moisture.”
- Sulfate-free formulas: “Avoid harsh ingredients, like sulfates, which can strip your scalp and hair,” says Palm. When your hair is stripped of whatever natural oils you still have, it can leave it even more dry and prone to breaking — which is why avoiding harsh ingredients can be helpful.
- Heat protectants: Your goal should be to minimise even further damage; one of the things that can cause the most damage to hair is high heat. If you regularly heat style your hair with a hair dryer, curling iron or flat iron, use a heat protectant first. This can help coat hair and protect it from high temperatures, drying it out.
Menopause hair care products to shop
To assist you in reviving and protecting your hair if you are going through menopause, we rounded up hair care products that can help. We used the above tips from our experts to narrow our search and then focused on products made explicitly for menopausal or older hair.
OGX Thick and Full Shampoo
- Lightweight
- Volumizes and thickens
- Not only for older hair
This shampoo contains several ingredients our experts recommend for thinning hair, including collagen and biotin. It also contains vitamin B7 and wheat protein to thicken, according to the brand. The lightweight formula won’t weigh your strands down and it’s sulfate-free, which Palm recommends for those with dry hair.
Biolage Ultra Hydra Source Conditioner
- Intensely hydrating
- Adds shine
- Too heavy for some
If menopause has left your hair really dry, consider this conditioner from Biolage. It contains cupuaçu butter, which intensely hydrates, according to the brand. This conditioner is best for those with medium to coarse hair texture — those with finer hair may find it weighs strands down too much. In addition to hydrating, this conditioner can help with frizz and dullness, according to Biolage.
Commence 3-in-1 Leave-In Conditioner
- Lightweight
- Helps with frizz
- Only sold on brand’s site
Along with a conditioner you use in the shower, using a leave-in can help add even more moisture. This one is safe for color and chemically treated hair and can be used daily on damp hair, according to the brand. The formula contains peptides to thicken, fatty acids to boost shine and smoothness, and glycerin to hydrate.
Better Not Younger Lift Me Up Hair Thickener Spray
- Nourishing formula
- Instant results
- Precision nozzle can be tricky
Better Not Younger is a hair care brand for women over 40. This thickening spray is intended to be applied on wet hair at the roots before you style it to give you more volume and mask any thinning. Not only does the formula contain volumizing ingredients, but it also contains ceramides, biotin and niacinamide, which can help hydrate hair over time, too.
Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Heat Protection
- Apply to wet or dry hair
- Protects and conditions
- Floral scent
This spray hydrates as it protects your hair from heat damage. It contains a blend of six oils to coat strands, sealing in moisture while preventing heat from penetrating deep enough to cause damage, according to the brand. It also acts as a detangler, helping to prevent your brush from snagging and causing breakage. This product has a 4.6-star average rating from 5,842 reviews on Amazon.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts with specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Cristina Del Toro Badessa is a board-certified physician specializing in personalized and integrative medicine and director at Artisan Beaute, a medical spa in Atlanta.
- Dr. Melanie Palm is a board-certified dermatologist at Art of Skin in San Diego, California.
- Dr. Sonia Badreshia-Bansal is a board-certified dermatologist and co-founder, CEO, and medical director of EliteMD in Danville, California.
Why trust NBC Select?
Bethany Heitman is a contributor at NBC Select and a journalist who regularly covers topics like beauty, home and lifestyle. For this story, she interviewed dermatologists on menopausal hair.
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