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| Photo courtesy of flickr user Symic. |
When
trying to prevent aging, we often focus our attention on our skin, specifically
the face. But why stop there? If your hair is changing as you age, the way you
care for it should change, too. You can renew your hair by making even the
smallest changes. Whether it is the products you are using or a change in your
everyday styling routine, there is a way to keep your hair looking sleek,
luscious and healthy.
Like the
famous philosopher Sir Francis Bacon said, “Knowledge is power.” In order to
prevent your hair from becoming dull, you should first understand how it ages.
Let’s get down to the science of the matter.
The
average human being has around 100,000 strands of hair, although it can vary
for each person. Each piece of hair is made up of protein, called keratin,
which is surrounded by an outer layer of overlapping sheets forming the
cuticle. The fastest-growing
cells in the body grow within the only living part of a strand of hair, the
hair follicle in the skin. Changes in biochemical or hormonal, microscopic or
environmental factors can cause hair to age.
Five Tips for Younger Looking Hair
1. Watch your
diet.
We are what we eat! There are certain foods
that are full of good fats that can help you maintain a healthy scalp and head
of hair. Partaking in a nutritious diet of salmon, walnuts, oysters or sweet
potatoes will be the start of a new look. Below are other foods that are great
for long locks.
Lean meats
Ensuring that you’re eating enough lean protein can help prevent hair loss. Lean protein can be found in foods like:
Ensuring that you’re eating enough lean protein can help prevent hair loss. Lean protein can be found in foods like:
- Ground sirloin
- Eggs
- Edamame
- Pork chops
- Chicken tenderloins
Foods containing vitamins A and C and the mineral iron, such as spinach,
broccoli and Swiss chard, can help prevent hair loss.
Low-fat dairy
Yogurt, cottage cheese and other low-fat dairy foods contain
calcium, which encourages hair growth.
2. Take your vitamins.
Not every shampoo is the same, which is why we
strongly suggest using shampoos, conditioners and hair masks containing vitamins
A, B, C and E. Along with vitamins, nutrients such as calcium and magnesium in
shampoo can help repair hair damage. Make sure to pay attention to the
ingredients label to guarantee that the formula does not contain sulfates.
These cleansers have been known to strip hair of its natural oils.
3. Be easy on wet hair.
No matter the color, length or texture of your
hair, it’s most sensitive when it’s wet. I don’t think this next statement will
be a problem for the “tenderheaded” people of the group, but be CAREFUL when brushing your
hair right after a shower. Rather than a brush, consider using a wide-toothed comb to detangle your hair while still in the shower.
4. Put down the blowdryer.
Let me clarify this tip. I am not saying
that you should never blow dry, straighten, curl or otherwise use heat on your
hair again, but the temperature of the hot tool of choice could probably be dropped a bit. Try
to prevent stubborn flyaways, frizziness and dryness by using an ionic (also known as
negative ion) blow-dryer with 2,000 watts or more, or use a straightener with
pure ceramic plates.
5. Release some pressure.
Have you ever gotten a headache from a
ponytail holder that’s too tight? There is a reason for that. Loosen up
your ponytail by using no-crease ponytail holders, stray away from tight braids
and avoid products that make the hair stiff, such as extra hold hair sprays.
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