How to improve the longevity of your hair after 40

Extending the life of your hair, keeping it dense, supple, shiny and toned, preventing it from thinning out - these are often challenges when the first signs of hair ageing appear, particularly after the age of 40. 

Here you'll find expert advice from the Clauderer Specialists on how to keep control of your hair as time goes by.

Why women's hair changes after 40

For women, approaching forty is a pivotal time. The body changes imperceptibly, hair becomes thinner and whiter. Of course, this evolution varies from one woman to another, and some will keep their jet-black hair and intact hair mass for decades. A combination of internal factors such as genetics and external factors (hair routine, environment), the ageing of women's hair is the result of a complex process.

The main causes of hair ageing

Internal factors responsible for hair weakening

• biology: as a living organ, hair ages, like the body.
  • White hair is one of the first visible signs of hair ageing: the melanin reserve is depleted and the hair follicle ends up producing only colourless hair. While age is the main factor, stress can also contribute to early hair whitening.
  • Thinning: a more insidious phenomenon, hair becomes thinner, tangled, dull, brittle and harder to style. You may notice thinning on the top of the head or at the temples and forehead. Density is reduced and the ponytail is less full.
• hormonal influence :
  • Menopause: female hormones protect against baldness, but with the passage of time their positive influence gradually diminishes as soon as the menopause begins. pre-menopause.
  • Androgenetic alopecia which progresses with the decline in female hormones; this genetic predisposition may be accentuated or even triggered by the birth of children (post-partum fall).
  • Unsuitable contraception: depending on the dosage, some contraceptives can have a negative effect on hair if the hair follicles are receptive to DHT.

• Stress: overwork and the stresses of everyday life. It's often in your forties that things start to pile up! Chronic stress or stress resulting from an emotional shock can be a major aggravating factor in androgenetic hair loss. Stress can also increase or even cause reactive inflammation: dermatitis, oily or overly dry scalp, imbalance of the microbiota. More generally, the effects of stress on eating habits¹ can cause imbalances, excesses or deficiencies (iron) that take a long time to treat and weaken the hair.

Indirect causes of accelerated hair ageing

• Years of no or inappropriate hair routine. Repeated chemical colouring, scorching blow-drying, aggressive cosmetic manipulation that damages the keratin, extensions that weigh down and pull on the roots... Afro hair is not alone in suffering fromtraction alopecia because certain professional or fashionable hairstyles also cause the hairline to recede, whatever the hair type. Hair breaks because the fibre is weakened, thinned and dehydrated due to a lack of appropriate care: some styling products need time to work, so don't skip the application times! In short, at forty, we start to pay the price for our past mistakes.

• Exposure to the sun or other external aggressions without protection: a hat or sunscreen are essential to protect against free radicals that are harmful to keratin and the scalp. You can take effective action against the damaging effects of oxidative stress by adopting a healthier lifestyle, supported by food supplements rich in vitamins (B,C) and antioxidants such as selenium.

Our tips for prolonging the beauty of your hair after 40  

In practice

A simple, effective beauty routine: 1,2,3!

1. Scalp That's where it all starts! You can't have beautiful hair without a pH-balanced scalp that feels supple and comfortable, without redness, irritation, dandruff or flakes. A healthy microbiota promotes healthy hair growth. Take action: eat a healthy diet with fresh produce, drink water in moderation (internal hydration). Cleanse gently. Beware of pharmaceutical solutions for psoriasis or dermatitis flare-ups: their use is always limited in time and should not be prolonged without medical advice. In the event of a crisis or a sensitive, weakened scalp, prefer a soothing lotion with plant oils such as Clauderer Laits (lotions) containing sage, rosemary, lavender, sweet almond oil and wheat germ: everything you need to effectively and gently repair the most sensitive scalps. Beware of anti-dandruff shampoos if used frequently, as they can strip the fragile epidermis of the scalp.
2. Hair follicles The hair follicle is the matrix that produces the hair. It receives its quota of nutrients via the bloodstream. To activate it, there's nothing like massaging the scalp to stimulate micro-circulation. Start at the nape of the neck and work your way up for no more than 1 to 2 minutes, using your fingertips without rubbing. Beware of micro-needling and other brushes with metal pins if the scalp is sensitive and irritated, otherwise you risk bleeding, pain and hair pulling. Nourish the hair follicle with targeted supplements: serums bursting with growth-activating ingredients, anti-oxidants, amino acids, etc. Nourishing the body means nourishing the hair follicle, and therefore the hair, with food supplements specially formulated to revitalise the hair. Certain trace elements such as zinc and copper appear to stimulate the production of melanin and therefore slow the growth of grey hair.
3. Keratin When there's a lot of mistreatment of the hair, the effect is cumulative. If the lengths are too damaged to be saved, a quick trim to eliminate split ends is essential. Choose natural treatments suited to your hair type. The essential daily ritual for sealing in the moisture of Afro hair: spring water with vegetable oil, spacing out washes that strip the delicate fibre of textured hair. Coloured hair is often drier, with open scales and a porous fibre, so the texture of the styling product is important: rich texture for thick hair, creamier texture for fine hair. Regularly apply a deep treatment (hair mask) with a rest period to give the active ingredients time to penetrate and strengthen the fibre. Switch to vegetable-based colouring. Protect with a cap, scarf and SPF lotion. Shampoo: choose according to your hair type and any scalp pathology. We likecastor oil, wheat germ oil, jojoba or coconut oil in complete hair care products enriched with B vitamins to nourish the hair fibre. Nourishing conditioners or hair masks, with or without rinsing, but often useful to make detangling easier. Don't brush too hot. Patience and gentleness are the keys to repairing and strengthening hair after the age of 40.

It's never too late to choose the routine that will keep your hair looking young for as long as possible. Start by identifying your hair type, its main problems and priorities. That way, you can easily adopt a beneficial strategy for prolonging hair vitality. All it takes is a few minutes a day with the right gestures and the right products to establish an effective, stress-free hair routine. Do yourself a favour and love your hair: it's the best kind of anti-ageing treatment!

1. https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthy-aging-and-longevity/why-stress-causes-people-to-overeat ︎