The passage of time leaves traces not only on the skin, but also on the hair. The fact that they are aging is easy to notice, because the changes that indicate this are quite characteristic. But there is also good news: hair aging can be stopped – and even partially reversed, explains trichologist Anna Mackojć.
The first signs of hair aging can be noticed around the age of 30. This is usually when many people notice their first gray hair. Sometimes, however, they can be seen earlier – there are women who turn gray just after the age of 20, which is often related to genetic predispositions.
However, aging hair is not only about gray hair – it is also a whole range of other symptoms that are related to both physiology and lifestyle – hygiene habits, diet, stress, or even lack of proper protection from the sun.
They start to gray and grow slower. Symptoms of hair aging
The aging process of hair involves several different processes. The main one is the aging of the hair follicle, during which the hair pigment is depleted and the result is graying of the hair. This is the result of the body's natural aging process, which, however, in some people may also result from genetic predispositions.
As trichologist Anna Mackojć from the Institute of Trichology explains: – Hair color depends on the amount of melanin, and more precisely on its forms – eumelanin and pheomelanin and the proportions between them. Dark hair consists of a larger amount of eumelanin, while blond and red hair – pheomelanin. When this ingredient is lacking, gray hair begins to appear. They are characterized by greater roughness, stiffness and matteness because they no longer contain natural dye and are hollow inside, which changes their structure. – explains the expert.
The fact that your hair has started to age can be seen by how quickly it grows. If you used to have to straighten your bangs at the hairdresser, and now you only go there once in a while, it's a sure sign that your hair growth rate has slowed down significantly. This is especially true for women who want to grow their hair. As the expert explains, this process is related to hormonal changes taking place in the body, as well as cell aging.
Another sign is a change in the thickness of the hair shaft, as well as a loss of shine – they become excessively dull, and it is difficult to obtain color depth during dyeing. With age, they also become rougher and dryer – this is due to the sebaceous glands producing less and less sebum.
However, one of the most painful – and unfortunately noticeable – symptoms of hair aging is hair loss. However, it must be remembered that the loss of density may be influenced by many factors: vitamin and mineral deficiencies, diet, stress, weight loss, care methods and, finally, medications taken.
How to rejuvenate your hair?
Gray hair or other symptoms of hair aging can not only be masked – treatments are now available that allow you to regenerate and, in a sense, rejuvenate your hair. Their condition and vitality will be helped to regenerate by specific care treatments.
As Anna Mackojć explains: – One of the elements of the hair rejuvenation process is restoring the normal hair growth cycle, which may be disturbed by external factors, such as: restrictive diets, medications or stress. – explains.
– A discovery confirmed by research results is the use of, for example, therapy involving regular supplementation with proteoglycans. Their role is to balance the anagen phase to its correct duration. Additionally, proteoglycans have a positive effect on the activation of stem cells in hair follicles to finally initiate and balance the anagen phase. To treat mature hair, you can also use strongly regenerating trichological treatments using Japanese black pearl powder, diamond powder and green caviar extract. – adds the expert. And he concludes that although we cannot stop the hair aging process, we can significantly slow it down.
