How Often Should A Woman Over 40 Moisturize Her Hair?

I have wavy to curly hair and when I say frizz has been the bane of my existence since I was old enough to be conscious of my hair, it is far from an exaggeration. And when I say this problem decided to expound upon itself as I’ve aged, I could not be more serious.

Luckily, I’ve been able to tame the problem with a few tricks of the trade that I’ve learned along the way – or hours upon hours of research and trial-and-error – whichever way you prefer to say it.

Do

1. Check Your Shampoo

If you find that your hair is drier than the Sahara no matter what you put on it, leave on it, or soak it in, then you might have super dry hair. But you also might be washing all of the nutrients right out of your hair. To be sure the shampoo you’re using isn’t the culprit here, check it for ingredients like sulfates, parabens, SLS, and sodium, that can further dry your scalp and hair.

Instead look for ingredients like seed and nut oils, herbal extracts, essential oils, aloe, or shea butter. These work with your hair to lock in moisture and keep away the frizz.

2. Deep Condition

Sometimes, regular conditioning and even leave-in conditioners just aren’t enough for some women. If this seems to be you, consider adding a deep conditioner or hair masque to your routine.

Typically, you can use these once a week. Just let it sit while you’re in the shower to really let it soak in. I like to do mine while I shave, so I’m not just standing there waiting for the time to pass. This Hair Redemption masque is packed with vitamins and works double time to not only prevent new damage, but also repair dry, brittle hair.

3. Embrace the Gray

If you frequently get color treatments to cover your grays, or to just have different colored hair, it could very well be a contributing factor to the dry hair you’re experiencing. Now, I’m not saying you have to quit coloring your hair altogether, but try waiting longer amounts of time between treatments.

The chemicals used on your hair can be extremely harsh on your locks, causing them to look good temporarily, but end up dry and lifeless. Of course, you can just embrace the gray, because it can be incredibly liberating.

Don’t

1. Over Wash

Along the same lines as checking your shampoo, is over washing. Shampoos are designed to remove dirt, sweat, oil, and other debris from your hair. However, they also strip the natural oils, or sebum, from our scalp. That’s bad, because sebum is what lubricates the hair follicle and hydrates our scalp and hair strands. So, over-washing can be a big reason you’re noticing dry strands.

Try washing your hair every other day, and if it goes well, you can even move to once every three days. You might also consider going an extra day every now and then and wearing your hair up or wearing a hat to hide it. Just make sure to clean at least once or twice a week and rinse after working out to prevent any off-putting scents from forming.

2. Assume You Have to Go Short

Say it with me, “I do not have to cut my hair when I turn 40!” If you want to go short, by all means, do it. But if you’re doing it because you think you have to, cancel that salon appointment. Yes, you should get regular trims every 2-3 months to keep breakage and split ends to a minimum, but by no means do you have to chop half of your hair off to prevent it from drying out.

3. Apply Heat

Much like the way coloring treatments can drain your hair of moisture, heat styling can do the same. Blow dryers, hair irons, and curling wands might make your hair look great in the interim, but they can all fry your strands, leaving them vulnerable to damage and frizz.

Try to use heat sparingly, if at all, on your hair, and be sure to always use a protectant spray before applying any heat to lessen the damage done.