5 Tips to Control Unmanageable Aging Hair
It is common to experience changes in texture and density in your hair as you get older. With age, many women find themselves struggling to manage and style their unruly strands. From the tangles to the frizz, aging hair can be a mess. Rest assured, there are several things you can do to take back control over your hair. Read on to learn how you can tame your mane and keep frizz at bay in your middle age.
Why is My Hair Unmanageable?
Unmanageable hair comes in different forms—difficult to style, dry, frizzy, and straw-like. A common reason for unruly hair is a reduced sebum production on the scalp. A slow or reduced sebum production can lead to a loss in elasticity and silkiness. The lack of moisture will inevitably cause frizzy, hard to manage hair. Additional causes of unmanageable hair can include harsh products and excessive heat styling, which dry out your strands.
5 Tips for Unmanageable Hair
1. Schedule Regular Trims:
It is important to chop away dry, dead ends. Nothing will magically fuse the pieces back together after the hair has been cut. Trimmings are recommended every 68 weeks. The longer you wait to cut your hair, the more your ends will break up the hair shaft. By getting routine trims you can better control the integrity of your strands. Regular dustings will improve the look and feel of your hair. Rid yourself of unhealthy split ends to have less breakage and fewer flyaways.
2. Handle, Brush, and Style with Care:
Excessive friction can make a mess of your hair. Firstly, towel-drying wet hair can roughen the hair shaft, which causes the cuticle to lift rather than lie flat. Cotton absorbs moisture out of your hair quickly, often leaving your strands dry and frizzy. Rather, use a microfiber towel to carefully absorb excess moisture from your hair without causing breakage. Also, don’t forget to protect your hair while sleeping. To reduce friction, swap your cotton pillowcase for a silky one. The silky-smooth fabric allows strands to glide across the pillowcase rather than getting pulled or tangled. Using the proper fabrics is essential in managing thick, tangly hair.
If you have thick hair and you happen to have knots, they will likely be tied with super strength. Forcing a comb or paddle brush through it can be a treacherous task. Investing in the proper brushing tools is necessary to refrain from tugging and breaking your hair. It is best to use a detangling brush with short, flexible bristles that will gently work through tangles. You may also use a wide-tooth comb. The wide spacing prevents strands from fraying and snagging. In order to minimize breakage, start by brushing your ends and concentrating on the tangles there, then move on to the midshaft. Finish by brushing in a single stroke from your roots to your tips. This brushing technique will help you manage your knots more efficiently. Keep in mind, your hair is more prone to damage when it is wet. So, when time allows, avoid brushing your hair when it is still dripping wet.
When your hair isn’t cooperating, an up-do is a quick fix. A loose braid, low ponytail, or low bun are easy hairstyles that are healthy for your hair. Keep in mind, using plastic elastics is bound to break and split your hair strands. To reduce breakage, use fabric-covered hair ties. Once your hair is styled, you may notice some frizz or flyaways. To set them into place, use a toothbrush or clean mascara wand with alcohol-free hairspray to comb them through your hair. This technique will keep each hair perfectly in place for a smoother look.
3. Use Gentle, Moisturizing Products:
Shampoo:
The salt found in sulfates will strip away the natural oils in your hair because they act as detergents, removing conditioner layers and free lipids from your cuticle, leaving your hair dry and brittle. Excessive dryness causes hair to draw in the humidity in the air, leaving your hair frizzy and hard to manage. For a boost in hydration, look for natural ingredients like glycerin, argan oil, bark extract, or shea butter.
Deep Conditioner:
In many cases, uncontrollable hair reflects a lack of hydration. Conditioner plays a large role in battling frizz and proving your hair with adequate moisture. Conditioner’s oils, butter, polymers, and other hydrating elements will boost your strand’s hydration and elasticity. Conditioner should be applied to the hair’s mid-lengths and ends. To go a step further, a high-quality and deep-conditioning mask like the one from Better Not Younger can help fight dryness and breakage. A conditioning mask stays in your hair from anywhere between a few minutes to all night long. The most efficient hydrating ingredients in a mask are avocados, olive oil, argan oil, shea butter, honey, and bananas.
Leave-In Conditioner:
Leave-in conditioners add moisture to the hair while still protecting it from damage and detangling the strands. Nearly every hair type can benefit from the use of leave-in conditioners, but you may find them particularly useful if you have dry or frizzy hair. After you’ve washed your hair and before you style it, it is recommended to use a leave-in conditioner.
Serums:
A serum acts as a protective shield, while also managing and repairing damage and increasing growth and shine. A serum or oil can serve as a barrier protecting your hair from humidity and other environmental conditions. When your hair is still damp, apply oil to it to help it maintain moisture and dry more smoothly. When applying hair serums, concentrate on the mid-length to the ends of your hair.
In oil or serum, look for these ingredients:
Argan Oil:
Argan oil is rich in antioxidants, fatty acids, and vitamin E which should help to hydrate and soften your hair. Argan oil will secure your strands and protect them against humidity.
Jojoba Oil:
Jojoba oil mimics the sebum your body produces naturally. Jojoba has moisturizing properties, as it contains vitamin A, B, C, and E, that signal your hair and skin follicles that it has enough sebum.
Bamboo:
The bamboo extract helps to retain moisture in the hair, giving it a healthy sheen and preventing frizz caused by humidity or dryness. Bamboo can help you prevent hair damage by increasing your strand’s elasticity.
Coconut Oil:
Coconut oil contains omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E, which are two vital nutrients in providing hydration and shine to the hair.
Tea Tree Oil:
Tea tree oil has soothing properties, which can help reduce skin irritations. Additionally, it is known to balance the pH level of the scalp and promote hair growth.
4. Use Heat Sparingly:
When your locks are out of control, the natural instinct is to grab a hot tool. Although heat may be a temporary fix, it can permanently damage your strands. If you do apply heat, there are a few styling techniques to consider. The temperature of your hot tool should be considerate of your hair type and texture; however, the safest range is 200-350 degrees. The proper temperature will allow you to straighten or curl your hair only once. If you find yourself running over a section multiple times, even on a low setting, that can still lead to damage.
To amplify blow-drying efficiency, divide your hair into sections, use a diffuser and hold your dryer 6-inches away. A diffuser will prevent your hair from fraying. Start blow-drying at a higher temperature and decrease the heat as your hair dries to minimize any damage. To steer clear from frizz, keep the blow-dryer nozzle pointed downwards.
5. A Well-Balanced Diet Goes a Long Way:
A colorful, well-balanced diet with the right vitamins can nourish your follicles with what they need to produce strong, healthy hair. Firstly, proper hydration supports healthy, moisturized hair. Drinking enough water helps the body control its circulatory system, which promotes hair growth and keeps it long and lustrous. Furthermore, a healthy diet supplemented with vitamins will strengthen your strands from the inside out.
- Vitamin A: foods with a high concentration of vitamin A include sweet potatoes, broccoli, yellow and orange fruits, red peppers, and eggs.
- B vitamins, especially biotin: foods like liver, salmon, avocados, nuts and seeds, and dairy products.
- Vitamin C: include citrus fruits, Brussel sprouts, and bell peppers in your diet for vitamin C.
- Vitamin D: It is present in fatty fish, egg yolks, and fortified foods like milk and orange juice.
- Vitamin E: consume sunflower seeds, almonds, spinach, and mangos for vitamin E.
- Iron: excellent sources of iron include shellfish, eggs, red meat, lentils, and spinach.
- Zinc: foods like oysters, beef, pumpkin seeds, and lentils have high zinc levels.
Wrapping it Up
Frizz, flyaways, and tangles can make your hair feel out of control. The good news is there is plenty to do about seemingly unmanageable tresses. Oftentimes, unmanageable hair is really just dry hair. From moisturizing conditioners and serums to salon visits to efficient brushing techniques, smooth, hydrated locks can be achieved in your middle age. Unruly hair can be frustrating, so consider these 5 tips to combat your hair problems.
