Watching your once luscious and thick hair lose luster and thickness can be upsetting. However, the process is a natural part of aging, and you shouldn’t let it affect your confidence. All you need to do is adapt to the changes in your hair and modify your hair care routine accordingly. Luckily, I have just the tips you're seeking for hair growth after 40.

Keep reading to learn these tips and also understand why hair starts changing after 40 in the first place.

A woman notices noticeable thinning on her hairline.

How Does Hair Change After 40?

It’s common for women to notice a significant change in hair growth after 40. You may also notice scalp visibility and assume it's because of hair loss. While hair loss is still a pretty valid reason for this, losing between 50 to 100 hair strands from your scalp every day is pretty normal.

The main culprit for scalp visibility after 40 is usually your hair thinning. This may weaken your hair, causing it to break easily and confusing you that it's breaking from your scalp.

Why Do These Changes Happen?

Hair growth after 40 becomes poor mainly because of significant hormone changes. Your body enters the perimenopausal stage, decreasing the production levels of estrogen and progesterone. This causes your hair to become thin, making it more susceptible to damage.

That’s why your hair may not recover as easily after being bleached, colored, or styled as it used to. In addition to that, your hair will not be able to handle the stress caused by constant changes in hair products.

Effective Tips for Hair Growth After 40

Now that we have explained how and why your hair changes as you age, let’s discuss what you can do about it. The following tips can help with hair growth after 40 and prevent breakage.

Improve Your Diet

The first and best thing you can do for hair growth after 40 is improve your diet. The better your diet, the more nutrients your hair will receive to become healthy again. For this, you can consult a doctor and get tested to see what nutrients you are deficient in.

They’ll help break down the test results to make a diet plan to improve your overall health. The doctor will also prescribe hair supplements and suggest products for your specific hair type.

Use Protective Products

Bleaching chemicals, and heating tools can be cruel to healthy hair. So, weak, thin hair doesn’t stand a chance when it comes to damage. However, that doesn’t mean you have to give up styling altogether.

If you don’t want to give up hairstyling irons and products, just make sure to take extra protective measures. Use heat protectants and incorporate a leave-in conditioner into your haircare routine. This will keep your hair moisturized and also make it more manageable.

I have created a complete guide on why your hair is thinning and how to make it thicker.

Improve Blood Circulation

Another great tip for hair growth after 40 is improving blood circulation to your scalp. Your blood is responsible for supplying your hair follicles with oxygen and other nutrients. That’s why I recommend using oil to massage your scalp with your fingers regularly.

This will open up the blood vessels in your hair, providing your follicles with more nutrients. I also suggest starting regular exercise, which can further help increase blood circulation in your body.

Avoid Stress and Get Adequate Sleep

Stress is one of the major factors that causes hair loss. It causes your body to release a hormone called cortisol, which inflames your hair follicles and hinders hair growth. So, if you want to increase your chances of hair growth after 40, avoiding stress is a must.

One of the best ways to do that is meditation and getting adequate sleep. Both things help you relax, regulate your heart rate, and lose tension in your muscles. The average amount of sleep time recommended for adults is at least 7 hours. According to the NIH, adults who sleep more than 7 hours a night are better off with health issues compared to others.

Change Your Shampooing and Conditioning Schedule

A lot of common hair mistakes are taking away your youthful look. One of the major mistakes women make that causes issues with hair growth after 40 is overwashing their hair. Shampooing your hair every day is likely to dry out your hair, making it frizzy and weak. That’s why it’s important to change your shampoo and conditioner schedules according to their texture.

For example, if your hair is dry, only shampoo your scalp and condition your hair ends to restore its moisture. If you’ve just had your hair dyed or subjected to heated styling, it may need more frequent conditioning.

Retain Moisture

With age and excessive hairstyling, your hair will get courser and need more attention to remain moisturized. For this, use a lightweight leave-in conditioner or a small amount of oil throughout the day.

I also recommend using silk pillowcases to sleep on. The smooth texture prevents excessive friction between your hair and pillow, helping to retain moisture and prevent tangles.

Hair on a silk pillowcase minimizes friction.

How to Manage Frizzy Hair?

After 40, dealing with coarse hair means you’ll also need to learn how to manage frizz. Sometimes, your hair may seem frizzy because of the different lengths of strands, which have their tips stuck out. The best way to manage frizzy hair is to use the right brush and hair-drying techniques.

With straight or wavy hair, the trick is always drying down instead of up. If you have curly hair, you can use a diffuser. This will direct airflow all around your curls, drying them out quickly without disrupting them like in the case of normal dryers.

Justin helping his hair model blow her hair in the correct downward motion to minimize frizz.

Conclusion

Hair growth after 40 can be a challenge if you’re unprepared, but it's just manageable when you know the right tips. The key is understanding that all hair is different, so you must remain vigilant regarding its changes. Then, modify your hair care routine accordingly.

If you liked this article, you’ll be glad to hear I have much more haircare advice to help you out. Just subscribe to my newsletter, and let me help you start your journey towards healthy and more gorgeous hair.