Hair Care During Menopause

Hair Texture Changes During Menopause

Hair texture changes during menopause and perimenopause can be real—and often frustrating. "Estrogen promotes hair growth and maintains hair's strength and luster. As estrogen levels decline, hair can become finer, drier, and more brittle. The reduction in hormones also impacts the scalp's sebaceous glands, causing them to produce less oil, which conditions the hair and scalp, contributing to drier hair and changes in texture.

What to Consider

Moisturizing Formulas and Deep Conditioning Treatments

To smooth and soften your hair texture, experts recommend moisturizing formulas and deep conditioning treatments. Opt for professional keratin treatments or DIY nourishing hair care products containing hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. Strengthening ingredients such as biotin, saw palmetto, green tea extract, rosemary, rice protein, and aloe can also help make your hair feel healthier and less prone to breakage. Scalp massages are wonderful to stimulate follicles and promote healthy hair growth.

Avoid Damaging Habits

Limit any habits that might weaken or damage hair further, such as excessive heat styling or tight updos that may place tension on your scalp. Shampoo your hair and scalp regularly to remove product build-up that may exacerbate dryness and inhibit growth if not properly removed.

Expert Recommendations and Products

Hair Thickening Shampoo

V&Co. Beauty Hair Thickening Shampoo

• Pros: Strengthening, supports thicker and fuller-looking hair

• Cons: Contains fragrance

This formula restores moisture while preventing hair breakage. It contains a balance of moisturizing ingredients like jojoba oil and strengthening ingredients like amino acids, proteins, peptides, and vitamins.

Amino Bond Intense Bonding Treatment

Nexxus Amino Bond Intense Bonding Treatment

• Pros: Repairs damage, restores moisture, affordable

• Cons: Best results with the shampoo and conditioner

This treatment features a blend of amino acids and keratin protein that rebuild broken bonds and generate newer, stronger ones.

Wake Up Call Style Memory Mousse

Better Not Younger Wake Up Call Style Memory Mousse

• Pros: Volumizes, adds shine, strengthens

• Cons: A little goes a long way

This mousse adds volume and shine to dry, thin, and fine hair. It contains biotin, bamboo, burdock, and hops to strengthen and support fuller-looking strands.

Super Strength+ Mask

Fekkai Super Strength+ Mask

• Pros: Repairs damaged hair, hydrating, smoothing

• Cons: Contains fragrance

Add this deep conditioning mask to your routine twice a week for nourishing and hydrating effects. It contains jojoba and coconut oils, along with amino acids to repair damaged hair keratin bonds.

Moisture Hair Milk

Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross Moisture Hair Milk

• Pros: Reduces breakage, softens, adds shine

• Cons: 4C curls may need more moisture

This moisture milk provides all-day hydration and shine to curly and natural hair, containing amla oil, Irish moss, and agave nectar.

The Crown Pleaser

Stripes The Crown Pleaser

• Pros: Lightweight, hydrating

• Cons: May not be hydrating enough for certain hair textures

This lightweight mask offers the benefits of a nourishing mask without weighing down fine or thinning hair.

3-in-1 Leave-In Conditioner

Commence 3-in-1 Leave-In Conditioner

• Pros: Adds volume, doesn't weigh down hair

• Cons: Only available on the Commence website

This leave-in conditioner hydrates and smooths texture without making hair feel weighed down or greasy.

Mend Heat Protectant Leave-In Conditioner

Arey Mend Heat Protectant Leave-In Conditioner

• Pros: Strengthens and repairs hair, protects against heat

• Cons: A little pricey compared to other options

Proven to protect from heat styling up to 450 degrees, this product targets breakage and strengthens hair over time.

Sculpting Paste

LolaVie Sculpting Paste

• Pros: Smooths frizz and flyaways, great finishing product

• Cons: Requires warming up for even application

This sculpting paste is perfect for taming frizz and flyaways without making hair feel crunchy or hard. It contains nourishing ingredients like vegan peptides and keratin.