Growing long hair past your 50s is not only possible, but it is also probable. You should not be forced to cut your hair because of breakage, dryness, or other age-related damage. As we understand aging and its impact on hair, products can be developed to counter its effects.
Over time, hair fibers become thinner and drop out; unfortunately, they never regenerate. There are natural pigment changes that occur in hair as you age as well.
One good thing: Unlike men, women tend to just thin out overall and don't generally have concentrated areas of hair loss, or baldness. Another good thing: Menopausal hair loss can grow back. Your postmenopausal hair might not be the way it was before, but it can grow back.
Many hair follicles stop producing new hairs. Men may start showing signs of baldness by the time they are 30 years old. Many men are nearly bald by age 60.
Lifestyle factors could include using certain hair products, wearing your hair up too tightly, experiencing high stress levels, or not getting enough of certain vitamins and minerals in your diet. People who have immune system deficiencies could also have thinning hair.
Estrogen and progesterone levels fall, meaning that the effects of the androgens, male hormones, are increased. During and after menopause, hair might become finer (thinner) because hair follicles shrink. Hair grows more slowly and falls out more easily in these cases.
Minoxidil (Rogaine, etc) is FDA approved for ages 18-65
Minoxidil is FDA approved for men and women 18-65 with a type of hair loss known as androgenetic hair loss.
Hair growth rate slows at midlife and beyond—it spends less time in the growth phase and more in the resting phase, which means it will grow more slowly, and won't be able to grow as long as it once did. Good news—wonder-drug minoxidil can make your hair stay in the anagen phase longer and grow faster.
Minoxidil. Best known by the brand name Rogaine, minoxidil is a topical medication that you can obtain without a prescription. It's the only FDA-approved option for treating female-pattern baldness, so most doctors will advise trying it before moving on to other options.
Make sure you include an adequate amount of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables in every meal. It's also important to incorporate mono-saturated oils, such as olive oil and sesame oil, into your diet. Drinking green tea and taking vitamin B6 and folic acid supplements may help restore hair growth as well.
Minoxidil (meh-nox-eh-dil): Long used to treat male pattern hair loss, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved this non-prescription treatment for women. Today, it is the most-recommended treatment for FPHL. Products containing either 2% or 5% minoxidil have been approved to treat FPHL.
Growing long hair past your 50s is not only possible, but it is also probable. You should not be forced to cut your hair because of breakage, dryness, or other age-related damage. As we understand aging and its impact on hair, products can be developed to counter its effects.
Men who are using other medicines or occlusive dressings applied to the scalp. Regaine for men foam is not recommended for men under 18 or over 49 years of age, as there is no information available regarding its safety in these age groups.
You still have the opportunity to take action and recover hair growth. It is never too late to start hair loss treatments as long as you have some healthy hair follicles. However, the sooner you begin treatment, the better results you will get.
A lot of possible users over the age of 65 may have some form of disease or heart problems that may make them unsuitable for minoxidil, and unless they see a hair loss specialist or doctor to discuss their suitability for the medication, mitigating health issues may not be picked up on.
“There's increased shedding and slower hair growth, more frizz and dryness, less volume, and loss of pigmentation in the hair strands resulting in more gray and white hairs,” explains Debra Lin, Ph.
It takes continuous use for over 3 months for you to start seeing results with minoxidil. Some people who start using minoxidil experience shedding after a few weeks. This happens because minoxidil is shedding the weak and unhealthy hair so the thicker and healthier hair can grow in its place.
Here's the truth: You can't change the size of your hair follicles. If you were born with fine hair, it's genetics, and no product will completely alter that. Of course, there are ways to maintain your hair health, add volume, and keep it from getting any thinner.
Unfortunately, male and female pattern baldness is not reversible without surgical intervention. However, if detected early enough, certain medications, such as minoxidil, finasteride, and Dutasteride can help halt the progression of thinning hair.
Certain styles—like bobs and blunt cuts—can actually create the illusion that your hair is thicker than it is. "Short hairstyles are best for thinning hair, because too much length can drag the hair down and create an unflattering, stringy appearance," says Alabama stylist Hope Russo.
FALSE: Cutting your hair only affects the shaft, but not the follicle, which is the part responsible for growth and premature loss. Getting your hair cut may mean you feel like it's falling out less as your split ends will have been removed and your hair will look healthier, but it has no impact on new growth or loss.