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Your hair ages with you: Experts explain how to care for it

 

Your hair needs an anti-aging routine, too!

Most people don't bat an eye at shelling out big bucks to update skin care routines with the latest anti-aging products that address new issues that develop over time like fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots. While that's great (and taking care of your skin is an investment that has long-term payoff), what about your hair?

Just like skin, your hair ages with you. Hair requires focused and intentional care to keep it looking and feeling its best.

"Your hair, nails and skin are made up of the same components, but when we think about anti-aging, we just think about skin. We don't think that your hair goes along with that as well," explained hairstylist Courtney Foster.

How to manage aging hair, according to stylists

Stylists are in agreement that, as we get older, hair tends to lose shine, elasticity and volume. Before buying every product on the shelf that addresses these issues, though, you might benefit from looking inward first.

To start, Salon 120 West hairstylist Kasey Bertucci recommends making sure you're drinking enough water every day (a little over 11 cups, according to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine). You should also prioritize getting enough sleep — between seven to nine hours each night, according to the National Sleep Foundation — to reduce stress-induced hair loss.

Rita Sanders, owner and stylist at Tousled Hair Salon in Jersey City, New Jersey, said a clever way to stay one step ahead of aging hair is to make sure you have proper night care for your hair the way you would for your skin. An easy way to do that? Satin pillowcases!

"When you sleep, the friction of the tossing and turning [doesn't] cause the hair to knot up or tangle up or dry out from the products that you used maybe earlier in the day," Sanders told Shop TODAY.

Another culprit for damaged hair? Shampooing too often. “Think about how often you’re washing your hair,” said Bertucci. “If you’re washing or brushing it excessively, you might experience excess hair loss.”

Amy Abramite, creative director, salon educator and stylist at Maxine Salon, advises to shampoo “as often as necessary” and to do what makes sense for your scalp and hair. Specifically, you'll want to use products that are designed to work with your hair type and are free of damaging ingredients like silicones and waxes, as they cause buildup instead of removing it.

Finally, all of the stylists stressed the importance of treating your scalp as well as the rest of your head. "If your scalp is healthy, then your overall hair is healthy," Foster said.

Best anti-aging hair products, according to stylists

Achieve a glowing finish: Seaweed Bath Co. Gloss Shampoo

What we like

• Good for skin sensitivity
• Customers like the scent
• Makes hair feel smooth

Something to note

• Some don't like the texture

Size: 12 oz. | Some key ingredients: Lactic acid, vitamin E

"Aging hair tends to be dull, so this gloss shampoo and conditioner are a great choice," Abramite raves. "The formula has lactic acid to exfoliate and remove dulling residue and also has tons of vitamins and minerals to nourish aging hair."

A restorative duo: Seaweed Bath Co. Detox Shampoo and Conditioner Set

What we like

• Many repeat buyers
• Cleanses hair well
• Leaves hair feeling soft

Something to note

• Some say shampoo is watery

Size: 12 oz.| Some key ingredients: French sea clay, apple cider vinegar, lactic acid, avocado oil, vitamin E

"This shampoo and conditioner restores hair and features apple cider vinegar to help restore natural shine — which aging hair tends to lose — and hydrates a dry scalp. It also has additional essential oils for hydration including argan and aloe," Abramite says.

Soften your hair: Redken All Soft Shampoo

What we like

• Leaves hair feeling softer
• Many say it's moisturizing

Something to note

• Some experienced hair frizz

Size: 10.1 oz | Some key ingredients: Salicylic acid, glycerin, aloe leaf juice powder

Abramite likes this shampoo (and its matching conditioner) for replenishing hydration for dry scalps and providing “frizz-free results [that are] smooth to the touch.”

Ideal for different hair types: Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector

What we like

• Over 100,000 positive ratings
• Helps improve hair health
• Adds strength and softness

Something to note

• Pricey for the bottle size

Size: 3.3 oz. | Some key ingredients: Glycerin, jojoba seed oil

“The Olaplex line is very good for the dullness problem and if you’re having any brittleness or breakage just to make sure that it’s really putting the protein back into your hair,” Bertucci tells us.

She specifically recommends this Olaplex repairing treatment, which is designed to not only address the damage in your hair, but also to restore its healthy appearance and texture.

Great for travel: R+Co Skyline Dry Shampoo Powder

What we like

• Adds volume and texture
• Shoppers like the scent

Something to note

• Pricey for the container size

Size: 1 oz. | Some key ingredients: Jojoba seed oil, diatomaceous earth, burdock root extract

For a lightweight product, Burnside calls this dry shampoo powder a personal favorite. She describes it as “not as gritty as a texturizing spray” but good for soaking up excess oils and sebum. “It really refreshes second day or post-workout hair,” she says.

Super moisturizing: Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Shampoo

What we like

• Shoppers say good for dry hair
• Makes hair soft

Something to note

• Strong fragrance

Size: 16.5 oz. | Some key ingredients: Vitamin A, vitamin C, shea butter, sunflower seed oil

Alterna is a favorite of Foster’s for mature hair care because the brand holds the philosophy that just as your skin ages, so does your hair. She particularly likes that it’s made with vitamins A and C, which help target natural signs of aging like brittleness and moisture loss.

“If I have a client that is looking for [an anti-aging treatment], that’s one of the things that I offer,” she says. She also recommends the matching conditioner to complete the set.

Organic and sustainable: Banyan Botanicals Organic Sesame Oil

What we like

• Plant-based formula
• Helps make hair softer
• Doesn't feel greasy

Something to note

• Not everyone likes the scent

Size: 34 oz. | Some key ingredients: Sesame oil

If you want to increase shine, Sanders recommends looking for a lighter serum that will sit on top of the hair like this sesame oil. It has nearly 1,200 verified perfect five-star ratings.

“[Sesame oil] is a sealing oil that will sit on top of the hair and give it a really nice shine,” she explains.

Perfect for hair prep: Bumble and bumble Thickening Blow-Dry Prep Spray

What we like

• Helps add volume

Something to note

• Some note an "alcohol" smell

Size: 8.5 oz. | Some key ingredients: Hydrolyzed wheat protein

This Bumble and Bumble pre-styling spray is a favorite of Jasmine Burnside, a New York City-based hairstylist. Apply it to damp, clean hair and follow up with your preferred hair tools to give the appearance of added volume.

 

Useful for thinning hair: Surface Hair Awaken Therapeutic Treatment

What we like

• Lightweight product

Something to note

• Complaints about harsh ingredients
• Strong fragrance

Size: 2 oz. | Some key ingredients: Mint, capsicum, botanical extracts, sunflower seed oil

This hair treatment line is another personal favorite of Bertucci’s. The line is designed to stimulate new hair growth, thanks to ingredients like mint, capsicum and botanical extracts. Apply it to the scalp twice a day and massage it in to receive maximum benefits, according to the brand’s instructions.

A thickening shampoo: Kérastase Densifique Bain Densite Shampoo

What we like

• Many like how it lathers
• Customers like the scent
• Doesn't feel heavy

Something to note

• Caused drying for some

Size: 8.5 oz. | Some key ingredients: Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, gluco-peptide

Abramite recommends pairing Kérastase’s Initialiste serum with the brand’s Densifique shampoo and conditioner. She likes this duo because it helps prevent breakage and will deep clean your hair while removing buildup.

Add some volume: Oribe Swept Up Volume Powder

What we like

• Adds significant volume

Something to note

• Doesn't need to be over-used

Size: 21 oz. | Some key ingredients: Hydrolyzed quinoa, tapioca starch, aloe vera

“It gives you instant root lift and grip so you can, at your leisure, spray it at your roots or at your ends so it really, really fluffs up and gives your hair a lot of volume,” Burnside says about this Oribe volumizer. The spray application also helps reduce the typical mess from a hair powder.

A healing treatment: L’anza Keratin Healing Oil Lustrous Shampoo

What we like

• Shoppers say makes hair soft
• High quality

Something to note

• Small amount of product
• Fragrance

Size: 10.1 oz. | Some key ingredients: Coffee seed oil, Abyssinian flower oil, acai fruit oil

The L’anza Keratin Healing Oil shampoo and conditioner is another favorite of Foster’s. “It feels like luxury,” she says.

Foster raves about its wonderful scent and noted that these products have a keratin base, which is what gives our natural hair bounce, body and shine. It’s also designed to cleanse the hair yet still leave it feeling soft and silky, all while protecting your color.

For density and fullness: Kérastase Densifique Bodifying Mousse

What we like

• Many say it adds volume
• Helps hair feel softer
• Doesn't make hair sticky

Something to note

• May feel heavy when dried

Size: 5.1 oz. | Some key ingredients: Ceramides, hyaluronic acid, gluco-peptide

Most mousses have a reputation for being sticky and weighing hair down, but Abramite likes this one from Kérastase because it does the exact opposite. She regards this product as a "softer mousse that you don't have to worry about" in terms of stressing your hair or it becoming sticky or crunchy.

Helps with styling: Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray

What we like

• Shoppers like the scent
• Helps hair appear fuller

Something to note

• Some had issues with nozzle

Size: 8.5 oz | Some key ingredients: Mango extracts, aloe extracts, crystalline zeolites

Burnside calls this Oribe texturizing spray one of her go-to favorites to give the appearance of fuller hair. “I feel like it really gives a lot of grit and texture where you can actually feel it in the hair,” she says.

A popular scalp treatment: Kérastase Initaliste

What we like

• Many shoppers love the scent
• Creates softer-feeling hair
• Helps make hair look shinier

Something to note

• Some had scalp sensitivity

Size: 2.2 oz. | Some key ingredients: Green tea extract, ceramides, UV filters

Abramite raves about this scalp and hair serum from Kérastase. “It’s going to plump up the hair, reduce breakage and make the hair feel softer, shinier and thicker,” she tells us.

While most serums tend to be associated with greasier formulas, Abramite emphasizes the fact that this one is non-greasy and has a smoother, milkier consistency. She recommends using this product on stressed or recessed areas of your hair and continuing with your regular styling process, ending with a bit of heat.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to your hair as you age?

Typically, according to our experts, hair can lose elasticity and volume with age. It can also lose its shine with time.

What are best practices to help remedy dull, flat hair?

According to our experts, there are various remedies for aging hair aside from hair care products. For example, drinking enough water per day (just over 11 cups), getting enough sleep (seven to nine hours per night), and sleeping with a satin pillowcase can help keep hair strong and vibrant over time.

Is shampooing too much a bad thing?

Bertucci tells us, "If you’re washing or brushing it excessively, you might experience excess hair loss." So, yes, shampooing too often isn't always a good thing.

However, Abramite suggests you should lean into whatever routine is best for your specific hair type and shampoo "as often as necessary," avoiding cleansers made with silicones and waxes.

How we chose

We chose expert-recommended hair care products formulated with specific ingredients to help strengthen hair (some even help promote hair growth). Many of the included selections are also intended to add fullness and shine.

Meet the experts

Courtney Foster is a hairstylist and certified associate trichologist based in New York City.

Kasey Bertucci is a hairstylist and co-founder of Salon 120 West in Boston.

Rita Sanders is a hairstylist and the owner of Tousled Hair Salon in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Amy Abramite is a hairstylist, salon educator and creative director at Maxine Salon in Chicago.

Jasmine Burnside is a celebrity hairstylist based in New York City.