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During the summer, dealing with dull, flat or fine hair can pose a challenge when trying to style your locks for a fuller appearance while also prioritizing your hair health through your diet.
We have enlisted the expertise of celebrity hairstylists, certified dermatologists, and haircare specialists to provide useful insights, tips, and product recommendations that will assist women above 50 who are experiencing thinning hair, hair loss, or fine tresses.
Our comprehensive guide includes information on how to style and manage your hair, dietary advice, and suggestions for products that can promote hair fullness and health.
Read on for tips and suggestions from Dr. Elaine F. Kung, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Future Bright Dermatology, Dr. Enrizza P. Factor, dermatologist and writer at My Eczema Team, Ghanima Abdullah, hair expert and cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles, Amr Salem, scalp micropigmentation specialist and hair expert at INKredible Scalp and Luna Viola, celeb stylist and hair expert (famous clients include Lizzo, Sam Smith and Beyoncé’s Renaissance cast and dance group).
10 Summer Hair Styling & Supplementing Tips For Women Over 50 With Thinner Tresses
1. Create An Asymmetrical Part
A middle part is classic and can promote facial symmetry, but Abdullah advises against it if your hair is thinning, flat or fine. For more volume, she suggests a deep, glamorous side part, or one that is off-center but still close to your original spot so you can gradually make a change.
"Because hair loss and thinning in women tends to start with a widening of the part, it's best to stop parting your hair in the middle," she says, "You can make a short part from the center to the area right before the temple. This helps to make your hair look fuller in front."
2. Iron Out The Body Of Your Hair (Not The Roots!)
If you frequently straighten your hair with a flat iron, Abdullah stresses not to focus on your roots, but rather, the body of your mane for more volume.
"If you like your locks to be straight, start at mid-length with your flat iron instead," she advises.
When you iron the roots, she says, your hair "might look too flat and therefore older, but starting at mid-length and moving to the tips" will help you keep some volume. "Also, flat iron your hair going up, away from the scalp, instead of down, this also adds body," she explains.
3. Use A Biotin Shampoo
Whether you wash your hair every day or several times a week, Abdullah points to a shampoo with Biotin as a main ingredient to promote thicker hair. This, she says, will make styling every day much easier as your hair will look shinier and healthier.
"Biotin is the ingredient to look for in shampoo if you want thicker, fuller, healthier hair. Not only can it be taken as a supplement, but when used in shampoo the ingredient goes directly into the hair follicles," she says.
Biotin helps increase circulation to the scalp, Abdullah notes, which helps the hair follicles produce a better quality of hair and more of it. "It's believed that a deficiency of biotin leads to hair loss," she adds. Using shampoo with biotin, she concludes, is one of the "easiest ways to help reverse the effects of aging on hair, which can manifest as thinning and brittleness."
4. Try A Vitamin D Supplement
While you might associate vitamin D with sunshine and bone health, this nutrient also plays an important role when it comes to your hair and scalp health. Kung says that "studies show that female pattern baldness can be improved by supplementing the diet with low levels of vitamin D."
She adds that "one of the most dermatologist-recommended supplements for hair growth is Nutrafol," launched in 2016. Factor notes that "consuming a diet lacking the right nutrients, including vitamin D, can lead to hair loss."
On the other hand, she says that "eating a balanced diet with vitamin D can help promote hair growth, especially if you’re experiencing hair loss due to poor nutrition."
5. Add Pumpkin Seed Oil To Your Daily Menu
Abdullah explains that a pumpkin seed oil supplement has "been scientifically proven to grow more hair and aid those who have thinning hair."
She goes on to say that "pumpkin seed oil is worth it as a supplement ingredient, or even all by itself." She also notes that vitamin D, biotin and pumpkin seed oil may be more beneficial to try than "collagen, elastin, and coconut oil" supplements.
7. Use A Round Brush And Dry From Roots To Ends
Viola instructs to "dry the hair from roots to ends while lifting the roots and curling the tips with a round brush" while drying. "Once the hair is dry, put it all up in a loose high bun using a silk scrunchie," she adds.
Viola notes to then "let it cool down for 15 minutes" as this easy technique will "naturally volumize the hair." As you use a round brush and hold it on the roots for "a couple of seconds when blow drying," she points out that "adding cold air to it will make it hold the shape longer."
8. Utilize A Comb And Cold Air
When parting your hair, as it's drying, Viola recommends "combing downward then pushing it right back up a bit so the hair is lifted." She continues, saying to "use the dryer and hold hot air on it for 5 seconds" while the brush is in place.
"Then, switch to cold air and hold for another 5 seconds. Release, and the roots will have instant volume," she says. Viola concludes that anyone with thin or fine hair should "try adding alcohol-free mousse on the roots before drying, for extra hold." Noted!
9. Add A Scarf
Whether you go for a headband or scarf, hiding thinning at the top of your head can be done instantly with your favorite accessory of choice, Salem says. "There are a few updo styles that can be used to hide thinning hair or hair loss," he adds, "for example, you can wear a bun with long strands of hair coming out, or you could wear a ponytail with your thinning hair pulled back and pinned up at the top of your head."
Other possibilities include "the half-up bun, the low ponytail, and the messy bun" as updos are "one of the best ways to show off your beautiful face and at the same time cover up any bald spots on your scalp."
10. Try Pinning Back Your Locks With Bobby Pins
Salem also recommends using "bobby pins to create the illusion of thicker hair by pinning up certain sections in different ways." Additionally, Salem suggests "wearing a hat, using styling products that have fibers in them, or using temporary dye" to make balding spots less obvious. Apart from these tricks, he also says you can "wear a wig, use a headscarf or even use styling products."
The more you know!
