Old woman hair

[Mammyofonlyone]

I need advice from people who know about hair and beauty! I've always had fine shiny (and realistically limp) hair which got greasy really quickly - I needed to wash it every day.

All of a sudden about six months ago it had gone really dry and frizzy and generally wild looking, almost over night. I've had it trimmed three times to keep it healthy and have tried various deep conditioning treatments over the counter and at the hairdresser but nothing helps. I'm not very good at beauty related things but even if I try my hardest with blow drying or straightening (which I rarely do) it still looks dry, frizzy and basically rubbish.

I've also gone from washing my hair everyday to every two/three days (which is the most I can do as it gets so oily).

Is there anything I can do, or is it just another bonus of getting older?

I love how my hair has changed with peri - coarser = more volume, more strength, more bounce.

My hair changed beyond recognition as I became peri menopausal.
I’ve got hrt and take various omega supplements.
Definitely try taking something internally like and oil plus eat good fats like avocado, eggs etc.

Totally get what you mean about 'old women's hair'. I too had very fine but shiny hair which was in lovely condition. I'm 57 now and post menopausal and my hair now has a horrible texture. It is dry, frizzy and coarse. I spend over £100 every 5 weeks going to my hairdresser for a cut, colour (I wouldn't suit grey!) and a pro-bond treatment) but it still have scarecrow hair! I do try to only wash it every other day but because I use the extraordinary oil I find any longer makes my hair look greasy due to the build up of products in my hair.

It is the Bain of my life 😢

Have you tried a 'no-poo' shampoo?

I rate New Wash by Hairstory, but it's muy expensivo and does not smell great.

www.shophairstory.com/www/product/869693000106

This happened to me a few years ago. Hair became line straw, both the original hair colour and the greys. I had to shop around for a gentle shampoo. I'm white and was recommended shampoos for afro hair. Solved my problem. I should say though I've been dry, dry hair skin etc., so this change just upped the stakes.

Does no poo work for hair that’s not curly? Mine is wavy.

Does it work in what sense? I have super-straight hair and it works for me, although I find it slightly lank on day 1. I think it might work for the OP because it's non-drying.

Fine and lank to finer and dry/still greasy for me. Winner.

Another vote for conditioner washing at least half the time. Take biotin. I also use a deep conditioner before I wash on the lower half of my hair. Extraordinary oil is good.

My hair has always been super frizzy and coarse. I fear it may get worse with age too reading this! I may try this no pooing!! So is it just as simple as washing without shampoo? Just conditioner? I only wash my hair once a week anyway as it takes ages to get even a bit oily.

Two or three times a week I comb (lots of) argan oil through at night, and wash it out in the shower in the morning. It has made a massive difference, but I do have to sleep with a towel on my pillow!

Bonzo yes it does. I had very wavy hair pre-meno, it went horribly frizzy, and has gone back to wavy since I reduced my use of shampoo. Still has a tendency to frizz, but then it always did - it's just more vulnerable now.

I'm off to my GP this afternoon, I'll report back with what she says x

For those of you using conditioner only, to wash your hair....

Idiotic question, I'm sure, but do you apply the conditioner to just the ends of the hair or use it on the scalp as well?

I could just try it and see what works, but I'm interested in how others do it.

You rub it into your scalp like shampoo. It won’t lather and feels weird at first. Add small amounts of warm water to make it emulsify then rinse thoroughly. You should probably condition the ends as normal.

Horrible to describe it as "old woman hair". Dry, frizzy and wild would have described it just fine.

Thank you spankhurst. I'll try that!

Lol to the ageist comment in the thread. It's pretty common for hair to change and go frizzy or do something different with age. You'll have to accept that and it's not ageist in the slightest
OP I have been trying to figure this out too. Apparently adding collagen to your diet helps. I have only just started using it. It's early days for me on this. Sorry I can't be more help. I'd love to hear what your GP says and yes re perimenopause go to that section of MN. Perimenopause and menopause is another whole life story about to unfold (for some of us). It's worth being in the know and yes it started early for me to. It starts with changing periods (this happens for a couple of years before the other things). Good luck with all that. Just hold on as your body takes you for a wild (but fun) ride! You can and will get through it

Thanks fire it's nice to hear someone with an upbeat spin. I'm awaiting blood tests but I'm suspecting it's where I'm at as I have a lot of the stereotypical signs

Interesting about the collagen. A few years after starting HRT and changing my hair-washing regimen, I happened to buy a slow-cooker. The best cuts of meat for slow-cooking are the cheaper, collagen-rich cuts. So I'm also consuming a lot more collagen than I did when the frizz began.

It's important to be aware that, whatever changes you make to your diet, or supplements you start taking, any effects on your hair will not be immediately apparent. Hair grows about 6" in a year, and only the new hair growing from now on will be affected by what you start consuming now.

Things that you apply directly to your hair will show results much faster, but may take a few days or weeks of use to really take effect.

It is an age thing... why not say so? I had a hysterectomy in May and my hair went overnight from thick and silky to dry and frizzy (and greying)...I feel old - HRT isn't really helpful and I shall try this poo-free stuff to see what happens. :)

Another vote for Philip Kingsley elasticizer and you could try Espa pink hair and scalp mud. For both of them I wet my hair and put the treatment on as soon as I get up, leave it to soak in while I have a drink etc.Usually pop on a face mask at the same time. Worth getting up a bit earlier to fit it in before work as it does make a difference.

Remus - I use hair oil on wet hair, after washing. Lengths only, not near the roots.

My hairdresser told me you should always blow dry your hair after applying it, because the oil is quite volatile, and what hasn't soaked into your air will evaporate off when you use heat on it. I've certainly never found it to make my hair greasy, just swishy and soft.

Thank you. Will give it a go!

Ageism doesn't count on mn if it is upwards or against women. Laugh at stupid millenials and watch the handbags fly....

I've always had ghastly ageing frizzy curls, but fortunately treatments are now available and in middle age I have the best hair ever. Its great.