Hair care during the menopause
Your periods have stopped, and life is now a mixture of hot flashes, insomnia, brain fog and night sweats. Everything feels totally different.
Menopause typically happens to women between the ages of 45-55, with the average age being 51. That being said, 1 in every 100 women under 40 do experience early menopause.
Perimenopause is the stage before your periods stop, where you might start showing signs of anxiety, mood swings and irregular periods. Only once your periods have completely stopped does a woman officially enter the menopause.
In the past menopause has been a bit like Lord Voldemort – a bit of a pain and something people were too afraid to speak about. Luckily times are changing, and by having women like Louise Newson and Davina McCall sharing the truth about this time in women’s lives, the world is slowly being educated, correctly, about menopause.
So, what exactly is the reason for us gals entering the menopause? You might have guessed... hormones. During the menopause women’s hormone levels reduce as our bodies run out of eggs, meaning we can no longer get pregnant, and our periods permanently stop.
These hormonal changes can sometimes lead to hair-related issues like hair loss, dryness, and brittle strands. But please don't worry, our GLOWWA experts are on hand to help. We’ve pulled together the ultimate hair care routine that will keep our hair healthy and beautiful during this stage of our lives. So, sit back, grab yourself a cup of coffee, and read all about our top tips for hair care during the menopause...
- Keep your hair clean and conditioned
Selecting the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair is fundamental during the menopause, just like any other life stage. Your goal is to keep your hair and scalp as clean, balanced and moisturised as possible. GLOWWA recommend using sulphate and silicone-free shampoos and conditioners, as this will prevent as much hair breakage from happening and encourage elasticity.
- Hair masks
Leave-in conditioners and hair masks are likewise a great option to use during the menopause, as they provide additional hydration for our crowning glory. A rejuvenating hair mask can help with the texture of your hair during menopause. An essential really, because as our hair turns grey, the texture can become more frizzy or wiry. Investing in a quality hair mask at least once a week can really help with this change in hair texture. We’ll be adding this to our shopping list!
- Hair oil
The perfect tool to nourish your locks. It can enhance lubrication and help prevent hair breakages. Hair oil will create radiant hair with enriched colour and can aid with detangling and split ends. But hang on a sec, won’t oil make your hair greasy? This is a common misunderstanding, unless you apply way too much to your roots, hair oil shouldn’t make your hair feel or look greasy. INFACT, the correct hair oil can even help rebalance the overproduction of sebum (which makes it usually look greasy) and reduce greasy hair days. So go purchase some silky hair oil if the menopause has sent your hair into a dry and dull, or greasy and limp state – your hair will be back to normal in no time.
- Silk pillowcases and hair ties
Silk has a number of known benefits that not only help our skin, but also our hair. It has hydrating properties meaning moisture is not sapped away, encouraging our hair to look healthy and fabulous. The suppleness and smoothness of silk helps restore the strength of hair and reduce breakages – just what the doctor ordered if your hair needs a little pick-me-up.
- Balanced Diet
Eating a healthy, balanced diet is an essential part of maintaining good health, and making you feel your best. Protein in our diet is key for our bodies to grow and repair itself, including our hair. To increase your hair growth, GLOWWA experts recommend eating foods high in protein and Vitamin A. For Vitamin A we’re talking pumpkin, cantaloupe melon and mango. Some other foods that are great for your locks are eggs, nuts, leafy greens, and avocados - yummy. Try avoiding foods high in mercury like tuna, swordfish, and mackerel, as sometimes these can cause hair loss.
- Scalp massage
You’ve probably seen on TikTok or been advertised on Instagram something called a scalp massager, and you might be thinking what on earth is all the hype is about... Well, these things are pretty brilliant little tools. Not only will they exfoliate away your flaky skin, and break down product build-up, but they can also increase blood circulation and stimulate your hair growth. After all, who doesn’t love a head massage?!
- Protect Your Hair from Heat Damage
During the menopause, hair tends to lose its natural oils, making it more susceptible to heat damage. And let’s face it, the majority of us are slightly addicted to our heat styling tools, whether it be the curling irons or straighteners. The sad truth is that damaged hair and excessive heat styling do go hand in hand. There’s no need to go cold turkey though, you can use a heat protectant, use tools on their lowest heat setting, and just don’t run your tool repeatedly over the same area. They may save us from a bad hair day, but let’s just respect how damaging they can be and try to limit our usage of them.
- Keep active
It might sound simple, but low levels of stress are crucial in maintaining a good hormonal balance. Menopause can be an extremely stressful time for women, and there is a great deal of research that shows physical exercise can reduce your risk of stress. What are we waiting for, let’s book ourselves into a local yoga class or go for a walk with the dog – because we know being physically active will lead to a happier and healthier life!
- Scalp drops
Some scalp drops – or what we like to call them ‘little drops of heaven’ - have been specifically formulated for women with fine hair and reduced hair volume; some classic issues women face during the menopause. By using them regularly, women have seen results of improved hair condition, reduction in scalp visibility and the slowing down of hair loss.
- GLOWWA Hair Food MENO
Our MENO HAIR FOOD vitamins are a menopause-specific food supplement expertly formulated to support the maintenance of hair health. They contribute to the maintenance of normal hair and regulation of normal hormonal activity, as well as reducing tiredness and fatigue, supporting the nervous system.
By following GLOWWA’s hair care tips mentioned above, you can keep your hair healthy and beautiful throughout the menopause. And just remember you are not alone. Menopause is just another challenge for us girls to face and overcome. Talk about your experiences with others and embrace it as much as you can. See it as an opportunity for new beginnings and adventures.
