“Our scalps age six times faster than the skin on our faces,” Jay Small, certified trichologist, celebrity hairstylist, and co-founder of Arey explains. “If you’re using products and ingredients to support healthy skin aging, you should be incorporating that same philosophy into your hair-care routine.”
According to board-certified dermatologist Anetta Reszko, MD, the best hair care over 50 accounts for post-menopause changes in scalp and hair health. “Declining estrogen levels can contribute to reduced density, increased dryness, and slower growth,” Dr. Reszko says. “Gentle cleansing, enhanced hydration, and targeted strengthening treatments become especially important, with product choices focused on barrier support and inflammation control.” Finally, “Dietary supplements have a profound effect on hair health,” Small says. “Nutrient deficiencies are likely to accelerate the changes mentioned above.”
Mind you, this type of strategic hair-care routine needn’t wait till menopause is in one’s rearview mirror. Small’s best advice? “Future-proof your hair. It’s never too early to choose proactive haircare.”
Ahead, find the steps and products pros recommend for keeping aging hair hydrated, resilient, and strong, from the best shampoos for older women to supplements and smart styling habits.
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Best Shampoos for Aging Hair
“For those noticing signs of aging—such as thinning, dryness, or graying—gentle, clean shampoo formulas powered by active ingredients are essential,” Small instructs. As a scalp-focused product, shampoo serves as an ideal delivery system for active ingredients—such as the peptide and antioxidants found in Arey Wash—that may help support growth, thickness, and pigment production.
According to Adrienne Leak, licensed master cosmetologist and hair and scalp expert, the best shampoos for older women are also intensely moisturizing. “As we age—particularly post-menopause—the scalp produces less oil and the hair fiber becomes more fragile,” Leak says. One of her go-to recommendations for clients over 50, the Kérastase Densifique Densité Shampoo hydrates with hyaluronic acid, strengthens with gluco-peptides, and addresses thinning with L’Oréal’s patented Intra-Cylane molecule.
Best Conditioner for Older Women
When it comes to conditioner, Leak says, the best formulas for aging hair focus on hydration and elasticity. Note, however, that not all conditioners are designed for all hair types.
For those with fine or thinning hair, Leak recommends a lightweight, lotion-style formula that won’t weigh down the strands. Better Not Younger Wake Up Call Volumizing Conditioner, designed for women over 40 and made with strengthening biotin and densifying oleanic acid, is a Vogue-approved pick.
