Wondering why your hair has suddenly become curlier? If you’re also starting to see a few grays, then your bout with midlife curls has probably started too. Sadly, aging is inevitable, and your hair is one of the first places that show it. Fortunately, there are ways to keep your crowning glory soft and healthy despite hair texture changes and midlife curls.

What Causes Midlife Curls?

Hair texture naturally changes as we grow older. It becomes coarser, drier, and more brittle as we produce less oils on our scalp. You see, hair can’t produce its own oils but merely relies on oils produced by the scalp. As oil production decreases, hair becomes drier and frizzier.

Hair also produces less melanin as we age. Aside from giving color, melanin protects hair from UV rays. As hair turns gray, it becomes more susceptible to damage from sun exposure, resulting in dry and brittle strands.

Hormones also play a role in changes in hair texture. In women, drops in estrogen and progesterone levels during menopause cause hair follicles to grow smaller in size. This leads to slower hair growth and thinner strands. This is the opposite of what happens during pregnancy when hair grows faster, thicker, and longer.

Midlife Curls Before Midlife

Sometimes midlife curls may appear even before you turn 40. Genetics may be the culprit here. Some people are genetically predisposed to accelerated changes in hair texture, color, and volume. But it may also be due to insufficient hair care and constant exposure to environmental pollutants. Long exposure to the sun, frequent use of hair dryers or curling irons, and constant hair dyeing can break bonds in the hair and make it curly.

Diet and stress can also cause premature hair aging. Lack of iron, protein, and essential fatty acids slow down growth and make hair thinner. Meanwhile, chronic stress raises testosterone levels, causing hair fall and textural changes.

What to Do When Hair Texture Changes

While midlife curls due to aging are unavoidable, there are ways to take care of your hair—and health—to minimize changes in hair texture. Here are some steps you can take to keep your hair healthy. 

Don’t just grab the cheapest hairbrush or comb on the shelf. It’s time to invest in a high-quality paddle brush with anti-static bristles that minimize frizz. Brushes with boar bristles are also great for smoothening the cuticles and distributing natural oils throughout the hair.

At home, give your hair extra nourishment by using a hair mask once a week. Look for ones fortified with natural oils. Once a month or so, head to your favorite salon for some deep nourishing treatment to repair broken bonds. This will make your hair softer, smoother, and stronger even with midlife curls.

High temperatures from heat-styling tools zap moisture from hair. Frequently using heat to style hair can also break hair bonds, causing hair to lose its original shape. So try to lessen the use of curling irons and hair straighteners. And if you can’t air-dry your hair, get a dryer with a cool setting.

Bleach breaks down the melanocytes in your hair, so it can absorb the new color. However, this leaves your hair vulnerable to damage. Too much dyeing also affects hair texture, so try to minimize this too. If you want to cover gray hairs, opt for organic or natural dyes.

There are supplements that help moisturize hair from within. These are usually available over the counter, but if you’re taking other medications, it’s best to ask your physician before taking them. The best way to nourish hair from within is to eat food rich in iron, protein, and omega-3s.

Complete Hair Care for Midlife Curls

Having midlife curls isn’t a crisis. There are now specially formulated hair products that can repair dry, damaged hair and keep it nourished. Restore and rejuvenate your hair using the My NuDo Rejuvenating Shampoo. Its unique formulation includes caffeine, cypress leaf extract, ginseng root extract, and avocado oil that naturally revitalizes damaged hair. You’ll hardly notice midlife curls after just two to three weeks of regular use.