Your hair used to have that effortless lift - a bit of bounce at the roots, a soft swing when you moved. Now, it’s quieter. Flatter. A little less alive.
You’re not imagining it. Around your 40s, everything about your hair changes, from how fast it grows to how much volume it holds. According to leading trichologist Mark Blake, up to 40 percent of women will experience noticeable hair changes after forty. The shift is hormonal, biological, and structural, but entirely manageable once you understand the science behind it.
What’s Happening Beneath the Surface
- Hormones on the move: As estrogen and progesterone gently decline, the growth phase of your hair shortens, follicles shrink, and hair feels finer. Meanwhile, androgens (your body’s naturally occurring “male” hormones) can become more dominant, subtly altering the texture and thickness of strands.
- Follicle fatigue: Follicles, like skin cells, age. They produce finer, shorter hairs and regenerate more slowly.
- Scalp slowdown: Oil glands become less active, circulation slows, and the scalp can become drier - a less fertile environment for lush growth.
- The accumulation effect: Years of colour, heat, sun, stress, and tight styles all compound.
How to Rebuild Volume and Vitality
1. Support from within.
Prioritize protein, iron, zinc, vitamin D, and omega-rich foods. Check thyroid and hormone levels through a comprehensive DUTCH test — they’re often quiet culprits.
2. Focus on your scalp.
Think of it as skincare for your hair. Use a clarifying cleanser weekly, massage gently to boost blood flow, and choose lightweight, pH-balanced products that don’t coat the roots.
3. Choose cuts that lift.
Layers, crown detailing, and shorter silhouettes restore movement and lightness. Ask your stylist to focus on internal layering rather than external bulk.
4. Rethink your routine.
A root-lift mist, heat protection, and a boar-bristle brush are the holy trinity of modern volume: less heat, more technique.
5. Live like it shows.
Stress, sleep, movement, hydration - they all show up in your hair. Exercise increases circulation, and restorative rest balances cortisol (the hormone that loves to trigger shedding).
The Modern Reality
Flat hair after forty isn’t failure - it’s physiology. Once you align with what your hair needs now, you can bring back its vitality. Think of it as an evolution, not a loss. With science, style, and a little ritual, bounce is back - with more wisdom this time.
