Has Menopause Changed Your Hair? Here’s What You Can Do About It

Menopause is called “the change” for good reason. If you’re 12 months after your last menstruation, your body is going through all kinds of changes – and so is your hair.  So, if you’re having regular bad hair days, it could be that menopause has changed your hair.

I know from my salon clients that menopause can be a challenging time. Don’t panic. There are so many ways to help your mane through menopause. 

Menopausal changes to your hair happen gradually as your estrogen levels drop. Estrogen is – or was – your hair’s best friend because it keeps your hair in its growth phase (anagen phase). Basically estrogen is responsible for growing healthy hair and keeping it on your head.

How to Help Your Mane Through Menopause

Menopausal hair is aging hair. At Arey, we specialize in products for aging hair. Our motto is that we are “the wrinkle cream of haircare”. We turned to science to create products that care for greying and aging hair. 

Here’s what we found to be the best ways to care for your aging hair while you are going through menopause:

How Menopause Changes Your Hair

 

Not all the changes you might be seeing are down to hormones. Menopause and aging affect your hair growth, thickness, and texture in similar ways. It can be hard to see your hair losing its vitality. But with some lifestyle changes and anti-aging haircare, you can make a big difference to your hair health.

Here are some of the ways you can combat unwelcome changes to your hair: 

 

Menopause And Hair Loss

Over 50 percent of women¹ are believed to suffer from menopause-related hair loss. So if you’re noticing a thinner ponytail, more shedding, and dry or brittle strands, then you are not alone.

During menopause your hair needs balanced nutrition and antioxidant support. Keeping your best hair during menopause means boosting your intake of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to give your hair the help it needs during this period of change. The easiest way to do this can be to use a hair health supplement and scalp serum like Arey’s The System.

 

Here are some steps you can take to help boost your hair growth and thickness: 

• Hormone therapy (HRT): this treatment for menopause symptoms (such as hot flashes and brain fog) may also help with menopausal hair loss.  

• Minoxidil: if your hair loss is severe, a dermatologist may prescribe minoxidil as a pill or topical solution.

• Vitamin supplements: hair loss is linked with many kinds of vitamin deficiencies including vitamin D, B12, Folate, and Iron. A hair-growth-boosting supplement can help support healthy hair growth.  

• Reduce your stress: stress can contribute to hair loss. Regular meditation lowers hair-damaging stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline by as much as 50 percent.

Age-related hair loss is usually related to hormonal changes or vitamin deficiencies but can also be caused by unrelated medical issues. Make sure to speak to your doctor if you notice significant hair loss or bald patches.  

 

Menopause And Dry Hair

Dry, brittle hair is the most common change in aging and menopausal hair.² Estrogen regulates your body’s natural moisturizer (sebum). Sebum keeps your skin, scalp, and hair hydrated and healthy. As estrogen levels drop, so do sebum levels. The result – dry, brittle, and frizzy hair.

The good news is that dry hair can be helped in the following ways: 

• • Avoid long hot showers: hot water dries out your scalp and hair.  

  • Use mild, natural shampoos: look for gentle, sulfate-free products. Sulfates are detergents designed to cut through grease but they are too harsh for dry hair.

  • Stay away from artificial fragrances: these can irritate dry scalp skin. 

  • Minimize heat-styling: switch it up and air dry when possible. Always use a conditioning heat protector like Mend to avoid heat damage and breakage. 

  • Protect your hair with sunscreen: sunlight bleaches and dries your hair. Wear a hat and always use sunscreen for your hair.

  • Treat your hair to a leave-in conditioner: leave-in conditioners coat your strands to repair split ends and prevent future damage.

It can be frustrating when your hair starts to change. It can also be an opportunity to make healthy choices that your aging hair will thank you for. Related: how to have your best hair at any age.

Shop Arey's Bestselling Hydrating Haircare:

Menopause And An Itchy Scalp

An itchy scalp can be one of the more common – and annoying – side effects of the hormonal changes that happen during perimenopause and menopause. 

 

 

Here are a few ways you can help soothe your itchy scalp during menopause:

• • Review your hair color habits: hair color (especially permanent) that sits on your scalp can irritate already itchy skin. It might be time to consider lowlights or semi-permanent color that is easier on dry hair. 

  • Soothe your scalp before and after coloring: Calm It Down™️ Scalp serum can be used pre and post coloring to reduce irritation fast.

  • Exfoliate your scalp regularly: regularly removing buildup with a gentle exfoliant like Scrub, can reduce irritation.

  • Get a massage habit: scalp massage with a gentle, stimulating brush can boost blood circulation and improve hair health.

  • Don’t shampoo every day: even a gentle shampoo can dry out your scalp if you use it too often. Try a clean dry shampoo like Wait A Sec to refresh your hair between washes.

It can be hard but try and resist scratching your scalp – you could damage the delicate skin and cause even more irritation. If you start noticing flakes or raised itchy bumps, make sure to consult a dermatologist or haircare expert.

Shop Arey's Bestselling Scalp Care:

Eat Your Way to Healthier Hair

Your hair health is a reflection of your overall health. A balanced, Mediterranean diet is a heart-healthy lifestyle choice and a good defense against menopausal hair loss because a lack of nutrients plays a big role in hair changes at any age. Vitamin D and Iron are major hair-growth boosters. If your menopausal hair is thinning make sure to get your Vitamin D levels tested. Vitamin D acts more like a hormone than a vitamin when it comes to boosting hair growth and thickness.

The Mediterranean diet³  is a plant-forward way of eating that supports your body and hair with healthy fats and vegetables.

If you follow the Mediterranean Diet, you’ll eat:

✅ Leafy green vegetables, like kale and broccoli. 

✅ High-protein plants, like beans, lentils, and nuts.

✅ Whole grains, and ancient grains like spelt, and brown rice.

✅ Extra Virgin olive oil, for cooking and salads. 

✅ Fish, especially salmon and tuna.

✅ Cheese and live yogurt, in small amounts.

✅ Red wine, if you drink wine, red wine is the healthier choice. 

✅ Small portions of meat, poultry is healthier than red meat.

❌ Avoid sugar, especially processed, sugary foods and sodas.

❌ Stay away from unhealthy fats, especially fried and fast foods.

 

Another benefit of the Mediterranean diet is that it supports your gut health. An imbalanced gut has been linked with hair loss⁴ so good gut health = fuller, thicker hair. Read more about the link between your gut microbiome and your hair health.

 

Life gets in the way so it’s not always possible to eat a perfect diet. An easy way to fill in any nutritional gaps is to take a supplement like Not Today, Grey that contains B6, Folic Acid, Biotin, and iron. These vitamins play a crucial role in maintaining and restoring growth in aging hair.

 

Arey Makes It Easy to Have Your Best Hair at All Life Stages

Menopause can be tough physically and emotionally, so take time to be gentle with yourself and your changing body. Menopause is also challenging time for your hair health. The good news is that there are lots of ways to support your aging hair, scalp, and overall health.

At Arey, we know that aging and menopausal hair needs targeted care. That’s why we designed our science-backed hair care system to deliver everything your aging hair needs. Our supplement, anti-aging shampoos, and scalp care can make a big difference to your hair health while you are going through menopause.

Your menopausal scalp is more vulnerable to chemicals so all Arey products are always free from potential irritants such as sulfates, parabens, phthalates, gluten, and artificial fragrances. They are also vegan and cruelty-free.

We care about your hair health. That’s why we offer you up to 25% off on all subscription orders. We want you to stay on track with your hair goals. Because we know that science + consistency = results.

We are Arey.

Any questions? Check out our FAQs or email us at hey@areygrey.com.

 

---

---

REFERENCES:

1. best-haircare-products-menopausal-hair-loss
2. menopause-affects-skin-hair
3. clevelandclinic.org/health
4. citynaturopathic.ca/gut-health-and-hair-loss
5. heres-how-menopause-affects-your-skin-and-hair