6 Easy Hair Care Tips That Really Improve Hair |for Women 50+

Updated 10/13/2020  I don’t know if it’s just me, but hair care has become more tricky with age.  A few years ago, my hair was badly damaged, and I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what was going wrong, I was washing it with a shampoo my hairdresser recommended, I was getting it cut and colored every two months as I always had, but it had begun breaking off and was literally dead looking.  After getting mixed messages, my hairdresser said my hair was damaged due to poor health, and that I should see a doctor find out what was wrong.  My doctor said my problem had to do with hair care, not my hair care, but that my hair had too many color treatments, too much peroxide, and or ammonia.  

I researched hair care tips and products for women 50 and over.

Google became my friend.  I took a deep dive into learning how to care for damaged hair, what products to use, and what to avoid. You can read about my favorite products and exactly what I did to nurse my hair back to health in my post How to Have the Best Hair 50 and Beyond. 

It took two years, a new hair colorist, and the proper hair care products to nurse my hair back to health.  Even still, as I’ve aged, I’ve found that my hair needs continuous TLC.

Here are five free secrets to taking your hair up a level:

1. Gently brush your hair through before washing. Why? It helps loosen dirt, hair products, and snarls so the shampoo can get in and do its job.

2. Make sure your hair is completely wet before applying shampoo. (People often quickly tilt their heads into the shower but don’t make sure their hair is completely wet before applying shampoo) Why? The shampoo won’t be distributed evenly nor will it suds properly if your hair isn’t totally wet.

3. Make sure you rinse your hair thoroughly after washing. Why? Well, you know, it will be all sticky in the places it wasn’t rinsed, and everything else you do from that point goes downhill.

4. Try using your conditioner or a hair treatment mask the night before you wash. I used Olaplex the night before I washed for several months while I was nursing my hair back to health. But any conditioner will do the trick.

5. Detangle wet hair carefully using a leave-in conditioner to help loosen tangles. Rather than starting at the ends, start at the top and gently work your way down the hair shaft. Why? Your ends are the most fragile. When you start at the bottom, you keep going over and over your ends…and they don’t like it.

Bonus Tip: Make sure you distribute hair products evenly through your hair; so often I’ve seen people take a dollop of their favorite hair care products and apply it just to one side, or just a hand full of hair. Instead, spritz evenly around your head, or if using mouse or cream, apply it to the palm of your hand, rub your hands together then apply to your hair.

Just these little tweaks can make a huge difference in your hair and the way your conditioner and styling products work. So, enjoy these secrets and, if you have any, be sure to share them in the comments below!

Looking for more posts on hair care over 50?  

Seven Tips to Amazing Hair Over 50

Video: Hair Care Essentials for Women Over 50

The Best Luxury Hair Care Products for Fine Hair

Grey for a Day: Should You Keep Dyeing Your Hair After 50?