So…we have made it to our 50’s! Just in time to watch our mates (and maybe ourselves) start the decade with “midlife crisis”…and also start our own body’s transformation into menopause and the realization that we have probably NOT saved enough for our retirement in our 60’s. It is not ALL doom and gloom, however. We now have a better idea of where we want to go in life, who we really are and what we like to do.

Hopefully we have great friends, family and careers that can take the “freak” out of “freak out”! In our 50’s we try to tame the grays and look for female hair loss treatments as our hair starts to thin due to the change of hormones or newly prescribed medications in our systems. How can we “stop” time?

A natural hair loss treatment starts with making sure that our bodies are continuing to take in the proper nutrition and especially enough water. Gray hairs are coarser and duller now and good cleansing shampoos and light conditioners along with making sure that we are keeping hydrated will give our hair and scalp a means of combating a quicker death of our aging hair follicles. Hydration keeps cells plump and light moisturizers and conditioners keep our skin and scalp pores from clogging. Clogged follicles are actually suffocating new hair growth! So make sure to use a shampoo without sulfates (soapy bubbles leave soapy scum!).

Another way to combat aging is to maintain a great exercise routine. This not only tones and gives our muscles a chance to fight fat, it also increases circulation. Increased circulation is one of the best treatments for thinning hair, and along with exercise a new laser hair comb is a great option to increase nutrition-rich blood to each hungry hair follicle. The new laser hair therapy for women is a simple to use (20-30 minutes every other day) hair loss treatment that is affordable and now sold for home use. I recommend the Nutreve Personal Hair Therapy Laser for all of these qualities.

The 50’s are still fraught with stressors from worry about job loss, paying for college tuition, work vs. parenting/relationship time, etc., and some of us may be given new medications to combat these problems. Medications for normal body changes such as blood pressure and cholesterol elevation, joint or back pain also seem to be the “norm” at least in all of the TV and magazine ads! Although sometime these medications are necessary and taken correctly, they do cause other symptoms such as changes in our skin and hair.

Take ANY medications responsibly and see your doctor if uncomfortable changes or symptoms come to your attention. There are natural ways to combat dry mouth, hair and skin changes. Hair regrowth drugs such as minoxidil in Rogaine are also now being used by men and women to combat hair loss. If that is the route you choose to take, the laser hair therapy for women mentioned above is also safe to use as a thinning hair treatment along with these medications.

Shorter hair styles, highlights (just don’t overdo the harsh chemicals) and occasional oil or “hair mask” treatments will keep hair looking younger too. Be careful of harsh dyes, teasing (we don’t want to break what we are trying to keep!) chlorine and hair pieces or extensions that are too heavy and actually pull out more hair (what a vicious cycle that would be!) than they replace. The laser hair brush for hair loss is also safe to use with any hair dyes, treatments, or shampoos. It is a great addition to our healthy ways to keep our hair full, shiny and looking like we were at least back in those Fabulous Forties again!

Next up is a look at hair in our 60s. Keep your eyes posted for our series “Ageless Beauty…One Decade at a Time”!