At one point in time, you likely knew these lyrics to "Hair" by heart:
Hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair
Flow it, show it
Long as God can grow it
My hair...
But having hair "long as God can grow it" was a '60s thing, right? Aren't Post 50 women (and men) supposed to go to shorter lengths and sport hairstyles that supposedly flatter our changing (wrinkling?) faces, minimize our multiple chins and de-emphasize our receding hairlines and diminishing eyebrows. Who says?
That's old school thinking, according to hair stylists. Post 50 women today clearly haven't given up their longer locks -- and we don't mean just those who live in the celebrity spotlight and travel with stylists at each elbow.
For some tips on how to maintain healthy long hair, Huff Post50 turned to Oprah's hair stylist, Andre Walker:
Try to stay away from color treatments if you can.
If you are coloring your hair because it is gray, try using a color product that doesn’t contain ammonia or peroxide. Semi-permanent colors coat the hair and last four to six weeks. This type of color works best on gray hair or hair you want to darken because it doesn’t lift hair color, it only coats.
Resist using heated styling tools more than once a week.
I know that is a tall order, but the difference in your hair's health will be clearly visible. If you must blow-dry, try to keep it off the highest heat setting. It may take a little longer, but you will cause less damage.
When hair is long, it can become heavy and flat, and with age, you lose body.
Be sure to put body back into the hair with volumizing products like styling foam, mousse, or root-lifting spray.
Layers are a great trick for long hair on older women.
Layers will add some body and bounce to the hair, so have your stylist cut some long layers, or layers that frame the face -- anything to keep the hair from looking long, heavy and flat.
Try to extend the number of days between washes, as hair can be damaged during washing.
If you must wash every day, use a high-quality moisturizing shampoo and conditioner every time. Keratin shampoos and conditioners are also great, as they put back the protein that is depleted from hair strands. Our hair is made of keratin protein, so it is great to give the hair back what it has lost.
Use regular oil treatments.
They can really make a difference in hair’s health, improving softness, strength and shine. I personally love Argan Oil because it is light, easy to use and it absorbs instantly into the hair, creating amazing shine.
Clip-on hair extensions are really great to help add thickness and length.
They are relatively affordable and easy to use, and the best part is they aren’t permanent, so you can use them every day, or if you just want to experiment and have some fun with new looks.
Pay attention to your diet.
Believe it or not, your diet plays a large role in the health of your hair and overall appearance. Foods rich in Omega 3’s, such as salmon, flaxseeds and walnuts, should be a regular part of your diet because they are proven to support scalp health and prevent dry scalp and dull hair.
Meet some post 50 women who sport long do's!
Related
Before You Go
