How Hair Texture Changes With Age (and What You Can Do About It)

Many of us expect certain changes as we age—getting wiser, for example, and maybe caring less about what others think. Wrinkles and a receding hairline are often par for the course, too.

But does hair texture change with age? It often does — anyone with even a few stray silver strands can tell you that gray hair tends to have a coarser and springier texture than you may be used to. But that’s not the only change to expect.

Below, we’ll cover several different causes of hair texture changes associated with aging and what you can do about them.

The common causes of hair texture changes as you get older include:

General Hair Thinning

Each of your hairs goes through a hair growth cycle. About 80 to 90 percent of hair is in the anagen or growth phase at a given time and can stay there for two to eight years. As youage, the length of the anagen phase decreases, meaning your hair has less time to grow. This also means hair has more time in the telogen (resting) or catagen (shedding) phases, which can lead to thinning hair.

Reduced Oil Production

As you age, your skin gets thinner, loses water more easily, and produces fewer natural oils. All of these factors lead to dryness. This may seem more of a problem for your skin than your hair, but remember, hair health starts at the scalp. A drier scalp can make your hair feel dry, too, because it’s not getting the oil it did in the past. This can make your hair feel and look drier, coarser, or frizzier.

Hormonal Shifts

Hormonal fluctuations naturally occur during puberty, of course, but they can also happen later in life, leading to changes in hair texture. 

For women, a fairly sudden drop in estrogen during menopause can make hair finer and drier. While men don’t go through menopause, their testosterone levels drop about 1 percent per year on average after age 40. And while most older men still have hormone levels within the normal range, up to a quarter may end up with low testosterone, which can play a role in hair loss and texture changes.

You may also notice changes to your curl pattern with these shifts — hair may look more or less curly or become more coarse. Even people who once had straight hair may find it begins to curl during periods of hormonal change.

Male pattern baldness is influenced by shifting hormone levels as well, which we’ll talk about next. 

Male Pattern Baldness

In males and females, androgenic alopecia (pattern hair loss) becomes more common with age.  In fact, male androgenetic alopecia (which is a different name for male pattern baldness) is the most common form of hair loss in men, affecting 30 to 50 percent of men by age 50. This can affect hair thickness and texture. 

We talk about this a lot, but if you’re new here (hello!), male pattern baldness is mainly caused by a genetic sensitivity to the male sex hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a byproduct of testosterone. 

When DHT enters the hair follicle, it can cause a process called miniaturization, which is when the follicle actually shrinks. Over time, these smaller hair follicles produce thinner, weaker hair strands, which can change the overall texture and volume. Eventually, the follicle will stop producing new hair altogether.

Graying

Researchers still don’t fully understand why gray hair often has a coarse, wiry, sometimes frizzy texture, but it’s thought to have to do with a lack of both natural oils and melanin (the natural pigment that gives hair its color).

With age, hair follicles produce less melanin, leading to gray hair. Other factors can also contribute, like genetics, smoking, stress, excessive alcohol consumption, or certain nutritional deficiencies. For example, one study on younger people found a connection between B12 deficiency and hair graying. 

You can learn more in our guide to what causes white hair.

Other Factors

Environmental and lifestyle factors that can contribute to hair texture changes include sun damage, chemical treatments, nutritional deficiencies, chemotherapy, and certain medications. 

While environmental factors can affect people of any age, many of the factors associated with hair texture changes are part of the natural aging process. For example, research shows that aging is associated with changes that can make certain nutritional deficiencies more likely, particularly calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B12, iron, magnesium, and zinc. These can all influence hair health.

There are several ways to address hair texture changes that come with age.

Hair Loss Medications

Finasteride

Finasteride is an FDA-approved treatment specifically for male pattern baldness — you may know it by its brand name, Propecia^®. It works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to DHT, so you have less of the hormone in your body. If you're genetically sensitive to DHT (put simply, if baldness runs in your family), then having less DHT in your body may help you keep more of your hair.

Minoxidil

Topical minoxidil (the active ingredient in Rogaine^®) is another effective treatment for hair loss. One 48-week study of minoxidil use found up to an 18 percent increase in hair growth for men. Minoxidil is a vasodilator, and it’s thought to increase blood flow to hair follicles, which encourages growth. This can improve hair’s density and texture. 

Topical minoxidil is available without a prescription — we offer minoxidil foam and minoxidil solution. Oral minoxidil requires a prescription and may be an option following a consultation with a healthcare provider.

Finasteride and minoxidil can also be used together, and some research shows better results when these two medications are paired.

Use Thickening or Volumizing Shampoo 

Thickening or volumizing shampoo can help give your hair some of the fullness it’s lost. Sure, it’s a temporary solution, but it can be a great quick fix when you start to notice the hair texture changes that come with age.

Our thickening shampoo is made with saw palmetto, a botanical ingredient that some studies have found can partially block the effects of DHT.

Invest in Hair Care Products

As your hair texture changes, your haircare products should, too. Maybe you’ve never used much more than shampoo before, but if your hair feels dry or coarse with age, using a smoothing conditioner can help add softness and make it easier to detangle.

Other haircare products that may help include:

• Leave-in conditioner

• Lightweight hair oil

• Texturizing spray

If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to hair products (it can be overwhelming), consider asking your hair stylist for recommendations.

Consider Supplements

A simple bloodwork panel can bring to light any nutritional deficiencies you may have as you age. If you lack any key nutrients for hair health, talk to your doctor about whether supplements are right for you and which ones may help.

We offer biotin gummies made with other ingredients that support hair health, including vitamin B12, vitamin B6, vitamin D, and folic acid.

For many people, age-related hair changes are a part of life. Here’s what to remember:

• Hair texture changes with age. This is due to several factors, including hormonal shifts, reduced oil production, graying,  nutritional deficiencies, and environmental factors. 

• Hair density declines as you age. Many people notice hair that feels thinner or more coarse.

• There are treatment options. From FDA-approved medications like finasteride and minoxidil to volumizing shampoos and softening conditioners, there are plenty of ways to address inevitable hair texture changes as you get older.

To learn more about overall hair health, check out our guides to the 11 best foods for hair growth and how to find your hair type for men. If you’re interested in pursuing hair loss treatments, take our free hair quiz to be connected with a professional who can help.