Why your haircare is the next step in your time-fighting self care….
We all know that to decrease the signs of ageing, skincare is paramount, and not just at the time we start to see the effects of time on our skin, but well before, creating the healthy foundation to youthful skin beginning even as early as our late teens and early 20’s. Skincare has always made prevention paramount in maintaining a youthful glow right into our formative years, but what about our hair & the skin on our scalp?
Our hair and scalp is often forgotten when it comes to best practices in preventing the ravages of time, yet like our neck & hands, it can be the first to betray our true age if those principles of prevention are not also adopted in our Hair Care regimen. Our hair & scale is often exposed to as much environmental stress as the rest of our body, if not more, being exposed to the sun in summer, cold & wind in winter, outdoor pollutants, chemical processing and so much more, sometimes with very little protection. Now we can contribute much of these effects to the passing of time but often it is said that oxidative stress can be a key mechanism in contributing to ageing of hair.
How does ageing affect hair? The natural passage of time can affect hair a number of ways, it can present as a decrease in the melanin production that colours hair, resulting in greying. Sometimes this can be caused by a general slowing of the natural hair growth process, or it can be caused by a deficiency of some description, such as B12. Age can also gradually make the hair feel coarse, which can often be attributed to the natural reduction in sebum (or oil) being produced by the scalp that would normally be present to nourish the hair. The skin of the scalp also ages 8x faster than the skin on your face, and 12 x faster than your body. Maintaining healthy skin and scalp function through a skincare inspired hair care regime ensures the building blocks to healthy hair & skin are readily available and stimulates good blood flow to the skin and follicles, minimising hair thinning and fall by carrying vital nutrients right where they are needed. Prevention is also key, ensuring that you have adequate protection on your hair & scalp during times where free radical exposure can cause damage to the integrity of the hair & function of the skin and scalp. So how do I ensure my products are anti-ageing? Look for shampoos & conditioners that use gentle surfactants so as not to strip vital oils from the hair. Products that co rain collagen & proteins are also a must for resilience, while a good humectant to attract moisture is also beneficial. Anti oxidants such as vitamin E will protect your hair & skin by seeking out free radicals and destroying them before they can cause damage, and a good UV protectant will help with sun exposure. A deep mask containing omegas or essential fatty acids will replenish lost moisture and add vital nourishment, ensuring that the building blocks for healthy hair are always on hand. Using stimulating scalp scrubs or scalp treatments are also recommended as it removes potentially harmful buildup from the scalp ensuring that treatments you apply have a better chance of penetrating the skin where their effects are needed.
