The Reviews Are In: These Are The Best Shampoos For Older Women

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It's no secret that aging brings bodily changes. These changes, nine times out of ten, also include your hair. Whether it's graying, losing density, or needing an extra pick-me-up, investing in products that address your hair's issues makes a difference when trying to get back on the right track. Your hair changes as you age, so you might have to adjust your routine to change with it. While a low-maintenance hair technique that helps you transition to gray hair seamlessly does exist, there are other changes that increase gradually over time that can develop into their own issues. While not initially seen as troubling, they are still just as impactful. Examples of this phenomenon include changes in hair texture, thinning at the root, graying, and even hairline recession. 

"I'm 46 and have always had thick hair, but my hair's texture totally changed in my late 30s. It's coarser and frizz-prone, as well as wavy to curly when air-dried [...]," one Reddit user posted in a thread discussing the changes that older women were seeing in their hair. This thread, among many others, highlights a common experience many women face. To help reduce these issues and maybe avoid them altogether, dermatologists recommend being mindful of the products you use on your hair and avoiding harsh chemicals. Luckily, many haircare brands have been taking extra steps in their formulation processes to create products with ingredients that support hair growth, moisture retention, and scalp rejuvenation in the best ways possible.

Kérastase's Densifique Bain Densité Shampoo should be added to your routine for its thoughtful craftsmanship, formulated specifically for hair density. The gentle cleanser is made with hyaluronic acid, gluco-peptides, and ceramides, which go deeper than the hair strands you typically comb through, touching the layers that traditional shampoos don't always reach. Hyaluronic acid works to build and retain moisture throughout the hair because it's a humectant,  which draws in moisture and doesn't repel it. Other benefits of this ingredient include frizz reduction and aiding in scalp dryness, which can support healthier strands. 

Meanwhile, gluco-peptides and ceramides both work to strengthen the hair by restoring damage in the hair strands and scalp, sealing hair cuticles to reduce shedding, and protecting the hair's outer layers in different environments. Kérastase's Densifique collection also utilizes a special ingredient called stemoxydine that helps to reduce thinning hair and reactivates dormant hair follicles to stimulate growth. Kérastase has made a shampoo that touches on multiple hair issues that older women face, and adding it to your collection would be a wise move, even for someone who isn't facing the aforementioned issues, as a preventative measure for the future.  

While Salma Hayek's subtle gray hair transformation inspired some to embrace aging, others want to completely do away with their gray hair. This is where Schwarzkopf's Professional BC Bonacure Time Restore Shampoo comes into play. While using the product won't magically turn back time, it can help your hair feel just like it did when you were younger. Crafted exclusively for mature women, this vegan shampoo is crafted with panthenol  (also known as pro-vitamin B5) to restore and maintain moisture in the hair, as well as the Q10+ time restore complex, which is known to combat aging in skincare. Schwarzkopf Professional leveraged this for their shampoo to address signs of aging in hair, explaining, "Q10+ exists in every cell in the body and is essential for the vitalisation of cells. It stimulates the hair bulb to re-activate production of the 2 Keratins that decrease over time and, therefore, it restores the optimal structure for future hair growth."

This shampoo promises instant results, and customers cosign the sentiment. "It's amazing. It leaves my hair soft and shiny. It restored the strength of my hair, it healed the split ends, and protects the color of my dyed hair. The shampoo makes my hair smell good. I have thick, long hair, and it only takes a small amount of the product to wash my hair. I would definitely recommend this shampoo to anyone," one Amazon reviewer commented.

The four most common causes of hair loss remind us that, in some ways, it's inevitable. However, that doesn't mean we can't fight it. Plantur 39's Phyto-Caffeine Shampoo does all the heavy lifting to support hair strength and follicle restoration. Specifically crafted for customers over 40-years-old, Plantur 39's Phyto-Caffeine Shampoo helps slow down the hair thinning process. Caffeine in hair has also been found to lessen the impact of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is a hormone that shrinks the hair follicle. Caffeine shampoos also help to break down product buildup more easily, rebalancing pH levels on the scalp and hair strands. 

Women over forty may also appreciate that the product was designed to help combat the hormonal changes their hair might face during menopause. Other ingredients, such as zinc and niacin, work alongside the phyto-caffeine to strengthen and nourish the hair. Studies have found that zinc helps to balance oil production on the scalp and promotes hair follicle recovery. Meanwhile, niacin has been clinically proven to help blood flow reach the scalp, delivering vital nutrients to your hair follicles. The next time you're grabbing your morning cup of coffee, remember that caffeine could also help repair your hair, one strand at a time. 

With a silicone-free, sulfate-free, and paraben-free formula, Nioxin's Age Defense Shampoo takes the cake in hair longevity. The shampoo was specifically designed to help detox the scalp while combating aging hair through moisture and strengthening. While this product has caffeine and niacinamides as ingredients, it also includes Beta Hydroxy Acid (also known as BHA). BHA is a type of salicylic acid that helps to deeply cleanse the hair and scalp, promoting a healthier environment to produce growth. These ingredients also help to restore the hair's youthful appearance.

The hair graying process starts when your body stops producing as much melanin as it previously did. While there's no true way to stop it, preventative measures, such as this shampoo, can help you fight it in the ways you can control. As endorsed by dermatologist Dr. Jenny Liu, she believes this product, along with the rest of the collection, can help strengthen the hair you already have and target the inherited traits tied to aging hair, such as dullness and low density. Being proactive is the way to go when it comes to getting (and keeping) the hair you've always dreamed of.