9 Indicators of Hair Aging You Should Be Aware Of

Hair aging doesn’t happen all at once—and it often starts sooner than people expect. “Similar to our skin, our hair ages in a variety of ways,” says trichologist and Arey co-founder Jay Small. “As we age, our bodies are exposed to a range of internal and external factors, each of which can affect the color, density and texture we loved in our 20s.”

We’re often slower to notice changes in hair than in skin, which can make them feel sudden—like when hair turns gray or stops growing altogether. According to trichologist Aga Tompkins, aging hair shows up in a few key ways and often starts before people notice obvious thinning.

With that in mind, we asked experts to share the signs of hair aging, so you can keep an eye out and be proactive.

Many people notice texture changes such as increased frizz, less curl definition or hair that suddenly feels harder to style, says Tompkins. Trichologist and hairstylist Gretchen Friese notes that, over time, gray hair often becomes coarser or wirier. Additionally, “Our scalp also tends to make less sebum as we get older, and that can lead to dry hair that is prone to flyaways,” says Friese.

Expert Tips: Frizz and texture changes are often a sign that the cuticle is more vulnerable and the hair is holding less moisture, says Tompkins. With these changes, it’s important for shampoo and conditioner products to be tailored to your needs. “That scalp-to-strand personalization is a big missing piece for most people,” she says.

“For dryness, it is important to focus on hydration with gentle, moisturizing shampoos and conditioners,” says New York dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD. She also recommends “reducing heat styling and minimizing physical stress from brushing or towel drying.”

“The very first sign of aging hair is usually marked by the question, ‘Does my hair look dull, dry or flat?’” says Small. “Believe it or not, these changes can be early signs of the graying process. Graying is gradual; hair rarely shifts from its natural color to white overnight. Instead, it undergoes a process of depigmentation, which is why hair may appear less vibrant or start to show white hairs as early as the late 20s to early 30s.”

“On the scalp side, aging often looks like dryness or tightness, increased sensitivity, less comfortable scalp ‘balance’ and more buildup,” says Tompkins. “I always remind everyone that the scalp ages just like facial skin, and when the scalp barrier and circulation change over time, it directly impacts how well the follicle can produce strong, healthy hair.”

Expert Tips: “If the scalp feels dry, tight, more sensitive or ‘off,’ this is where many people overcorrect,” warns Tompkins. She advises avoiding harsh scrubs and overly aggressive cleansing. Instead, she recommends using a good-for-the-scalp shampoo and adding an overnight scalp treatment.

“When clients start treating the scalp with the same consistency they give their face, the quality of the hair that grows in often improves.”

Some people may notice widening of the central part in the hair, says Dr. Garshick. She notes that this can be an indication of androgenetic alopecia, but mild widening can also reflect natural changes in hair density with age.

Tompkins notes that breakage tends to become more common with age, even without coloring or heat damage. Dr. Garshick explains that increased breakage often occurs as the hair shaft weakens over time.

Expert Tips: “If hair is breaking more easily or losing elasticity and shine, treat the strands like delicate fabric,” says Tompkins. This includes reducing heat and friction and adding conditioning and heat protection. Dr. Garshick also recommends incorporating deep conditioning or strengthening treatments and avoiding excessive chemical processing.

“As our scalp ages, so do our hair follicles, and when this happens, the follicles aren’t strong enough to hold onto the hair it grows. So the hair falls out, and we see more shedding than when we were younger,” says Friese. Worth noting: Gradual changes are common, but sudden or excessive shedding may be worth discussing with a dermatologist.

“As hair follicles gradually produce less melanin, the pigment responsible for hair color, strands may begin to appear gray or white,” says Los Angeles dermatologist and co-founder of Happy Head, Ben Behnam, MD. “By age 50, more than half of people experience noticeable graying, though the age of onset and progression vary from person to person.”

Expert Tips: “When it comes to graying, focusing on moisture, shine-enhancing products, minimizing stress on the hair and sun protection can improve the look and feel of gray hair,” says Dr. Garshick.

“With age, follicles may produce thinner, more fragile hair, contributing to changes in thickness,” says Dr. Behnam. “Hair can start to look less full as individual strands become finer and growth cycles slow, leading to a softer overall volume.” Friese adds that hair in these follicles often loses density, leading to the perception that hair overall is thinner, especially at the crown or in a ponytail.

Expert Tips: “For changes in texture, volume, or density, I recommend adjusting hair-care routines to include lightweight, volumizing products and paying close attention to scalp health, which is essential for supporting healthy hair growth as we age,” says Dr. Garshick.

Friese says the hair growth cycle often slows with age, which can result in hair growing more slowly and less noticeable new growth. This can also make it feel like hair takes longer to recover after a cut or shed.

“As a trichologist, I recommend adding proactive products to your hair-care routine at the first signs of hair aging. This can be as simple as swapping your shampoo for a formula that contains active ingredients designed to support hair follicle health,” says Small. “Many of my clients choose hair-care products based on hair type or scent, but as we age, it’s important to consider what these products are doing for the scalp and hair follicles as well.” He adds that “choosing proactive hair-care products can have an impact as significant as what we’ve seen with our skin-care routines.”

Tompkins recommends thinking about hair longevity and treating scalp care like skin care. The goal, she says, should be a “simple routine that supports the follicle environment while also strengthening what you already have on the ends.” Friese agrees that slowing visible hair aging starts with scalp health. “A ‘young,’ healthy scalp will support young and healthy follicles. We want to think of our scalp (which is skin) as an extension of our faces. We take care of the skin on our face with proper cleansing, serums, moisturizers and SPF. We need to baby our scalps the same way,” says Friese.

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