Menopause can cause a number of changes in hair texture and appearance due to shifting hormone levels. As estrogen levels decline, hair may become drier and more prone to frizz. The good news is there are several things you can try to help manage frizzy hair during this transition.
Understand What Causes Frizz
Estrogen helps keep hair moisturized and manageable. As estrogen drops during perimenopause and menopause, hair and scalp tend to become drier. This leads to:
- Lack of moisture - Dry hair is more porous and prone to frizz in humid weather
- Loss of elasticity - Hair cuticles lift more easily, contributing to frizz
- Overactive sebaceous glands - Excess oil production can also make hair appear lank and frizzy
Tips to Minimize Frizz
- Use moisturizing products - Intensively condition hair and scalp with moisturizing shampoos, masks and leave-in treatments containing ingredients like argan oil, shea butter, and coconut oil. Some options:
- Harmony Hormone Clinic Frizz Defense Shampoo and Conditioner - Specifically formulated with menopausal women in mind, these contain moisture-binding ceramides to smooth and protect hair.
- Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner
- Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask
- Switch to a gentle, sulfate-free cleanser - Sulfates can be harsh and drying. A gentle shampoo cleans hair without stripping moisture.
- Limit heat styling - Use lower heat settings or let hair air dry when possible. Heat damage worsens dryness and frizz.
- Try a hair serum, oil or cream - Apply sparingly to mid-lengths and ends before styling to tame flyaways.
- Use microfiber hair towels - Gentler than terrycloth towels, they cause less friction and disturbance to cuticles.
- Get regular trims - Keeping split ends trimmed helps minimize frizz and helps moisturizers penetrate better.
- Protect hair from sun damage - UV rays degrade hair protein and moisture levels. Wear a hat or use a protective spray.
- Consider keratin treatments - In-salon smoothing treatments can help rebond the cuticle layer for less frizz.
- Stay hydrated and healthy - Drink lots of water, eat a balanced diet with essential fatty acids, and take a multivitamin to support optimal hair health.
When to Seek Medical Advice
If at-home measures don't help tame frizz and you're experiencing excessive hair loss or thinning along with dryness, see your doctor or women's health specialist. They can test hormone levels and help determine if prescription therapies, specialized hair products or supplements could help improve hair changes related to menopause or aging.
The providers at
Harmony Hormone Clinic specialize in treating perimenopause and menopause symptoms. We offer customized bioidentical
hormone therapy to help address hair changes, dryness, sexual health concerns and much more so you can feel your best during this transition and beyond.
Contact us today for a consultation to learn about our hormone balancing programs.
I hope these tips help you reduce frizzy hair during menopause. The key is being gentle with hair, using intensive moisturizing products, and addressing any hormonal imbalances driving texture changes through medications or supplements if needed. With some trial and error, most women do find what works for getting their hair back to a smooth, healthy state.
