HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR HAIR AS A SENIOR
As you grow older, your body undergoes several changes. One of the changes you might not think about is the changes your hair undergoes, and we are not just talking about the small clump of hair that accumulates near the drain after a bath or shower. Your hair undergoes more changes than simply falling out, which is one of the most common rituals of growing older.
A single strand of hair lives a normal life between two and seven years, but the life expectancy for hair shortens considerably for seniors. To keep your hair looking good as you enter your golden years, you need to pay special attention to it by following a few tips our assisted living facility in Everett, Washington has compiled.
Wash Hair Less Often
Did you know that washing your hair too often can cause it to become dry and more sensitive to damage? How often you wash your hair depends on the type of hair you have, but regardless of the type of hair, washing it too much can lead to hair that no longer presents a vibrant appearance. It is not the water that damages your hair, but instead, it is shampoo that potentially can cause your hair to become dry if you use it more than three times a week.
Follow a hair-washing schedule every other day to start and then determine after a few days whether you need to adjust the schedule to protect your hair.
Shampoo is Not Enough
One important piece of advice our senior care specialists at the Everett assisted living facility share with our guests concerns is making sure you apply a conditioner to your hair after washing it with shampoo. Applying a top-quality conditioner after shampooing your hair improves the health of your hair. A top-rated conditioner replaces natural oils and restores hair to its natural, visually-appealing sheen. Adding a volumizer to your hair care routine strengthens your hair by individually increasing the width of each hair strand.
Follow the Right Diet
The timeless adage, “You are what you eat,” is especially relevant for seniors looking to improve their hair care routine. Since individual hair strands consist mostly of protein, you want to ensure protein is an integral part of your diet. Consuming low-fat red meat twice a week should help you achieve your protein goal. However, a protein-focused diet is just one component of a diet that helps seniors maintain healthy hair. Other nutrients to incorporate into your diet include vitamins A and C, which are abundant nutrients found in green leafy vegetables such as spinach.
Eggs contain biotin, which is an essential protein for healthy hair growth, and eating certain types of fish a couple of times a week provides your hair with omega-3 fatty acids, which encourages growth.
Consult with Your Doctor
Some medications, such as the ones prescribed for patients with heart disease, lower lipid levels that can adversely impact hair growth. Ask your doctor to list every medication in your schedule that might prevent hair growth and/or damage healthy hair. Your doctor should offer a strategy on how to counteract the negative impacts of certain medications on your hair.
The MorningStar senior housing facility in Everett, Washington, as well as facilities located around the United States, have earned the reputation of providing unsurpassed compassionate service for our guests. From helping our guests take care of their hair to offering advice on which physical exercises are the best ones for seniors, MorningStar is the ideal place to call home.
If you are looking for the best place to call home, connect with our MorningStar assisted living facility at Silver Lake.