If your hair feels finer, flatter or slower to grow in your 40s and 50s, you're not imagining it. Hormonal shifts around perimenopause and menopause can change hair texture, density and how it takes color. Many women notice it before they're ready to talk about it.

Salon owner Janelle Alexis writes openly about this stage of life in her book MENO POSSE. In the chair, we see the hair side of it every week.

Common hair changes we see

• Thinner-feeling ends and less volume at the crown
• More dryness and frizz as hair texture changes
• Gray coming in faster, and color fading sooner
• A part that looks wider than it used to

What a stylist can do

• Cut for density. Strategic layers and a slightly shorter perimeter can make fine hair look fuller.
• Use color to add dimension. Soft highlights or balayage add depth and blend gray, so thinner areas show less.
• Add volume without commitment. Well-placed hair extensions or toppers can restore fullness. Every plan starts with a consultation.
• Manage frizz gently. A smoothing service like a Brazilian Blowout can make drier, coarser texture easier to style.

At home

Be gentle with heat, use a wide-tooth comb on wet hair, and avoid tight ponytails. Ask your stylist about products made for fine or thinning hair.

This article is for general information and isn't medical advice. Sudden or significant hair loss can have many causes. Please talk to your doctor or a dermatologist about it.

Ready for your appointment? Book online, call 713-780-2412, or visit us at 5750 Woodway Drive, Suite 110, Houston, TX 77057. We're open Tuesday–Saturday, 9am–6pm, and closed Sunday and Monday.