By Paul Palmer

Hair, just like our complexion and our bodies, becomes more delicate as we age. Once you’re over 40, your hair needs more careful, considerate care to look beautiful and strong.
Since a lot of woman chose to still wear hair long (why not if it looks great and makes you feel great then keep it) You need to be extra mindful of the products to use and the way to treat longer hair to keep it as healthy as possible.

Here are just a few of the strategies that I’ve found that work for my guests.

Don’t wash your hair too often.
This might seem counterintuitive, but as you age, your hair and scalp often get drier. I find that washing hair every two or three days is more than enough. It keeps my hair clean but also doesn’t strip away the natural oils more so on longer hair.

Okay, please don’t laugh but one of my favorite tips? Use a shower cap to protect your hairstyle and you’ll have to redo it less often. Today’s new shower caps have a terry lining to soak up any steam so your blow-dried hairstyle lasts longer. (I guess it is true, that everything old is new again.)
Use heated styling tools sparingly.
Try to let hair air dry and then put it into a bun or old style pin curls using bobby pins or kirby grips to give hair movement and bounce. My favorite hair tool is an ionic hair dryer and a flat iron say GHD or Cloud 9 (the irons are multi purpose use) but don’t use these every day and & make sure to use a heat protectant styling spray whenever I’m with a guest in the salon I always use them.

Trim your hair frequently.

Even though the goal might be to get or keep long hair I’d I’d always recommend to get the ends of hair your hair trimmed every few weeks to cut down on split ends and maintain style.

Colouring your hair.

If you colour your hair, your stylist should know how to use specific hair colours that’s made specifically for gray hair.
Gray hair tends to be drier and stiffer making it more resistant to color. (And did you know what makes our hair turn gray in the first place? It’s a decrease in melanin production that takes the colour out of our strands so our gray hair is actually not a new hair color but the absence of our original hair colour) also maybe think about changing the tonality of your hair colour during the year to compliment your ever changing wardrobe spring/summer autumn/winter and your changes in make up.

Think highlights think condition.

We all like to feel a bit brighter so what not add highlights to your hair, but try to not go overboard because highlights can dry out fragile over 40 hair (this is where it gets more important to use good conditioners and hair masks) Deep condition every time you color your hair
Every single time I colour hair we do a deep conditioning treatment. And I would recommend a weekly deep condition at home with Olaplex Hair No3 to maintain my condition.

Use gentle hair elastics

If you pull your hair back in a ponytail, make sure to use coated hair elastics or these fabric hair ties that don’t pull your hair out or get it tangled.

Do you remember those old rules of “no long hair over 40”. What a ridiculous thought! Keep your hair long as you like as long as it suits and is healthy as possible and that’s what you want then do it. The only time to go shorter is when you fancy a change! Longer hair in your 40s van look absolutely spectacular as long as it’s looked after don’t get me wrong shorter can look stunning to buy it’s about choice your choice.

Remember a good diet and vitamins drinking water make a massive difference and help immensely as with your body and skin it all starts within.