Most people don't bat an eye at shelling out big bucks to update skin care routines with the latest anti-aging products that address new issues that develop over time, like fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots. While that's great (and taking care of your skin is an investment that has long-term payoff), what about your hair?
Just like skin, your hair ages with you. Hair requires focused and intentional care to keep it looking and feeling its best, which is why we tried a host of anti-aging hair products for our Mature Beauty Awards and spoke to experts about what you should be looking for.
"Your hair, nails and skin are made up of the same components, but when we think about anti-aging, we just think about skin. We don't think that your hair goes along with that as well," explains hairstylist Courtney Foster.
Expert-recommended treatment$undefined$38.40
How to manage aging hair, according to stylists
Stylists are in agreement that, as we get older, hair tends to lose shine, elasticity and volume. Before buying every product on the shelf that addresses these issues, though, you might benefit from looking inward first.
To start, Salon 120 West hairstylist Kasey Bertucci recommends making sure you're drinking enough water every day (a little over 11 cups, according to the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine). You should also prioritize getting enough sleep — between seven to nine hours each night, according to the National Sleep Foundation — to reduce stress-induced hair loss.
Rita Sanders, owner and stylist at Tousled Hair Salon in Jersey City, New Jersey, says a clever way to stay one step ahead of aging hair is to make sure you have proper nighttime care for your hair the way you would for your skin. An easy way to do that? Satin pillowcases!
"When you sleep, the friction of the tossing and turning [doesn't] cause the hair to knot up or tangle up or dry out from the products that you used maybe earlier in the day," Sanders tells Shop TODAY.
Another culprit for damaged hair? Shampooing too often. “Think about how often you’re washing your hair,” says Bertucci. “If you’re washing or brushing it excessively, you might experience excess hair loss.”
Amy Abramite, creative director, salon educator and stylist at Maxine Salon, advises to shampoo “as often as necessary” and to do what makes sense for your scalp and hair. Specifically, you'll want to use products that are designed to work with your hair type and are free of damaging ingredients like silicones and waxes, as they cause buildup instead of removing it.
Finally, all of the stylists stressed the importance of treating your scalp as well as the rest of your head. "If your scalp is healthy, then your overall hair is healthy," Foster said.
Award-winning anti-aging hair products
Best thickening shampoo/conditioner:
As we age, hair thinning is common, and combatting it starts in the shower. This shampoo is an affordable way to incorporate a thickening product into your hair care routine, with ingredients like biotin and hyaluronic acid.
Best texturizing hair powder:
This non-aerosol powder spray gives major body and volume to keep flat hair at bay, without any stiff, crunchy or sticky residue. To use, just spray 4-6 inches from the root in sections. Tousle with your fingers to style and re-zhuzh your hair as needed to reactivate texture throughout the day. Pro tip: start with one pump and use more if you need.
Best root color spray:
Are your roots growing back in? No one needs to know. This spray works to conceal regrowth temporarily, saving your strands in between salon appointments.
Best in-shower color treatment:
“Salon visits are expensive... I finally decided to give this a try and am thoroughly impressed with the results,” shares associate editor Kamari Stewart. “It’s meant to be used in place of conditioner and still left my hair feeling soft and moisturized, just with more blended color. I used the golden blonde shade because of my highlights but they also have a clear gloss if you’re unsure and just want a color touchup.”
Best volumizing hair tool:
Want the look of a fresh blowout without the trip to the salon? This tool does the trick. It's especially great for day two (or three, or four!) hair that needs some help looking lifted and smooth.
Best volumizing spray:
As the name implies, this product adds major lift at the root and creates the appearance of fullness in the hair. Testers compliment its pleasant scent and we love that it works on wet or dry hair, so you can use it whenever it's convenient in your routine.
Best hair mousse for fullness:
Most mousses have a reputation for being sticky and weighing hair down, but Abramite likes this one from Kérastase because it does the exact opposite. She regards this product as a “softer mousse that you don’t have to worry about” in terms of stressing your hair or it becoming sticky or crunchy.
Best texturizing spray:
Jasmine Burnside, a New York City-based hairstylist, calls this Oribe texturizing spray one of her go-to favorites to give the appearance of fuller hair. “I feel like it really gives a lot of grit and texture where you can actually feel it in the hair,” she says.
Best anti-aging hair products, according to stylists
Achieve a glowing finish:
"Aging hair tends to be dull, so this gloss shampoo and conditioner are a great choice," Abramite raves. "The formula has lactic acid to exfoliate and remove dulling residue and also has tons of vitamins and minerals to nourish aging hair."
Soften your hair:
Abramite likes this shampoo (and its matching conditioner) for replenishing hydration for dry scalps and providing “frizz-free results [that are] smooth to the touch.”
Ideal for different hair types:
“The Olaplex line is very good for the dullness problem, and if you’re having any brittleness or breakage, just to make sure that it’s really putting the protein back into your hair,” Bertucci tells us.
She specifically recommends this Olaplex repairing treatment, which is designed to not only address the damage in your hair, but also to restore its healthy appearance and texture.
Great for travel:
For a lightweight product, Burnside calls this dry shampoo powder a personal favorite. She describes it as “not as gritty as a texturizing spray” but good for soaking up excess oils and sebum. “It really refreshes second day or post-workout hair,” she says.
Super moisturizing:
Alterna is a favorite of Foster’s for mature hair care because the brand holds the philosophy that just as your skin ages, so does your hair. She particularly likes that it’s made with vitamins A and C, which help target natural signs of aging like brittleness and moisture loss.
“If I have a client that is looking for [an anti-aging treatment], that’s one of the things that I offer,” she says. She also recommends the matching conditioner to complete the set.
Organic and sustainable:
If you want to increase shine, Sanders recommends looking for a lighter serum that will sit on top of the hair like this sesame oil. It has nearly 3,400 verified ratings.
“[Sesame oil] is a sealing oil that will sit on top of the hair and give it a really nice shine,” she explains.
Perfect for hair prep:
This Bumble and Bumble pre-styling spray is a favorite of Burnside's. Apply it to damp, clean hair and follow up with your preferred hair tools to give the appearance of added volume.
Useful for thinning hair:
This hair treatment line is another personal favorite of Bertucci’s. The line is designed to stimulate new hair growth, thanks to ingredients like mint, capsicum and botanical extracts. Apply it to the scalp twice a day and massage it in to receive maximum benefits, according to the brand’s instructions.
A thickening shampoo:
Abramite recommends pairing Kérastase’s Initialiste serum with the brand’s Densifique shampoo and conditioner. She likes this duo because it helps prevent breakage and will deep clean your hair while removing buildup.
Add some volume:
“It gives you instant root lift and grip so you can, at your leisure, spray it at your roots or at your ends so it really, really fluffs up and gives your hair a lot of volume,” Burnside says about this Oribe volumizer. The spray application also helps reduce the typical mess from hair powder.
A healing treatment:
The L’anza Keratin Healing Oil shampoo and conditioner is another favorite of Foster’s. “It feels like luxury,” she says.
Foster raves about its wonderful scent and noted that these products have a keratin base, which is what gives our natural hair bounce, body and shine.
A popular scalp treatment:
Abramite raves about this scalp and hair serum from Kérastase. “It’s going to plump up the hair, reduce breakage and make the hair feel softer, shinier and thicker,” she tells us.
While most serums tend to be associated with greasier formulas, Abramite emphasizes the fact that this one is non-greasy and has a smoother, milkier consistency. She recommends using this product on stressed or recessed areas of your hair and continuing with your regular styling process, ending with a bit of heat.
Luseta Rice Water Shampoo and Conditioner Set
Best Strengthening Set
$26.39
$32.99
Amazon
$61.00
$72.00
Luseta Beauty
Lola From Rio Rapunzel Strengthening Hair Mask
Best Hair Mask for Strengthening
$16.99
Amazon
$16.99
Lola from Rio
Revlon One-Step Root Booster Round Brush Dryer and Styler
Best value Multistyler
$24.53
$44.99
Amazon
$54.99
Ulta
Not Your Mother's Clean Freak 3-in-1 Dry Shampoo
Best 3-in-1 Dry Shampoo
$11.99
Ulta
$11.99
Not Your Mother's
Frequently asked questions
Typically, according to our experts, hair can lose elasticity and volume with age. It can also lose its shine with time.
According to our experts, there are various remedies for aging hair aside from hair care products. For example, drinking enough water per day (just over 11 cups), getting enough sleep (seven to nine hours per night), and sleeping with a satin pillowcase can help keep hair strong and vibrant over time.
Bertucci tells us, "If you’re washing or brushing it excessively, you might experience excess hair loss." So, yes, shampooing too often isn't always a good thing.
However, Abramite suggests you should lean into whatever routine is best for your specific hair type and shampoo "as often as necessary," avoiding cleansers made with silicones and waxes.
How we chose
We chose expert-recommended hair care products formulated with specific ingredients to help strengthen hair (some even help promote hair growth). Many of the included selections are also intended to add fullness and shine. We also included winners from Shop TODAY's Mature Beauty Awards.
Meet the experts
At Shop TODAY, our reporters interview a range of qualified sources and experts to capture a wide scope of perspectives on a given topic. We also ensure that all expert guidance and recommendations are provided independently and without any undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Courtney Foster is a hairstylist and certified associate trichologist based in New York City.
- Kasey Bertucci is a hairstylist and co-founder of Salon 120 West in Boston.
- Rita Sanders is a hairstylist and the owner of Tousled Hair Salon in Jersey City, New Jersey.
- Amy Abramite is a hairstylist, salon educator and creative director at Maxine Salon in Chicago.
- Jasmine Burnside is a celebrity hairstylist based in New York City.
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