How does menopause affect hair?

Updated: 10/17/2025

Menopause is a physiological process of significant relevance in a woman's life, defined as the permanent cessation of menstruation. During this period, significant changes in hormone levels occur, impacting the condition of her skin and also her hair.

These changes generally begin gently between 45 and 55 years of age, one year before menopause officially arrives, a period known as climacteric or perimenopause.

Initially, the changes are almost imperceptible and can be attributed to a bad day, as happens during menstruation (a period during which estrogen levels also drop, causing hair to appear to have less body). But after a few months, a more pronounced deficit in the production of female hormones, specifically estrogen and progesterone, makes the changes more evident by altering follicular metabolism, affecting both the quantity and appearance of the hair. This results in finer, more fragile, and dull hair.

While the primary function of estrogens is to regulate the menstrual cycle, the wide variety of symptoms that emerge during menopause demonstrate their varied and profound effects throughout the body.

In the skin and hair, estrogens have a decisive influence on thickness, hydration, pigmentation, sebum content, and aging.

How does menopause affect the condition of the scalp and hair?

1. Hair cycle alteration

Hormonal changes around menopause are associated with variations in the follicular cycle (shorter anagen/longer telogen) and thinner hair in some women. Additionally, the drop in estrogen makes the effect of androgens more visible.

During the hair cycle, the anagen or growth phase is reduced and the telogen or shedding phase is prolonged, leading to miniaturization of the follicles. Finer hair, sparser areas mainly on the top and temples, and increased fragility begin to be perceived.

The changes that occur in women during this stage often generate stress, and although stress alone does not cause androgenetic alopecia, it can further elevate androgen levels, potentially worsening hair loss. If hair loss occurs due to stress, it will last as long as this situation persists, but then the hair will grow back.

2. Hydric imbalance of the skin and modifications in its mineral content

This imbalance affects the hair structure and scalp, making it more sensitive and less protected against environmental aggressors such as UV radiation and pollution. Hence, women may also experience scalp dryness and itching. This fact must be considered when it comes to the care and coloring and styling processes to which hair is subjected at this stage.

3. Decrease in lipid content

This decrease means that the corneocytes are not well compacted and their junctions are not well built. The result is a dry scalp, even with flaking. The hair also appears drier, duller, even fragile and more prone to breakage.

4. Glycation of collagen

The collagen sac located around the hair follicle undergoes glycation, a reaction of blood glucose with collagen fibers. This spontaneous reaction, in addition to causing deterioration of the follicle's environment and a decrease in the hair's anchorage to its structure, leads to the loss of scalp components crucial for protecting, hydrating, and replenishing the nutrients necessary for hair growth. This glycation is not a rapid process; it occurs slowly with age.

5. Reduction of stem cells

At the bottom of the hair follicle there are stem cells that are responsible for the regeneration of the hair follicle at the end of the telogen phase. This reduction is accompanied by age and causes the hair to become progressively finer, with perceived lower density.

6. Sweat and itching caused by hot flashes

Sudden hot flashes that appear during menopause can cause occasional and intense itching, and are due to the sweat generated during these moments. Sweat is rich in urea, an alkali that raises the pH, and a variation in scalp pH promotes itching and even irritation.

To alleviate these bothersome itches, you just need to wash your hair. A quick wash with pH-adapted cosmetics, like those we suggest, will restore the pH and eliminate discomfort.

It is important, if you suffer from irritation, not to leave the scalp wet for too long, as this can also cause itching by unbalancing the skin microbiota.

7. Stress

Menopause is also a cause of stress, and cortisol, the stress hormone, affects overall hair health.

High cortisol levels are related to the degradation of important modulators of hair health, in addition to disrupting hormonal balance and altering other hormones such as progesterone.

The main hair symptoms associated with menopause are hair loss, thinning, dryness, and loss of color. Identifying them and knowing how to act can help you face the changes with greater knowledge and control.

Shampoo is the preferred product for consumers to counteract these effects, followed by conditioner and leave-in scalp treatments. Since menopause is a very personal vital moment and each woman must choose how to live it, any hair solution must be adapted to her needs.

Most frequent symptoms

• It's harder to wear long hair; it doesn't grow as it used to.
• The parting becomes wider and thinner, with sparser areas and more visible temples.
• The scalp becomes drier and more sensitive.
• Hair thins and changes its texture. A progressively greater amount of gray hair is observed.

How to care for hair during menopause?

By giving your hair what it needs at all times, the negative effects of estrogen deficiency during menopause will be lessened.

1. Cleansing: the foundation for a comfortable scalp and shiny hair

Regular and gentle cleansing helps maintain a balanced scalp and preserve the shine and elasticity of the hair fiber. During perimenopause and menopause, it's common to notice more sensitivity, dryness, or sweating; adjust the frequency without fear: from daily to every 2–3 days, as needed and for comfort.

• "Tailored" frequency: if you exercise or have hot flashes, wash when needed. Proper cleansing does not make hair greasier.
• Lukewarm water and gentle massage: 60–90 s with fingertips; avoid nails and aggressive friction.
• Lather = tool, not goal: effectiveness doesn't depend on "how much" lather, but on mild surfactants and good rinsing.
• Occasional double cleansing: useful after intense sweating, styling products, or hair sunscreens.
• Rinse thoroughly: an extra 30–45 s to avoid residue that dulls shine.

Best practices

• Pre-detangle dry hair (from ends to mid-lengths) to minimize breakage under the shower.
• Apply shampoo to the scalp; let the lather cleanse mid-lengths and ends when rinsing.
• If you have an oily scalp and dry, damaged hair, and you want to perform a deep cleansing treatment, apply a pre-shampoo treatment. This consists of applying conditioner or oil to the mid-lengths and ends of dry hair and then proceeding with washing as usual.

Avoid

• Nails or hard brushes on the scalp.
• Very hot water on a regular basis.
• Accumulating styling product residues or dry shampoos without alternating with washes.

After cleansing, always condition (conditioner or mask) to seal the cuticle, detangle, and reduce breakage, maintaining natural volume and movement.

2. Conditioning: the key step for softness and less breakage

Conditioner is non-negotiable. After shampoo, using conditioner or a hair mask helps seal the cuticle, improve detangling, and reduce breakage without losing volume. It also provides manageability against external aggressors (heat, UV radiation, pollution).

• Fine hair: apply from mid-lengths to ends to hydrate without weighing down.
• Thick or dry hair: combine conditioner with a mask 1–2 times/week for extra nourishment.
• Anti-frizz and lightness: add a leave-in conditioner at the end of styling.

3. Beauty

Find the best cut and hairstyle for your hair at this stage. Regarding coloring, remember that repeated processes such as permanent coloring, which uses oxidative agents, cause scalp aging due to cellular wear and tear.

This wear is even more noticeable in sensitive scalps, and can also alter hair growth by modifying its life cycle. Today, there are semi-permanent mud-based colorations that offer very good results, and are a very good option for all women with a sensitive scalp who wish to maintain their color.

4. Lifestyle

We advise you to follow a Mediterranean diet pattern as part of a healthy lifestyle. All the micronutrients that hair needs to grow strong and healthy are included in our acclaimed Mediterranean Diet.

A diet:

• Rich in unprocessed, fresh, and seasonal foods, with a predominance of vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and fruits.
• In which there is a consumption of dairy, watch out! we are eliminating them and they are a very good source of bioavailable calcium. If milk bothers you, you can resort to fermented formats like yogurt and kefir, which are also full of beneficial microorganisms for a healthy microbiota.
• Where fish, eggs, and meat are included, providing adequate levels of iron, zinc, copper, and selenium.
• That promotes the use of virgin olive oil as the main source of culinary fat and water as the main beverage.

This diet will help us maintain optimal levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that provide stability and vitality to the hair follicle and hair, which are very important to cope with all the physiological changes that occur during perimenopause and menopause.

Supplements in perimenopause and menopause?

Does it make sense to take a supplement all year round?

For many women, maintaining key nutrients for hair (proteins and certain micronutrients) consistently through diet alone is not always easy. Hair is not a vital organ, yet the hair follicle is metabolically very active; when intake is suboptimal, the body prioritizes essential functions, and hair may suffer first.

Therefore, nutritional support may be advisable throughout the year as part of an "inside–out" routine, especially during periods of higher demand or irregular habits. The key is to choose safe and well-dosed formulas that you can maintain over time.

Why is Hair Boost suitable for continuous use?

• Safe, non-megadose formula (biotin-free), designed by pharmacists for daily integration.
• Balance of active ingredients to support the hair cycle and scalp comfort within a holistic routine.
• Ease of adherence: 2 capsules/day with food; evaluate every 8–12 weeks and continue as maintenance if desired.

Note: supplements do not replace a varied diet or treat pathologies. If you experience sudden hair loss or are under medical treatment, consult your healthcare professional.

Hair Boost: support from within during perimenopause and menopause

Hair Boost is a food supplement designed by pharmacists to support hair health from within, especially useful when diet doesn't provide certain nutrients or you're looking for an inside-out routine during this stage.

• Biotin-free formula and without megadoses, designed for continuous use and sensitive/acne-prone skin.
• Vegetable capsules, sugar and sweetener-free; manufactured in Spain.
• Holistic approach: clinically evaluated extracts + essential vitamins and minerals.

Featured ingredients (selection): AnaGain™ (pea extract), Cynatine® HNS (hydrolyzed keratin), AstaReal® (astaxanthin), MSM, bamboo extract (silicon), Sensoril® (ashwagandha), vitamins C and E, zinc, selenium, copper, and vitamin B6.

What it provides

• Contributes to the maintenance of hair and skin under normal conditions (zinc and selenium) and to normal hair pigmentation (copper).
• Supports a balanced hair cycle and scalp well-being within a holistic routine.

Suggested use: 2 capsules daily with food and water. Realistic evaluation at 8–12 weeks.

Transparency: this is not a medicine and does not replace a varied diet. Consult your healthcare professional if you experience intense hair loss or are undergoing specific treatment.

Discover Hair Boost

If you notice prolonged hair loss, do not hesitate to visit your dermatologist specialist, as they are the most qualified professional in hair matters and will advise you on the best supplementation or medication if necessary.

I am very proud to invest in women and contribute to the development of a health platform to address their needs. I hope with this post I have helped you understand and recognize the symptoms that appear during this stage in women and better cope with them. Dr. Modesta Cassinello Sola