Full disclosure, I’m a consummate Anglophile. So it’s no surprise I love the British sensibility when it comes to style and beauty. I met Adam Reed, celebrity hairdresser and founder of ARKIVE Headcare, and fell in love with him when he was recently stateside — and his philosophy on haircare is right up my alley. As a faithful copper redhead, I don’t subscribe to traditional thoughts on hair over 50. After chatting about our love of dogs and other essentials, we got down to business when it comes to aging and changing hair. Here’s the download:
Tell us what ageless hair means to you.
I always say, hair doesn’t have any age limitations. Societies have set how people feel they should look and it’s something that I strongly disapprove of. As long as you are happy and comfortable, you absolutely can wear your hair exactly how you want.
What things happen to our hair as we age that require extra TLC?
As you age, hair can change, but it isn’t necessary that it does, and it’s important to note that it isn’t the same for everyone. Sometimes you’ll find hair thins; both men and women can get pattern baldness and hormone irregularities can cause hair to thin. However, to assist, supplements are brilliant, a healthy haircut and care regime, as well as making sure you are looking at hair and scalp together, will always benefit great hair. Scalp health is directly correlated to hair health, which is why I included both a Scalp Serum called The Root-Ine and a Scalp Scrub called the Crown to unlock healthier locks in my ARKIVE Headcare range.
As grey hair changes, it can be coarser but it’s sort of a myth that if your hair goes grey it’s definitely coarser. As mentioned above, if you have a very healthy hair regime, your hair should look and feel great most of the time.
“I really believe that in beauty, style, and other areas, you don’t need to change just because you are getting older”
How do you feel about hair color vs going grey?
For color, I always say go with what you love. Grey hair has become more and more acceptable although it never should have been an age-related thing. Grey hair was seen as an older look and gone (hopefully!) are those days. Make sure your hair looks glossy, healthy, shiny and it will look great no matter the color. If you’re unsure about color, taking a recommendation from your hairdresser is the way to go, but if you know you want to wear your hair grey, then definitely go with it!
What hair trends are good for more mature women for the new year?
It’s so hard to say that there is a trend for mature women – the trend always is to do exactly what you want. I try to remain trendless in terms of age as I truly believe you should wear your hair in the way that makes you feel it’s best, while always taking care of your scalp and locks to ensure they are healthy.
What or who inspires you, and what’s your personal philosophy on aging?
Sarah Harris and Kristen McMenamy have grey hair and their hair doesn’t define how they look, which is key. I’m inspired by so many people, but my personal philosophy is age is just a number. I don’t do much personally with my hair because it’s short and slightly thinning, but I express myself in my clothes and fragrances, whereas other people do with hair. Nothing I do is driven by age as long as you’re happy and comfortable. I really believe that in beauty, style, and other areas, you don’t need to change just because you are getting older.
