Hair Products and Ingredients to Avoid Using After 50

“Your product choice is just that, your choice. Product choice is all about supporting your hair needs and style,” says trichologist and founder of Colour Collective, Kerry Yates. With that being said, as we age, our needs change, so our product choices should too. “Hair changes a lot over time, just like skin does. The scalp produces less oil, gray hair often feels coarser and overall the hair can become drier or more brittle,” says celebrity hairstylist and groomer Samantha Bentson. “Hormonal changes can also slow growth, and you might notice more shedding or that your ponytail feels thinner, even if you’re not actually losing hair.”

When it comes to what to weed out, trichologist, celebrity hairstylist and co-founder of Arey, Jay Small recommends starting with checking for the ingredients experts tend to advise against using at any age, like parabens and phthalates. “These ingredients can strip the scalp and contribute to oxidative stress, which accelerates visible aging by weakening follicles and fading pigment,” he explains. We asked the experts what products and ingredients to skip in the name of hair health once you hit 50.

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Products With Sulfates

Sulfates have long been polarizing in hair care, and as you age, it might be safest to simply skip them. “Sulfates can strip away natural oils and moisture, which aging hair needs to stay soft and strong,” says Small. Additionally, “Gray hair tends to lack shine and feel dry, so I recommend staying away from shampoos with sulfates as they can strip your hair and scalp of moisture,” says trichologist and brand ambassador for V&Co. Beauty, Sophia Emmanuel.

Styling Products Without Added Benefits

“After 50, I often advise clients to skip traditional styling mousses, dry shampoo and hairsprays that don’t offer any scalp or hair health benefits,” says trichologist and founder of Caspara Studio, Shab Caspara. Instead, she recommends opting for “newer versions infused with nourishing or growth-supportive ingredients that hydrate and strengthen aging hair.”

Alcohol-Based Products

Benston and Caspara advise mature clients to avoid alcohol-based hair products as they can dehydrate strands. “Since we naturally produce less sebum with age and hair to be more dry, switching to gentler, more moisturizing products helps maintain shine and youthfulness,” says Caspara.

Stiff or Heavy Products

The experts advise skipping overly harsh formulas with heavy ingredients. “If you’re using heavy styling products loaded with silicones, I suggest moving away from those types of products as they can make fine/thinning hair look weighed down, dirty and inhibit styling control,” says Yates. These formulas can also clog follicles if you don’t wash your hair regularly, which can result in irreparable follicle damage and hair loss, she adds. Instead, “Choose flexible hold sprays and lightweight oils like argan or squalane. They add shine and softness without weighing the hair down,” says Caspara.

Products With Silicone

Many of the experts advised against using products with silicones. Yates explains that they can clog follicles if used directly on the scalp and “When used as a conditioner, they can weigh down fine, thin hair, making it appear oily and lifeless.”

“As a hairstylist, I’ve seen how hair naturally evolves with age—becoming finer, drier or more fragile, and sometimes losing pigment or fullness. One of the first products I recommend rethinking is conditioner,” says Smalls. “Mature hair needs hydration that penetrates rather than coats; heavy silicones and waxes can sit on top of the strand, weighing it down and making it appear thinner.”

Products With Cocamidopropyl Betaine

Cocamidopropyl betaine is a common replacement for sulfates, explains Yates. It can cause “contact dermatitis, leading to aggressive scalp itching, which can also inflame the scalp, causing follicle damage.”

Harsh Products

The ingredients you should avoid as you mature can depend on what is going on with your hair, says Emmanuel. If you’re experiencing hair thinning, she recommends staying away from harsh chemicals or at least stretching out chemical services to lessen the damage. “Overly harsh formulas like certain dry shampoos or strong-hold sprays that can dehydrate strands and dull the scalp from white overcasts,” warns Caspara.

“Ingredients such as ammonia, formaldehyde and sodium hydroxide can cause hair breakage or make hair loss worse when they are overused,” says Emmanuel. “If your hair has become more fragile, opt for low-ammonia or ammonia-free hair color. Space out hair relaxers for eight to ten weeks to minimize damage and use amino acid-based smoothing treatments as an alternative to keratin treatments, which have smaller molecules that help lock in more moisture.”

Tips for Healthy Hair Over 50

“The best approach is to focus on scalp health, hydration, and gentle protection from heat and UV. Changing products can help mature hair feel soft, shiny and fuller than before,” says Bentson. She recommends OUAI Scalp Serum ($54) and The Ordinary Multi Peptide Serum for Hair Density ($23) for mature hair.

Most of the experts encourage switching to a sulfate-free shampoo if you haven’t yet. You can opt for a formula with moisturizing benefits, like V&Co. Beauty’s Coconut Kiss Shampoo and Conditioner ($16) or a shampoo with peptides that supports stronger, fuller hair, like V&Co. Beauty’s Thicker Please Shampoo ($8), depending on your needs, says Emmanuel.

Arey Wash Shampoo ($48) is free of sulfates and promotes hair that looks and feels healthier, with improved strength, density and shine over time, says Small. Arey products are formulated for graying hair, so they check all the boxes for mature hair. “The Smooth Conditioner ($32) and Masque Deep Conditioner ($38) are both formulated to absorb easily, helping to fill in weak spots in the hair fiber, improve elasticity and enhance shine, without the residue that can make hair look flat or lifeless,” says Small.