Your hair is precious and unique to you, so changes can be a shock and concern if the texture of your hair suddenly changes. This can happen for a variety of reasons including bleach damage, stress, aging and more.
In this article
What Does it Mean for Hair Texture to Change?
Texture is how your hair feels and appears. Some hair is fine and coarse to the touch while some is thick and smooth. If your curly hair suddenly loses some of its bounce, it could be because of a variety of factors.
You may not notice immediately when the texture of your hair changes, as some changes are gradual–such as exposing your hair to heat from styling tools consistently over a period of time.
Here are some of the most common causes of hair texture change.
Lightening Your Hair
On its own, a single lightening session–or even several lightening sessions over a long period of time–will not change your hair texture. However, if you lighten your already damaged hair with a strong lightener more than once, you may see a stringy, almost gum-like texture in your hair.
This happens when you overprocess your hair. If your hair is dry and split at the ends, be sure to rejuvenate it with a hair mask and avoid lightening until your hair is healthy again.
Age
Just as your hair begins to change color as you grow older, it also tends to change textures. The natural oils in our hair lessen as we age, leaving our hair dryer and more apt to become frizzy.
Of course, texture isn’t the only change you’ll notice with age. As you grow older, you will notice differences in texture and color.
Birth Control and Hormones
Birth control has many possible side effects. One of them is a possible change in your hair. One effect birth control can have on your hair is actually slowing or halting the process of growing.
Even without birth control, hormones have a large effect on your hair. Changes in your hormones can affect the way your hair grows, including your hair growth cycle (how quickly or slowly it grows) and the hair follicles itself. Your hormone levels are known to cause thinning hair in some circumstances.
You may also see changes in your hair texture during or after pregnancy. The hormone changes that women experience while pregnant can cause a lot of differences in your body from weight fluctuations, skin changes and hair texture. Some of these may resolve after you give birth, but some may not.
If you have any questions about changes in your hair texture while pregnant, be sure to speak with your OBGYN!
Stress
It is no secret that stress can harm your body in many ways. What you may not know is that it can even cause changes in your hair texture. Stress can cause your hair to thin sooner, leading to premature balding.
It is crucial to cut stress from your life for your overall health.
Your Diet
One of the biggest aspects of not just your hair, but your overall health, is your diet. Sudden drastic changes in your diet can cause hair texture changes. For example, increasing your consumption of omega fatty acids can increase the health of your hair overall.
A poor diet, on the other hand, can cause thinning and damage to your hair.
Can You Change Your Hair Texture on Purpose?
It is next to impossible to permanently change the texture of your hair. Even if you consistently use flat irons or blow dryers to style your hair, the actual texture of your hair likely won’t change–although you can cause damage to the hair shaft.
You can make temporary changes to the appearance of your hair, however.
-
Hair Care
Through basic hair care, you can improve the feeling of your hair, its luster, fullness and more. Use heat protectants before using styling tools and invest in a good shampoo and conditioner combo that is made for your texture of hair.
Adding nutrients with the right hair care products (such as bond builders) can add softness and shine to your hair.
-
Relaxers
If you have naturally curly or coily hair, you can use a relaxer to smooth out the curls for a straighter appearance. This will make your hair appear smooth, although your hair will eventually return to its natural texture.
-
Perms
Perming is the act of using a chemical treatment to change your hair’s texture. If you have straight hair, for example, you can perm it to curl without using a styling tool every morning.
It is important to take your hair care seriously no matter what hair type you have. Make sure you find the right products for your hair texture. Washing your hair with the right shampoo and conditioner can make a world of difference in your hair care.