Staff! Menopause caused my straight hair to become curly

When my resolutely straight hair suddenly started curling in my 40s, I had no idea what could cause such a noticeable change.

My cousin had always compared my thick, straight, dark bob to Mowgli, the “man cub” raised by wolves in The Jungle Book.

But when I was 41, my locks started to look more like Moana’s mane (another favorite Disney character) and became increasingly difficult to control.

Where I was once blessed with shiny locks that needed little attention, there was now serious work to do every morning.

In the past I was used to quickly running it through with my fingertips and watching it fall into place; now it was stubbornly resistant to lying flat, even after 20 minutes of blowing with my 2000 watt hairdryer.

Brushing it – even with a soft, wide-toothed comb – created an uncontrollable network of frizz.

Since personal grooming in the morning was at a premium, I adopted the favorite school-run-mom look: hair scraped back into a messy bun, big sunglasses and a decent handbag.

As the months passed, my new found curls continued to bloom. What was going on?

It turns out that changes in your natural hair type often occur as hormones fluctuate mid-life.

Even though I was still in my early 40s, I started experiencing perimenopausal symptoms like poor sleep and anxiety, but I hadn’t connected “the change” to the changes in my hair.

I thought menopause meant thinning or loss of hair, not a complete new style.

‘Women report that their hair changes natural texture in middle age,’ explains Dr Amanda Gemmill, a GP who advises on menopause.

‘The reduction in estrogen can cause hair follicles to change in size, number and shape. If they change from circular, which produces straight hair, to oval-shaped follicles, then your hair becomes curly.”

Now that I understood what was going on, I decided I better learn how to style my bouncy new ‘do. For this I turned to curl guru Ester Hunter of @LunaCurlStudio.

During a two-hour ‘Curl Education’ session, she explained how to embrace a different care regimen, starting with the revelation that curl care is more about hydration than expensive products.

The hair should not dry out before you apply the products, so Ester recommended patting the hair dry after washing to keep it moist, and using a fine splash of water from a spray bottle to ensure maximum moisture is achieved. held while applying to hair. apply products.

The same spritz technique also proves effective in refreshing curls every morning.

“Curly hair needs moisture over products,” she explains. ‘Think of 80 percent water and 20 percent products.

‘Curly hair is naturally drier than straight because we brush it less, meaning our natural oils aren’t regularly distributed from the scalp down to coat the hair strands.’

It was also time to make friends again with the styling tools from the nineties: the diffuser.

“A must for curls,” says Ester. ‘By spreading the air evenly and slowly, the diffuser helps to gently dry the hair while encouraging the formation of the natural curl pattern.’

Next was the introduction of a silk nightcap, because apparently curls hate being rubbed against the pillow at night and will repay you by being even more unruly and knotted in the morning.

Although the bonnet is not a recommended look for date nights and I try to put it on after my husband falls asleep, it is effective at prolonging the glow.

With proper management, my thick curls can last a week without washing. Previously, I could get away with little investment in hair care products, but now I have a number of curl-taming lotions and potions on my bathroom shelves.

Below are my tried and tested product recommendations if you, like me, find yourself in this hair-raising chapter of menopause.

MAXIMUM WITH MOUSSE

Curlsmith Bouncy Strength Volume Foam (£24 for 222ml, curlsmith.com)

A strong mousse provides a good base and maximizes volume without weighing down the curls. Enriched with proteins, this should be used as a base before applying over other styling products.

Apply a satsuma-sized amount through hair, applying additionally to roots and then diffuse.

MESS-BUSTING JELLY

While I’m Curling Jelly (£7.39 for 227g, Amazon)

For defined curls, this is a revelation. Made with aloe vera, sugar beet root and vitamin E, it locks in moisture and provides definition for days.

A little goes a long way, so spread a pea-sized amount over your hands and then sweep it through the hair, from root to tip, before spreading.

FRIZZ-FREE OIL

Aussie Lightweight Treat Mega Smooth Hair Oil (listed at £6.66 for 100ml, boots)

With macadamia nut and coconut oil, this provides a shiny, frizz-free finish.

After spraying, rub a little between your fingers, turn your head upside down and gently smooth to separate clumps. Once upright, glide over it to soothe flyaway hairs.