My Mom Wanted to Reverse-Age Her Hair—Here’s What Celeb Stylists Prescribed Her

Quitting conditioner: “As we get older, many people stop conditioning the hair in an effort to add more volume or body, thinking conditioner adds weight to thinning hair,” Brager shares. “This is a mistake because we actually need as much moisture as possible as we age.”

Over-coloring/-processing the hair: “I see a lot of people over-color unpigmented hair thinking that it make the color last longer, but really, this will just dry the hair out even more” she warns. (Instead of color, ask your stylist for a gloss which will lend lots of shine to aging strands.)

Over-washing: On a similar note, Rez explains that over-washing will also cause excessive dryness, which you definitely want to avoid. To help retain natural oils, aim to wash every two to three days, if possible.

Not using the proper hair products: “A lack of proper haircare products to really help strengthen the hair from within can be a super-common mistake,” continues Rez. (Think products that promise moisture but end up causing buildup and weighing it down, products that cause breakage, etc.)

Treating your hair like you did in your 20s and 30s: “Mature hair is more fragile and porous, so aggressions that were okay in your 20s and 30s can wreak havoc for aging hair,” notes founder of Better Not Younger Sonsoles Gonzalez. “The most common mistake is using shampoos with harsh sulfates and/or over-washing. As we try to compensate for the changes we are experiencing, we might be overusing styling products and heating tools. While you might not want to give them up altogether, try to pick alcohol-free stylers, always use a heat protectant, and try to air-dry whenever you can.”

Neglecting temperature control: “When you are using hot tools, you should never go over 400°F, even for coarse hair!” agrees Natalie Kurpeski, from Credo’s Pro Team. “Medium hair should keep the temperature between 300ºF and 350°F and between 180ºF and 280°F for fine hair.”

Forgetting scalpcare: “Like skin, the scalp ages too. It becomes thinner and has less elasticity, making it harder to hold on to moisture,” adds Gonzalez. “It is important to regularly detox the scalp from buildup, and to apply scalp-specific products that provide nourishment.”