Can hair texture change over time?
Maybe you’ve noticed changes in your hair texture or want to know if you can change it.
In any case, here’s your answer!
The Big Question: Can Hair Texture Change Over Time?
Yes, your hair texture can change over time. It can get straighter, curler, thinner, thicker, or softer.
But this doesn’t just happen.
There are about seven reasons why your hair texture could change.
Why Has My Hair Suddenly Changed Texture? 7 Possible Reasons
Here are seven things that can change your hair texture.
Stress
Stress can increase the production of androgen hormones within the body, causing increased hair shedding.
That could make your hair thinner.
Stress can also weaken hair follicles, affecting hair thickness and growth.
Hair Products
When you use some hair products continuously, they may change your hair texture over time.
For example, regular and consistent moisturizing with conditioners can gradually make your hair softer.
If you overuse mousse, edge control, or other gel products, they can leave your hair dry and crunchy.
Chemicals
People who use chemical hair products (like relaxers and dyes) will likely experience a change in hair texture over time.
That’s because the chemicals in those products usually break down hair strands to achieve desired results.
If you don’t care for your dyed or relaxed hair properly, it may become thinner and weaker over time.
Hormones
When estrogen hormones increase, it causes thicker and longer hair.
On the other hand, an increase in androgen hormones can reduce hair volume.
Estrogen hormones usually increase a lot during pregnancy.
That’s why some women experience thicker textures and more length when pregnant.
My aunt, for example, says:
“Each time I get pregnant, my hair becomes very full, much thicker and longer. My scalp also gets sweaty easily.”
Other hormonal changes affecting hair texture may happen during puberty, menopause, and childbirth.
Change in Environment
Yes, a change in environment can also cause a change in your hair texture.
How?
A humid environment can make the hair curlier and softer, while a cool winter may leave it drier and frizzier.
This also explains why you may notice little changes in your hair texture when the season changes.
For example, during harmattan (cold, dry air season in Nigeria), the hair becomes drier and denser.
Another factor related to the environment is air pollution.
The New York Society of Cosmetic Chemists mentions that particles in the air may bind to the hair, enter hair follicles, and change hair texture and growth pattern.
Air pollution may also make the hair duller and rougher.
So, if you change your environment to somewhere with lots of air pollution or go to somewhere with less pollution, you may notice hair texture changes.
Age
So, can your hair texture change as you age?
Yes.
Ageing can make your hair thinner, shed more often, and become grey.
This is pretty natural, and there’s little you can do about it.
Diet
If you stop eating enough protein, your hair will get fewer nutrients, and this may change your texture (not for good, though).
A good diet containing salmon, omega-3, and protein is necessary for maintaining a good hair texture.
Personal Experience: Can Hair Texture Change Overtime?
So, a brief story about Joy, who changed environment a few years ago, and her hair.
Here’s what she says:
“My natural hair used to be the typical 4c hair: hard and difficult to comb.
That was part of why I switched to using relaxers for a few years.
Then, I decided to grow out my hair, do the big chop, and go back to natural.
At about the same time, I moved from my home country (a warm/hot country with an average temperature of 24-30) to a new, colder country (with an average summer temperature of 9-18 degrees).
After I did the big chop (six months ago), I noticed that my natural hair had changed.
For one, the texture became way softer.
Then, it seemed to be a mix of 4b and 4c hair now.
I’ve also gotten comments saying that my hair looks curlier now.
My change in environment seemed to be the only different factor, so it made me wonder, “Could my change in environment change my hair texture?”
I remember, though, that when I kept natural hair before now, I had little to no knowledge of what type 4 hair was.
So, I probably would not have noticed any difference even if I had both 4c and 4b hair then.
That explains that part.
But I remember clearly that my hair was way harder than this and difficult to comb.
So my hair did get softer in texture.”
What do I think of Joy’s experience?
“Well, it may not be the only factor, but a change in environment definitely contributed to a change in her hair texture. (Remember the explanation earlier?).
Other factors could be a change in her hair care habits (remember, she mentioned she didn’t know much about hair types earlier) and the use of moisturizing hair products.
Anyway, if you’ve recently experienced a change in your hair texture and are worried, you can relax.
You are not alone, and it is pretty normal.
If it’s a good change in hair texture like that of Joy, you have nothing to worry about.
But if it’s for bad (thinner, more coarse hair ) then the tips in the next subheading are for you!
How to Deal With Changing Hair Texture
Here’s how you can care for worsening hair textures:
Reduce Shampooing
You should shampoo your hair less often because shampooing dries out the hair (and other effects follow).
That’s not something we want for hair that’s thinning, drying out, or becoming more brittle.
So if you wash your hair weekly before, reduce it to every two weeks (just an example).
Also, choose the right shampoo for your hair.
Avoid shampoos that contain harmful ingredients like sulfates or parabens.
Increase Conditioning
Conditioning adds moisture to hair—exactly what you need if it has become drier and more brittle.
Use daily leave-in conditioners and deep condition your hair monthly.
On the other hand, if your hair has become limp, you should cut back on conditioning and moisturizing.
Use Heat Tools Less Often
Heat tools (flat iron, hair straightener, hair dryer) strip the hair of moisture, so you should use them less often.
If you do need to use them, make sure you use a heat protectant.
Resist the urge to always use heat tools to adjust your hair texture temporarily.
Improve your Diet
As mentioned, a bad diet can leave your hair malnourished and negatively affect its texture.
So, for a healthy hair texture, ensure you’re eating right.
Meals that contain iron, biotin, omega-3, and protein are necessary.
Use Hair Oils
You’ll also need hair oils like coconut, olive, castor, and others that contain vitamins and minerals.
These oils help seal in moisture in the hair and stimulate hair growth, improving hair texture.
Adapt Hairstyles to Your New Texture
If your hair is getting thinner, let go of tight weaving, tight ponytails, and other styles that put too much pressure on your hair.
Stick to simple protective styling.
You may also want to try out volumizing hair products.
Chill With Change
So, does hair texture change with time?
Yes.
This could be due to natural factors like ageing and hormones or habitual factors like diet, stress, and the use of hair products.
It could be something as simple as a change in the environment combined with other previous factors.
If it’s for good, you don’t need to worry.
And if your hair texture seems to be worsening, you have the five tips above to help you cope.
So, dear hair lover, chill with change!
Hey, hair lover, this post may contain affiliate links. So if you buy a product through a link in the post, I’ll earn some commission at no extra cost to you.
This was most certainly helpful.
You mentioned something about hair types, could you shed more light on that, please?
Thanks, Joy!
Yeah, sure.
There are different hair types, depending how the hair looks, feels, and other properties.
A popular way of classifying hair splits it in four types (Type 1, 2, 3, and 4).
I explained Type 4 hair in this blog and I think you’ll find it interesting to check.
https://velacurls.com/deep-conditioning-4c-hair-your-full-guide/#htoc-is-your-hair-4c-hair
How do I know the type of hair I have?
Hello Luna.
You can tell from the shape of your hair strands.
Type 1 hair is straight
Type 2 hair is wavy
Type 3 hair is curly
Type 4 is kinky, or you could say “tighter curls.” It’s the common hair type for people from Africa. You can learn more about types of Type 4 hair in this blog
https://velacurls.com/deep-conditioning-4c-hair-your-full-guide/#htoc-is-your-hair-4c-hair