Gray hair often comes in curly or wiry because the hair follicle changes shape as you age, and the loss of melanin (pigment) reduces natural oils (sebum), making the hair drier, coarser, and more prone to frizz and kinks, which can appear as new curls or waves. This change in texture is normal as sebaceous glands become less productive, affecting hair's natural moisture, and hormonal shifts (like during menopause) can also alter hair structure.
Gray hair frequently has a very different curl/kink pattern and thickness than your pre-grey hairs. When the pigment stops being generated inside gray hair, the tiny oil glands attached to each individual hair also become less active, leaving hairs more dry, fragile, and prone to frizzing.
Tips for Managing Wiry Grey Hairs
Regular deep conditioning treatments can also help improve the texture by restoring moisture and softness. Another tip for managing wiry grey hairs is to avoid excessive heat styling. Heat can further strip the hair of moisture, making it even more prone to frizz and breakage.
If you have straight hair, your hair may become slightly curlier as you age. This is because the shape of hair follicles changes over time.
Deficiencies in vitamins like biotin, B12, iron, or omega-3 fatty acids can change how your hair grows and feels. Weak strands are more likely to frizz and kink. Over time, this can give the illusion of curl even if it's more about roughness and breakage than natural pattern.
Hormones are the main culprit responsible for such drastic hair texture changes. During puberty, menopause and pregnancy, many people will find their will go from straight to curly or vice versa over a period of months.
When vitamin levels dip too low, hair follicles struggle to sustain healthy hair production. Nutrient deprivation interferes with their intricate processes, putting hair at risk. Deficiencies can trigger excessive shedding, slow growth, thinning, dull and dry strands, changes in texture, and patchy hair loss.
Curly hair during menopause may change into a straighter texture. For others, the opposite happens: their hair changes from straight to curly. Lower estrogen also often means less hair growth during menopause, which makes hair appear thinner.
One interesting aspect is the effect of changing hormones on hair texture. During puberty, the surge of oestrogen in pre-teen and teenage girls can physically change the shape of hair follicles. Straight hair can become curly (and curly hair can become straight), seemingly overnight.
When your hair's dehydrated it'll look dull and feel rough. You'll probably also find that it's tough to style, lacks volume and split ends are seriously visible.
How women over 50 can combat dry or brittle hair
How often can you use purple shampoo on gray hair? It is widely recommended only using purple shampoo on gray once a week.
Gray hair tends to be coarser and drier, so you'll want to make sure it stays well-hydrated. Incorporating moisturizing shampoo and conditioners will keep your curly hair moisturized and your gray hair looking healthy. If you find that you need more moisture, try deep conditioning treatments, as they can work wonders.
Hair-graying onset varies with race, with the average age for Caucasians being mid-thirties, that for Asians being late thirties, and that for Africans being mid-forties. Caucasians and Asians typically experience damage to the distal hair shaft, while African-Americans see damage occurring closer to the hair root.
Then there are hormones.
Stylist Adam Campbell has seen clients develop new curl patterns post-pregnancy, and the same happens during the menopause transition (something I'm on the precipice of), says trichologist and Cecred head of education Kari Williams. Medications that affect hormones can change hair, too.
The present case did not have such typical findings, implying that curly hair might be one of the early clinical signs of suspected selenium deficiency.
Another possible cause for curling of the hair is hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a medical condition that can lead to dry, thinning and coarse hair due to a hormonal disbalance [11]. Hair follicles are direct targets of thyroid hormones.
Overall Hair Thinning
Hair thinning during perimenopause typically occurs as a diffuse pattern affecting the entire scalp rather than concentrated areas. Women often notice gradual hair density reduction, making the scalp more visible through their hair, particularly under bright lighting.
Low estrogen during perimenopause causes hot flashes, night sweats, irregular periods, vaginal dryness, sleep problems, mood swings, brain fog, headaches, and joint aches, reflecting hormonal fluctuations affecting physical and mental health as the body transitions to menopause.
Pregnancy brings some of the most dramatic hair changes many people experience: The Good: High estrogen levels often result in: Thicker, fuller hair. Enhanced curl definition.
Here are 10 unexpected signs of a vitamin D deficiency that may surprise you.
Key vitamin deficiencies linked to hair loss include Vitamin D, B12, Biotin (B7), and Iron, with low levels of these nutrients affecting hair follicle function, protein production (like keratin), and oxygen supply, leading to thinning or shedding; however, excessive intake of some vitamins (like A or selenium) can also cause hair loss, so a doctor should confirm deficiencies via blood tests before supplementing.
The "Big 3" for thinning hair, especially male/female pattern baldness, are typically Minoxidil (Rogaine), Finasteride (Propecia), and sometimes Ketoconazole shampoo, or even Microneedling, forming a multimodal approach to stimulate growth and block hormones (DHT) causing hair loss, with Minoxidil boosting circulation, Finasteride inhibiting DHT, and Ketoconazole reducing inflammation and acting as a mild anti-androgen.