If there’s one thing that unites women when it comes to hair, it’s our quest for shine and vibrancy. But the forces can be against us. Our hair is at its best in the first two decades of our lives when hair shafts are at their strongest, says Edmonton dermatologist Dr. Janice Liao. However, constant physical and chemical assaults cause hair to weaken.

Says Greg Wlodarczyk, a trichologist (trichologists specialize in the hair and scalp) in Mississauga, Ont.: “Most women will see their hair become frizzier and less manageable due to chemical treatments such as colouring, straightening, perms and frequent washing with harsh shampoos that strip the hair of natural oils.”

Regardless of whether you have coloured your hair, oil production starts to slow down in your 30s, which adds to dryness and dullness, says Terry Ritcey, director of education for Redken Canada. And, adds Liao, as women enter their 40s and 50s and reach menopause, hair may start to thin out due to lower estrogen levels. At this time, hair can become brittle and lose its elasticity, making it harder to style. Not only that, when hair turns grey, its texture visibly changes, and can become coarse.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to help keep your hair’s youthful appearance. Here’s what the insiders recommend.