Noticed your hair isn’t quite what it used to be? In this episode of Age Better, Liz explains why hormones are likely behind it and what you can do – plus she tackles fertility over 40, sun protection for very fair skin, grounding sheets, and breast pain on HRT.
Stream the episode below, or download the recording via Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
How to fix flat or frizzy hair after coming off the pill
If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and noticed changes in your tresses, you’re not alone.
“My hair has changed a lot over the years,” asks Age Better listener, Ava. “It was glorious and curly in my 20s then, at the same time as going on the pill at 30, it flattened out and lost its balance. Now, at age 38, I’m off the pill. My hair has a bit of a wave but – the frizz! I look like a mad electrocuted scientist! I’ve tried a few treatments but the frizz always comes back.”
Luckily, there are things we can do, as Liz reveals.
Why hormones impact hair
Many women experience changes in their hair, especially after coming off the contraceptive pill.
“Hair absolutely goes through cycles,” Liz explains. “It’s incredibly responsive to hormones – oestrogen, progesterone and androgens.
“The pill can alter things like sebum production and mask underlying curl or wave patterns.”
As a result, it’s common for hair to appear flatter or finer on the pill, then behave unpredictably once you stop.
Add to that stress, nutrition, inflammation and the natural ageing of the hair follicle itself, and it’s no surprise texture can shift. Over time, follicles may subtly change shape – rounder follicles tend to produce straighter hair, more oval ones curlier strands. Growth cycles can alter too. This is why waves disappear, then partially return… often with frizz as an added bonus.
“The frizz you’re seeing now is often hair that’s relearning how to behave under your own hormones,” says Liz. This is especially true if there’s a curl trying to re-emerge.
How to fix flat or frizzy hair
The key is to work with your hair, not against it.
Focus on hydration and sealing
Frizz often means the cuticle isn’t lying flat. Hair that’s wavy or curly needs moisture – and sometimes protein – to strengthen and smooth it. Apply light oils or creams to damp (not dry) hair to lock in hydration.
Rethink how you style it
“Wavy or curly hair that’s treated like straight hair often rebels quite loudly,” Liz notes. Avoid over-brushing once dry, and minimise aggressive heat styling. Air-drying or using a diffuser is far kinder to fragile, hormonally shifting strands.
Be patient
Hair can take one to two years to settle into its new normal after coming off the pill. That in-between phase can feel frustrating, but it is usually temporary.
Liz recommends nourishing masks and moisture-boosting products – she loves the ones by Percy & Reed.
Also in this episode:
- How to support fertility in your 40s
- Sun protection advice for very fair skin
- Do grounding sheets actually work?
- How to manage breast pain on HRT
Links mentioned in the episode:
- Coenzyme Q10 supplement
- Omega-3 supplements
- Astaxanthin supplements
- Vitamin C supplement
- Evening primrose oil supplements
- Get Grounded earthing sheets
Get in touch with a question for Liz:
- Email: [email protected]
- WhatsApp: 07518 471 846
More from Liz:
- Preorder Liz’s new book – How to Age
- A Better Second Half
- Follow Liz on Instagram
- Follow Liz Earle Wellbeing on Instagram
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