Achieving Full & Fabulous Hair Over 40: a Hair Biology Review
This post is sponsored by Hair Biology. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It’s like someone flipped a switch as soon as I turned 40. My metabolism, my knees, my skin… everything seemed to change overnight. And with it, my hair. I never thought much of my hair, it was not too thick, never considered thin, but once I turned 40 I started seeing more and more of my scalp through my hairstyle. I went to the doctor, he said there was nothing medically wrong, it could be stress but honestly, it’s something most women go through as they get older. Well, I wasn’t going to take it lying down, I was going to find the best way to make my hair look and feel thicker and have a style as vibrant as I was.
Dealing with Thinning Hair as I Age
I've shared with you my journey to achieve fuller hair as early as 2018. I've tried supplements, I've used products that didn’t accomplish much, and some that made an impact but their price tag was out of reach to maintain the results. I decided to embrace my natural texture, and with this time sheltering in place, I’ve let my sparkly roots come in and am toying with embracing my natural color. Doing this has made me realize how necessary it is to use products that are right for my hair’s needs and age.
Hair Biology reached out and asked if I’d like to try their line of hair products made for aging hair before it was made available to the public and I immediately said yes. Because while I have been dealing with thinning hair, many of you have as well and it is by far the most common question I receive here on the blog, by email, and on social media. That original post from 2018 continues to be one of the most popular blog posts on Wardrobe Oxygen. I wanted to see if Hair Biology was effective and if it could be a solution for you and me, women who deserve to have the hair to fit their robust personalities.
Hair Biology believes in the power of celebrating age and the experience that comes with it. With several collections designed to work with the unique hair biology of older hair, it celebrates the texture and color and addresses the needs of those of us who are growing bolder not just older. While Hair Biology has collections for gleaming silver hair and soft, and hydrated tresses, I asked to try the Full & Vibrant Collection of products designed to meet the needs of changing hair with a volumizing shampoo and conditioner, and a thickening treatment that together weightlessly cleanse, nourish, and instantly thickens fine, thin, and flat hair.
I received the Hair Biology Full & Vibrant Volumizing Shampoo, Volumizing Conditioner, and Thickening Treatment. I was pleased to see that Hair Biology is free of things like parabens and dyes, chock full of beneficial ingredients like biotin, and was safe for color-treated gray hair. Do know, if you are following me for curly hair advice, this line is free of some of the ingredients per the CGM method, but not all. That being said, if you are not focusing on coaxing out curls, the ingredients for Hair Biology are quite good and standard with haircare lines.
Hair Biology Full & Vibrant Collection
The shampoo and conditioner come in pump bottles that work very easily; I only needed one pump of hair thickening shampoo for my shoulder-length hair, I used 2-3 pumps of the conditioner. The products have an elegant fragrance, a clean floral. The shampoo spread easily through the hair and cleaned well; a little goes a long way. I didn’t find it to strip my hair color any more than other shampoos I have in my shower. The conditioner is lightweight and rinsed easily. This is a conditioner for thinning hair, so it is formulated to not weigh down hair. It is not enough moisture for my curls but wearing my hair wavy and straight it left my hair silky and shiny and full of bounce and volume. In fact, I’d say there was a visible difference in the volume of my hair; I normally don’t wear my hair non-curly anymore because it looked so thin, but this looked… pretty great! I, unfortunately, have no photos from this as we had technical difficulties with the camera’s memory card for this shoot. However, I feel confident recommending this shampoo and conditioner for those who have thinning straight or wavy hair to make it look fuller without being dry or sticky or dull.
The Hair Thickening Treatment is another matter – I think this is a great product for all hair types. Did you see my Instagram Story when I applied it and my hair got fuller? It truly works! The Thickening Treatment can be used on wet or dry hair; I found it better on wet hair when I wore my hair straight, and on dry hair on my curls. I have tried similar products from other brands and found them gummy, sticky, or made my hair look wet or greasy. I experienced none of these problems with Hair Biology. I’d spray a bit right at the roots (the nozzle makes it easy to target right at the scalp) and fluff and it would make my hair not only have more volume, but I felt it made my hair look thicker at the roots, minimizing the appearance of scalp. It doesn’t have a strong fragrance, and the volume lasted for a couple of hours and my hair was easy to style the next day without having to wash out the product. All this and the formula helps fight strand breakage.
Hair Biology Review Summary
If I didn’t have curly hair that I learned to manage with specific products, I would be using Hair Biology on the regular. It accomplished the volume and the natural feeling and looking effect I desired when I wore my hair straight and wavy. It is effective whether you air dry or heat style. I love that it’s easy to find and the price is amazing for the quality of product. I found it far more effective than other brands I’ve tried in the past, some of which cost four times as much.
Hair Biology just launched this week exclusively at Target online and select stores nationwide. Besides the Full & Vibrant Collection I tested, Hair Biology also has a Silver & Glowing line to make gray hair gleam, a Soft & Hydrated line to moisturize dry hair, and a few styling products specifically formulated for gray and/or aging hair and those who want to rock their fabulous tresses. To learn more about Hair Biology, please visit their Facebook page or their product page at Target.
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Is this something that has ingredients to help hair grow in thicker like Rogain, or is it just a masking product like so many others out there to appear healthier? No disrespect intended I’d just like to save time trying things out.
It does not have Rogain or any known chemical for hairgrowth in it.
Am I supposed to use this after a wash or wash the product out in the shower? I am confused on the correct usage
There is a shampoo and conditioner you use in the standard manner and a mask that you rinse out like a leave-in conditioner. The rest of the products are styling products you use on damp or dry hair per the instructions on the back of the containers. If there is a specific product you are wondering about I am happy to share how I’ve used it!
Did your scalp feel a little tingly after using the thickening treatment?? Mine totally did the first time I used it and I was a little concerned about it being a negative affect later like making my hair fall out which I have little to spare lol
It did! I think it’s the ingredients, but it didn’t cause any irritation or longterm effects. I’ve felt a similar tingle from other thickening treatments like this!
Aren’t you concerned with all the unpronounceable chemical names in these products? I am trying to live a chemical-free life as much as possible. When I first heard about Hair Biology I thought the products would be more natural. Nope. Biotin is so far down on the list of chemicals it may as well not be in there.
I have been trying to see the ingredients in the argan oil, does it have silicone?
I do not know, I have reached out to the brand and will reply here if I get a response.
Hi Alison,
With the Thickening Treatment you said you sprayed “a bit” at the roots. The directions on the bottle say to use 15 (!!) pumps from ear line up. That seems like a LOT of product. Should I go with less?
I see that your skin has already been mentioned, but I am going to mention it again because WOW! You look incredible. In that last photo, you look like you are 25. Are you doing something new/different/more?
You look gorgeous! What lip product are you wearing? Asking for when we can do that again!
I am interested in trying Hair Biology. My post cancer treatment hair is thinner and I hate seeing so much of my scalp! Now if I could just get a haircut. Based on all the recommendations/sale, I’ve ordered the Soma Joggers. I’m more of a jeans wearer, but I would love more lounging wear while I’m at home.
I am definitely going to try these. So far, however, I’ve had bad luck with anything that is thickening/volumizing/moisturizing. Or, I should say, most of these products do what they say. The problem is that whatever it is they use in them ends up preventing my hair from taking and holding a curl from my iron (I like to put in beachy waves when I fix my hair; straight hair on my fine, thinning hair is just too limp and lackluster). The proof in the pudding will be if my hair will ALSO take a curl with the iron after using the products.
I didn’t try that, I’d be curious to see how it does!
FYI: Soma is only doing exchanges and returns on full-priced items. I wanted to get those joggers also, but they need to provide more of a discount if they are going to refuse returns and exchanges on them. Without being able to try them on, I have no clue how they will fit or if the size I choose will be right or not. So, sadly, I’m going to have to wait until stores open back up.
Oh that’s frustrating but I get it as they want to have some control over the situation in their warehouses to keep their staff safe. I’ve heard a few brands doing this because it streamlines the process, but also makes individuals wary of buying sale merchandise. Thanks for the heads up.
Just wondering how you heard this? I don’t see any info regarding this change in their website. Curious because I was also considering a purchase as well. Thanks
It was on their website when I went to checkout. It had a note in red lettering that they would only accept returns or exchanges on full-priced items. I went back to take a screenshot for you, but it looks like they adjusted their policy in just the last day or so because now it says they will accept returns within 120 days of purchase (excluding final sale or as-is purchases).
Thanks for the info. I didn’t go so far as to check out, just ‘window shopping’. I hope they maintain their return policy. It definitely makes me more inclined to shop there versus other places where returns are more difficult. I have the same concerns as you as far as wanting the flexibility to return or exchange if something doesn’t work – especially if I am taking my chances and ordering during this time when stores are closed.
Let me know if Hair Biology works out for you!
So I went and got the thickening shampoo, conditioner, and thickening treatment and used all three yesterday. I will say the scent is WONDERFUL. I have scent sensitivities and so many products are over-perfumed these days to the point that they give me a migraine. These have a lovely, low-key scent that was not overpowering in the least. And I will say there is something about them I like as far as the softness of my hair after using them. However, they don’t necessarily thicken as well as other products I’ve used. And, as I was worried about, they prevented my hair from keeping a curl whatsoever after curling with the iron. Went stick straight after a few hours. I will say I didn’t use a ton of hairspray to try to keep the curls in, but then again, that’s not what I want to have to do.
So back to the drawing board for me. I’m going to try the shampoo and conditioner again without the thickening treatment (using my usual styling mousse) and see if that works any better with curling/flat iron.
I did go back and purchase the moisturizing shampoo and conditioner to see if those work any better. Because I have to say, I really LOVE the scent of these products and really want them to work. They may need to come up with a formula for those of us who need our hair to thicken AND keep a curl.
Can we talk about how great your skin looks? I know you’ve covered skin care many times, but just wanted you to know that whatever you’re using lately is working. Radiant!
I second the skincare comment! Wow! Look at you all glowy. While I don’t need products to thicken my hair. I’m always looking for quality products at affordable prices. I’m letting my gray come in and I know I will need good products to keep it looking healthy. I’m interested to check this line out.
I liked this, but I know my hair wasn’t the perfect match for it. So I did some digging around and read reviews on Target, saw blog posts from bloggers I know and respect and I think this is a great product for those who are embracing their gray or blending it with highlights, rinses, and lowlights and those who are not following a specific care routine for their hair’s texture (like CGM). Seriously, it’s been awesome to see their rapid fan base happen through their Facebook group; it’s not paid it’s true fans of Hair Biology!
Thank you! I think it’s doing less, TBH! Less makeup, fewer masks and serums and treatments, and them more sleep and water!