Hi,
What is the the proper words for “old” hair or hair you would associate with someone old or elderly? Frizzy? Not sure. I look forward to your feedback.
davidmich
white? if it’s dyed and treated it won’t be frizzy or whatever anyway.
Let’s just say it’s natural, not dyed or treated. Would frizzy be the right word?
davidmich
Here’s a good definition of frizzy hair. Would it be correct to term natural “old” hair as frizzy?
http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Causes-Frizzy-Hair?&id=6932446
"First of all, what is frizzy hair? What does it look like? Frizzy hair is most identified by fraying at the ends of the follicles like a rope that is unwinding. At best fizziness is fairly unmanageable. It is the result of hair that has keratin layers that are opened like scales, instead of one smooth long shaft. This is most often seen in curly, finely textured hair. Some of the individual hairs are curly, some are straight. There is no uniformity. Frizzy hair looks like the untamed mane of a lion.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6932446"
Sparse and gray.
“Frizzy” would be the right word only if the hair is, in fact, frizzy. And it has nothing to do with age.
I think you’re looking for “gray” or “silver” or “salt and pepper.” Also “bald” or “balding” or “thinning.”
I see. So how would you describe the condition of gray hair other than just gray? Is there any particular word you would use? Limp? Wispy? Flyaway? Any other suggestions? When hair has lost its vitality and looks thin and gray/white is there a special word for the “texture”, if that’s the right word?
davidmich
It might help if you told us what you’re getting at. There are any number of descriptors for what a person’s hair looks like, none of them necessarily exclusive to “old people.” I’ve seen plenty of luxurious, shiny thick gray hair on older people, and younger people with alopecia and thin, sparse hair on their heads. There are ethnic differences, too, which will make different people think of different ways an older person’s hair will look depending on their own families’ elders.
Actually I understand completely what the OP is getting at.
As we grow older, hair not only loses pigment, and becomes more sparse, but strands become thinner and therefore more frizzy too (cite):
“Hair strands become smaller and have less pigment. So the thick, coarse hair of a young adult eventually becomes thin, fine, light-colored hair. Many hair follicles stop producing new hairs.”
I don’t think there’s a specific word for it though.
Thanks for that link Mijin. You’re on the right track. I’m after the word that describes the texture of hair of your average old/elderly Caucasion. Average Caucasions will experience hair loss and balding by the time they are in their late 60s or 70s. I simply want to know if there is a word to describe the texture for their hair. It does have a distinctive texture, but I don’t know how to describe it. Frizzy may not be a good enough word for it. I simply don’t know.
davidmich
are there people with naturally luxurious white hair?
One of my aunts had beautiful luxurious white hair in her later years. Looked like young hair but pure white.
When I was 4 or 5 I was sure she was an angel.
Have never seen hair like that on an elderly person since.
Must be some kind of genetic thing.
Coarse?
If you’re talking about female pattern baldness (where a person tends to lose hair all over rather than a bald spot or receding hairline) I mostly hear the term “thinning.”
And, yeah, my grandmother had dark, thick hair right up until she died at age 92.
Hoary.
Grizzled, grizzly
I like “hoary” and “grizzled”. I just thought of “white wizened hair”. Thanks everyone for your helpful feedback.
davidmich