Hair – especially that on the head - plays a central yet changing role in our lives as we age.  One’s relationship with his or her hair will be influenced by several factors, including hair growth or lack of it, hair loss or damage, hairstyles, hair products (eg, shampoos and conditioners), and fashion trends, among others.  

On the one end, long hair as a fashion style has had its share, especially among musicians, especially rock stars, and artists such as the Beatles, Aerosmith, and Ariel Pineda of Journey.  Of note, hair grows at an average of about one-half inch per month.  From experience, it takes a long time to wait after a bad haircut and the time seems to fly faster in between good haircuts.  Thus, it pays to have a favorite hairdresser or barber who can style your hair to its best shape, form, or cut.

On the other end of the spectrum, there are those who prefer either a short hair cut (eg, fade, crew cut) or even the bold bald look.  Due to their high profile and visibility, some of today’s trend-setters include celebrities, athletes, and politicians such as Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Kobe Bryant, Matt Lauer, and President Barack Obama.  Related to this, even facial hair style (eg, mustache, goatee, beard) has also gained prominence (eg, LeBron James, Apolo Anton Ohno).

Whether you want to have your hair long or short or none at all, definitely hair is an accessory or part of everyone’s portfolio that can be worn according to your personal choice. And essential to good grooming and beauty are the right selection of hair care products. 

But of course, most important of all is in being able to project one’s inner self and perform tasks with pride and passion without being a slave to fashion. Paradoxically, hair can be everything and also be of little or no consequence at the same time, depending on your stage of the aging process and overall outlook!