If you’re over 40 and finding that your hair colour just isn’t behaving like it used to, you’re not alone.
And no, it’s not ‘just you,’ and it’s not because your hairdresser suddenly forgot how to colour hair.
We see this daily in our Merivale salon.
Women come in saying:

  • “My colour goes brassy so quickly now.”
  • “It never looks how it used to.”
  • “I keep going lighter but it’s not helping.”

The truth?
Your hair has changed even if your colour formula hasn’t.

Hair Changes After 40 (Whether We Like It or Not)

As we move through perimenopause and menopause, hair undergoes structural and hormonal changes that directly affect how colour behaves.
Common changes we see in our Christchurch salon:

  • Increased grey or white hair that resists colour
  • Changes in undertone (hair can pull warmer more easily)
  • Finer hair texture and reduced density
  • Increased dryness and porosity
  • Slower regrowth and reduced shine

Even women who have coloured their hair for decades often find their “old reliable” formula suddenly stops working.

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Why Hair Goes Brassy Faster as We Age

This is one of the biggest frustrations we hear — and it’s not your imagination.
After 40:

  • Natural cool pigment decreases
  • Hair loses its ability to hold colour evenly
  • Grey hair reflects warmth more strongly
  • Over-lightening exposes underlying warm tones

The biggest mistake we see?
Automatically going lighter to try and look younger.

In many cases, this actually:

  • Makes hair appear warmer
  • Emphasises thinning
  • Increases maintenance
  • Leaves hair looking flat or washed out

Lighter isn’t always fresher — strategic is.

The Biggest Colour Mistake We See in the Salon

Hands down, the most common issue is colouring hair the same way it was coloured at 30.
What worked then often doesn’t work now.

After 40, hair needs:

  • More customised placement
  • Better undertone management
  • Softer transitions
  • Less damage, not more

A one-size-fits-all colour approach simply doesn’t cut it anymore.

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→ Free Consultations Available at V for Hair Now.

Why Custom Colour Matters More Than Ever

At this stage of life, great hair colour should:

  • Complement your skin tone (not fight it)
  • Soften facial features
  • Grow out gracefully
  • Require less frequent maintenance
  • Support hair health and density

That’s why we focus on:

  • Grey blending rather than harsh coverage
  • Strategic highlights and lowlights
  • Toning formulas that suit mature undertones
  • Pairing cut and colour together — not separately

Hair after 40 isn’t about chasing trends.
It’s about designing hair that works with your life now.

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When It Might Be Time to Rethink Your Hair Strategy

If you’re noticing:

  • Constant brassiness
  • Colour fatigue
  • Thinner-looking hair
  • High maintenance with low reward

It may be time to consider:

  • Grey blending instead of covering
  • A softer, more dimensional colour
  • A refined cut to support density
  • A completely new approach — not just a new shade

Letting go of an old colour doesn’t mean giving up.
Often, it means upgrading.

→ Free Consultations Available at V for Hair Now.

A Final Word From the Salon

🌷Hair changes after 40 are normal — but frustration doesn’t have to be.
🌷The right colour should make you feel confident, modern, and like yourself again not stuck in a cycle of touch-ups and disappointment.
🌷If your colour isn’t working anymore, it’s not because you’re doing something wrong.
🌷It’s because your hair has evolved and your colour strategy needs to evolve with it.
🌷If you’re ready for hair that truly suits this stage of your life, we’d love to help!

→ Secure an Appointment with us at V for Hair, Merivale Christchurch New Zealand