Premature graying is one of the biggest concerns for people aged 20-30. People think that having grey hair is a sign of getting older and might make them look older than they actually are. The good thing is there are ways to treat grey hair.
Grey hair can be caused by many factors, including bad hair products, stress, pollution, smoking, fluctuations in hormones, poor nutrition and genetic predisposition. Additionally, some diseases, like sinusitis, thyroid disorders and chronic colds can also cause it.
There are a lot of home remedies to treat gray hair, so you don’t need to go to a specialist anymore. If you want to learn more, keep reading!
What Constitutes Our Hair?
Before we learn why we get grey hair, it’s important to know more about hair structure. As science taught us, hair is made of keratin, a type of protein. The hair follicles grow in the dermis layer of the skin, and the follicles contain two types of melanin that determine the colour of our hair: pheomelanin and eumelanin. In general, the more melanin you have, the darker your hair will be.
Normally, greying starts on the head. As you age, it can progress to the hair on your face, your chest and the rest of your body. This process generally starts around age 35, and many people consider it a symptom of aging. If you start to notice a few grey hair, remember that it’s not your body that defines your age; it’s your mindset.
What Causes Gray Hair?
The reduction of pheomelanin and eumelanin is what causes hair to turn gray. More specifically, the melanocytes in the follicles of the hair suddenly stop producing melanin. Not only are older people prone to the condition, but younger people are too. This is called premature greying, and it can be caused by:
Age. As we age, it is normal that we get gray hair.
Hair dyes. Improper use of hair dye may also affect the hair and may result in its greying.
Improper diet. If you have a poor diet, it may cause your hair to become gray. Furthermore, a lack of iodine, iron and vitamin B12 may also cause premature aging.
Diseases. Various diseases may also cause a sudden change in hair color.
Hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide, as we know, is used in chemical bleaching. If this interferes with the melanin, the hair turns gray.
Pollution. This is yet another factor that may lead to oxidative stress.
Smoking. Researchers state that people who smoke have a much greater chance of suffering gray hair in the early 30s than those who don’t.
Deficiency in Vitamin B12. A vitamin B12 deficiency may also be responsible for the premature graying.
Genetic graying. There are times that genetics play a role in premature graying, and it can start to hit us as young as 12 years old.
Remedies to Treat Gray hair
Here are some of the best home remedies to treat gray hair:
Cow’s milk. Butter made from cow’s milk has an amazing effect in treating gray hair. The enzymes in it are particularly beneficial for treating the hair at the root.
Avoid stress. Stress can caused gray hair, so you must avoid it to slow down the process.
Coconut oil. Some people think that this remedy has been around for years, but it does help!
Stop smoking. Smoking can cause grey hair, so it’s vital that you stop this vice.
Potato peel. You can use the peel of potatoes to darken your hair. This is effective because of the starch, which has a direct effect on the condition.
Iodine. To stop graying, it is important that you add iodine to your diet.
Intake of vitamins and minerals. Some of the very important nutrients you need in your diet are zinc, copper, iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin A. If you lack any of these, it may cause graying.
Protein intake. Since our hair is made up of protein or keratin, a diet rich in this nutrient is beneficial in improving its health.
