Grey hair usually happens due to a natural process where your hair follicles stop producing melanin—the pigment that gives hair its color. Here are the main reasons why this might happen:
- Aging – The most common cause. As you age, melanin production decreases.
- Genetics – If your parents went grey early, you might too.
- Stress – Chronic stress may contribute to premature greying, though it’s still debated.
- Vitamin Deficiencies – Especially B12, iron, copper, and folic acid.
- Smoking – Strongly linked to early greying.
- Autoimmune Conditions – Can affect pigment production.
- Oxidative Stress – Damage from free radicals can impact melanin-producing cells.
Tips to slow it down or ideas on natural remedies
Alright, here are some tips and natural remedies that may help slow down greying or improve overall hair health:
1. Eat Hair-Healthy Foods
Focus on foods rich in:
- Vitamin B12 – Eggs, dairy, meat, fortified cereals.
- Iron – Spinach, lentils, red meat.
- Copper – Nuts, seeds, whole grains.
- Folic Acid – Leafy greens, citrus fruits, beans.
2. Amla (Indian Gooseberry)
- Rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants.
- Drink amla juice or apply amla oil to your scalp regularly.
3. Curry Leaves
- Boil curry leaves in coconut oil, strain, and use the oil on your scalp.
- Believed to restore pigment and improve hair strength.
4. Black Sesame Seeds
- Eat 1 tsp daily (raw or roasted). Traditionally used in Ayurveda to promote hair pigmentation.
5. Avoid Harsh Chemicals
- Use mild shampoos.
- Limit heat styling and chemical treatments like coloring or perming.
6. Quit Smoking
- Smoking reduces blood flow and contributes to early greying.
7. Manage Stress
- Try yoga, meditation, or regular exercise. Chronic stress can harm hair health over time.
8. Use Natural Oils
- Coconut oil mixed with lemon juice.
- Bhringraj oil, known as a hair rejuvenator in Ayurveda.
Alright, here are some tips and natural remedies that may help slow down greying or improve overall hair health:
1. Eat Hair-Healthy Foods
Focus on foods rich in:
Vitamin B12 – Eggs, dairy, meat, fortified cereals.
Iron – Spinach, lentils, red meat.
Copper – Nuts, seeds, whole grains.
Folic Acid – Leafy greens, citrus fruits, beans.
2. Amla (Indian Gooseberry)
Rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants.
Drink amla juice or apply amla oil to your scalp regularly.
3. Curry Leaves
Boil curry leaves in coconut oil, strain, and use the oil on your scalp.
Believed to restore pigment and improve hair strength.
4. Black Sesame Seeds
Eat 1 tsp daily (raw or roasted). Traditionally used in Ayurveda to promote hair pigmentation.
5. Avoid Harsh Chemicals
Use mild shampoos.
Limit heat styling and chemical treatments like coloring or perming.
6. Quit Smoking
Smoking reduces blood flow and contributes to early greying.
7. Manage Stress
Try yoga, meditation, or regular exercise. Chronic stress can harm hair health over time.
8. Use Natural Oils
Coconut oil mixed with lemon juice.
Bhringraj oil, known as a hair rejuvenator in Ayurveda.
If you pluck or remove grey hair, here’s what you should know:
What Happens If You Pluck a Grey Hair?
- It won’t cause more grey hairs to grow. That’s a myth.
- But the same hair follicle will grow another grey hair in its place because it has already stopped producing melanin.
- Plucking repeatedly can damage the follicle, potentially leading to thinner hair or even bald patches over time.
Better Alternatives Instead of Plucking:
- Trim the grey hair close to the root if it bothers you.
- Use natural dyes like henna or amla-indigo mix if you want to color it.
- Embrace the salt-and-pepper look—it’s becoming more stylish and widely accepted.
Got it—so you started with one grey hair, and now you’re noticing more in the same area. That’s pretty common, and here’s what it usually means:
Why It’s Happening:
- Once one follicle in an area stops producing melanin, nearby follicles may follow, especially if it’s triggered by aging, stress, or nutrient deficiencies.
- It doesn’t spread like an infection—but it can seem like it because hair follicles in the same region age similarly.
What You Can Do Now:
- Don’t pluck it. Like we said earlier, it can stress the follicle.
- Start a nutrition boost:
- Add B12, biotin, and copper-rich foods.
- Consider a multivitamin or hair supplement (after checking with a doctor).
- Oil your hair regularly:
- Try amla oil or black seed oil—both are known for delaying greying.
- Massage your scalp a few times a week. This increases blood flow and can improve follicle health.
- Cut down on stress if possible—grey hairs can pop up faster under chronic stress.
Great question—stress isn’t always obvious, especially chronic stress. Sometimes your body shows signs before your mind even catches on. Here’s how you can tell:
Common Signs of Stress:
Physical:
- Tired all the time, even after rest
- Headaches or muscle tension (especially neck and shoulders)
- Trouble sleeping or weird sleep patterns
- Hair fall or early greying
- Upset stomach or loss of appetite
Mental/Emotional:
- Feeling overwhelmed or irritable often
- Racing thoughts or overthinking
- Mood swings or feeling anxious/depressed
- Trouble focusing or forgetfulness
Behavioral:
- Snapping at people easily
- Craving junk food or skipping meals
- Using your phone or social media to escape
- Avoiding people or things you usually enjoy
Quick Self-Check:
- Do you feel like you’re always “on edge”?
- Are you overworking or barely relaxing?
- Do small things feel like a big deal lately?
- Do you wake up already feeling tired?
If you’re nodding yes to a few of these, your body could be under chronic stress—even if you’re functioning normally day to day.
Standing in the sun can boost melanin, but not in your hair—it mainly increases melanin in your skin as a response to UV exposure (which causes tanning). Hair melanin works differently.
Here’s the breakdown:
Sunlight + Skin = More Melanin (Temporary Tanning)
- UV light stimulates melanocytes in your skin to produce more melanin to protect against UV damage.
- This is why skin darkens in the sun.
Hair is Dead Tissue
- Once hair grows out of the scalp, it’s no longer alive—so sun can’t trigger melanin in hair strands.
- The follicle (inside your scalp) is where melanin is made—but it’s not directly activated by sunlight the way skin is.
That said:
- Moderate sun exposure helps your body make vitamin D, which supports hair health overall, including follicle function.
- But too much sun can actually lighten or damage your hair.
So:
Sun = good in small doses for overall health
But it won’t reverse grey hair or bring melanin back to hair follicles.
