It’s a fact of life that as we age many of us either lose our hair completely or it goes grey. But why does this happen? Someone once told me it’s because we are losing our life’s essence, that was pretty depressing to hear and made me yearn for an elixir of life.
Buy an “Intelligence is sexy” t-shirt!
It is simply a common cosmetic issue that affects both men and women. So, what are the most common factors and reasons for gray hair ? There are many factors that contribute to this condition, and the most common ones are: stress, some kind of disease or it’s simply down to genetics.
Some people I know look exceptionally beautiful with their grey and platinum locks, but not everyone is happy or comfortable with the change.
The medical experts explain that this type of issue, or graying, usually occurs as a result of the body’s inability to produce melanin – a compound which is part of the hair follicle. So, when the melanin production in the hair follicle stops, then your hair will start turning into gray or white.
Melanin not only affects the colour of our hair but it’s also the substance that occurs in the body also creates the pigment in our skin and the iris of our eyes. Moreover, it protects the skin from UV rays and when levels rise, our dermis darkens, giving us a tan and keeping it intact for longer.
You shouldn’t be worried if you have this kind of problem, it is reversible and there are lots of natural solutions to encourage the production of Melanin in your body and here are a few:
Sunshine:
Melanin production can be activated externally through solar exposure, as the sun favours increasing levels of melanin in our body. To do so, always use sunblock and avoid the sun between 1:00 and 3:00pm to avoid sunburn.
Vitamin A:
You can increase levels of Melanin through food. Your best allies can be foods rich in vitamin A and, especially, in beta-carotene such as carrots, pumpkin, spinach, papaya, tomato, red pepper and melon. All of them favour the production of melanin.
Read: 5 Ways That Siblings Truly Enhance Our Lives
Vitamin E:
It’s not just vitamin A that will be useful in this task, as all foods rich in vitamin E also stimulate the production of melanin. The ingredients that have a greater amount of this nutrient are: vegetable oils (wheat oil, sunflower oil, soy, olive), green leaf vegetables, nuts (almonds, pine nuts, cashew nuts…), egg yolk and fruits like kiwi, mango, avocado, plums and grapes.
Vitamin B and D:
Other essential vitamins to increase melanin in your body are vitamins B and D, both will give your skin the protection you need against UV rays and boost colour in your hair. Vitamin B can be found in dairy products, green vegetables, pulses, eggs, chicken and Brewer’s yeast. On the other hand, blue fish are a good source of vitamin D.
Read: 4 Ways Researchers Say MODERATE Drinking can Actually Help your Brain
Supplements:
You can also resort to adding the fore-mentioned vitamins in the form of supplements, as well as L-Tyrosine and gingko biloba, as they’re good options to keep the levels of melanin in your body. Before starting any treatment it’s very important to consult your doctor so he can advise you on the best option for your case and tell you if it’s harmful or not for your health.
Finally here is a homemade recipe you can keep in your fridge to help you reverse back to your natural hair colour.
Here’s what you need to do:
Ingredients:
- 200 ml flaxseed oil
- 4 lemons (unpeeled)
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 1 kg honey
Directions: First, you need to slice the lemons and the garlic. Then, you should add the flaxseed and the honey. Mix everything together until you get a homogenous mixture and store the mixture into a glass jar. Note: make sure you keep the jar in your fridge.
How to use it: You should consume 1 tablespoon of this homemade remedy, 2 times every day, before your meals.
Read: Natural Ways to Relieve Stress that Actually Work
Other natural remedies for grey hair:
- You can also massage your scalp with cow milk butter, 2 times every week, for at least 2-3 months.
- Or mix 1l yogurt and 1 tbs. yeast. You need to consume it in small amounts, before every meal.
Another also very useful and effective treatment – bring some coconut oil to boil and add some curry leaves in it. When it’s done, strain the oil and let it cool. You need to apply this oil on your scalp gently. Leave it on for few minutes and then wash it off with shampoo and warm water.
Why not try it and see and don’t forget to leave us feedback here on the results, remember changes won’t be immediate and may take from a couple of months to a year to be really noticeable.
