What is Gray Hair?
Gray hairs are signs of aging. Men and women approaching their fourth decade of life would see many white streaks over their heads. These streaks keep on increasing with age and within a span for a few years would turn a person into a silver fox. Graying is a natural process that is bound to occur at some point in life.
Body is unable to supply nutrition to scalp and hair follicles which reduces the level of melanin and change color of hairs. Many bodily changes, occurring with age, collectively cause graying.
Many people in good health and leading a healthy lifestyle may see white hair much later in age. Premature graying is what causes frustration in people and is a cause of concern these days.
Since there is very little which one can do to prevent graying steps shall be taken to delay and cover-up gray hair naturally.
Home remedies for white hair or gray hair can delay the process considerably and there are homemade tips for gray hair which make them in-evident completely.
There are many causes of premature graying out of these few are avoidable, others unknown and few unavoidable. The problem is that the rush of life does not allow people to take care of their hair properly.
Even if people are aware that a particular type of product is harmful in the long or short-run but saves time, they would not avoid it and take the risk.
Along with a busy lifestyle, there are hundreds of other excuses that people have to justify premature graying. In the old times, this problem was not so common as today.
The reason is the use of natural agents to nourish hairs, less polluted environment and use of natural agents to cover up gray hair.
Today dyes and hair colors recommended to cover up gray hairs are laden with chemicals that speed-up the process of graying.
For more on hair care, check out:
Henna Hair Dye to Color Hair
Henna Paste for Grey Hair
Causes and Symptoms of Graying Hair
Aging is a natural cause of gray hair. After a certain age, tress can change their natural color to grey, white or silver due to lesser pigment cells in hair follicles.
Along with aging, genetics, race, and ethnicity are other common causes of premature graying. If the parent or grandparent of a person grayed prematurely chances of the problem are very high in progeny.
Amongst most common tangible causes of premature graying or early graying is poor nutrition.
Diet lacking in complete nutrition causes a scarcity of essential nutrients required for keeping hairs healthy. Lack of protein in the diet is one of the major causes of graying hair.
The scarcity of protein can arise due to lesser intake and also due to poor protein metabolism and synthesis.
Generally, age brings graying by causing slow and low protein metabolism and also causes bald spots. Diet lacking in sources of vitamin B12 and certain types of amino acids also cause premature graying.
Medical conditions and medicines are other major causes of premature graying. Autoimmune disorders that damage healthy cells and tissues cause poor health of scalp which brings hair-fall, graying, and other kinds of hair problems.
High blood pressure and frequent rhinitis are also believed to be major reasons for the change in the color of strands.
Anemia, thyroid disorders and vitiligo are also commonly seen reasons behind premature graying.
Certain types of medicines cause a scarcity of nutrients or affect their absorption to cause white hair. Poor care of scalp and hairs can cause all sorts of problems including white hair.
Harsh shampoos, cheap hair styling creams, and gels, over-exposure to Sun, living in polluted conditions and water containing high level of chemicals are few major causes of premature graying.
These conditions harm the health of hair follicles to produce strands with low melanin or no melanin at all. These conditions also reduce pigment cells and cause white hairs in bulk.
Genetic predisposition and growing age are the only indications for white hair. Initially in some cases tresses may change turn lighter in shade in patches before turning white.
Later white streaks may begin to appear which can turn into big patches and cover entire heads in a few years. White hairs grow as white these are not double-colored. One should keep checking the roots of hairs to keep an eye over graying.
Home Remedies for White Hair
There are many home remedies for white hair which reduce their appearance and also slow down the growth rate. These homemade tips for gray hair may take more time than commercially designed creams and hair colors during the application, but these are safe and effective.
Home remedies for white hairs not only cover up gray hair but also improve the health of tresses and scalp opposite to commercial creams.
Commercially designed creams generally contain chemicals that affect scalp health negatively and speed-up growth of white strands.
Heena, Amla, Black Tea, and Lemon Juice
Henna and Amla provide another one of the purely natural and safe homemade tips for gray hair. This time you need to use black tea as an ingredient.
First, take a cup of henna powder and add some water to form a paste. Leave the paste for 8 hours. Add 2 teaspoons of black tea leaves to a cup of water and boil for a few minutes.
Let the mixture cool down and strain. Now add this tea to henna paste and add one teaspoon of lemon juice and two teaspoons of Amla powder.
Mix all the ingredients to get a thick paste and apply over scalp and hair leave for an hour and wash off with water.
This is another one of the trusted home remedies for white hair which makes gray hair invisible and also improves shine and softness of tresses.
Amla and Heena Powder
Amla and Henna powder are old and trusted home remedies for white hair. Amla is full of antioxidants that slow down the process of cell and tissue aging and enhance the flow of blood by opening up blood vessels and capillaries.
Henna is soothing for hair follicles and strands and it improves their health. Using these natural agents to cover up gray hair is the most suitable way.
Take a cup of henna powder and three teaspoons of Amla powder and one teaspoon of coffee powder. Add these and put some water to the mixture to get a thick paste.
Keep this paste in an iron utensil for a few hours. Add some water of gets too thick and make it smooth inconsistency. Apply this paste covering all the hairs and scalp completely.
Leave it on to dry for 30 to 45 minutes. Wash off the paste will cover up gray hair. Regular use of this paste works as one of the useful home remedies for white hair.
Black Tea
Black tea provides one of the simplest home remedies for white hair. Black tea is full of antioxidants which are good for keeping scalp and hair follicles healthy.
These protect pigment cells from damages and maintain a level of melanin to keep the natural shade of strands. Take 2-3 teaspoons of black tea leaves add to a cup of water, boil for a few minutes and let the mixture steep. When mixture has cooled down, strain and give a rinse with the mixture.
Wear a shower cap and let it stay over the scalp for an hour. Wash off with plain water and do not shampoo, black tea covers white hairs and also slows down the growth of white hairs.
Balck Coffee
Give a rinse with concentrated black coffee. This is one of the home remedies for white hair which does not affect the growth of white hairs but on regular use, masks graying hairs and makes them less visible.
Prepare a concentrated cup of black coffee and when it is cold rinse your hairs and scalp massaging it gently. Leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes and wash off.
Diet to Prevent Graying of Hairs
Avoid foods that are acidic, fatty and greasy in nature. These slow down metabolism and absorption rate of the body. Include certain foods in a healthy diet plan to avoid the growth of white hair.
Green leafy vegetables shall be included in the diet to gain the optimum amount of folic acid. This acid maintains healthy skin and scalp and vegetables are rich in protein essentially needed for naturally colored hairs, these veggies maintain cell growth to keep the density of hairs healthy as well and proper melanin secretion.
Blueberries are sources of vitamin B6, B-complex, and copper, iodine and zinc, Sunflower seeds supplement vitamin E, B6, iron, and zinc in abundance.
Both of these are excellent foods for premature graying. Salmon and tuna fish and beef liver due to high minerals and fatty acids reserves are also recommended as the diet for avoiding premature graying.
Reishi mushroom and oysters are other foods trusted to keep hairs naturally colored and healthy for longer period.
Graying Hair Treatment and Prevention
Most of the causes of premature graying are beyond control but proper care graying can be delayed. Massage scalp and hairs regularly at least twice in a week with a good oil like olive, coconut, mustard, etc.
These oils keep scalp clean and free from dryness. Chemicals and dryness cause rapid cell death in the scalp and reduces melanin-producing cells to promote hair whitening.
Use mild shampoos preferably herbal ones to avoid excessive stress on hairs and scalp dryness. Rinse off shampoo thoroughly to avoid dryness.
Use good quality styling creams and gels to prevent damage to scalp and hairs. Eat a healthy and supportive diet and avoid harmful hard to digest foods.
Maintain water intake at least 8 to 10 glasses in a day and avoid stress. Wear a cap while going out in the Sun or dry or hot air.
These agents cause dryness and cell death to promote hair whitening. Limit the use of a hairdryer to a minimum, use only when absolutely necessary.
The hot air of hair dryer can make strands dry and brittle and also cause damage to cells of the scalp.
Ayurveda has the best natural solution to prevent premature graying of hair. Few herbs provide nourishment to the scalp and hair and prevent falling of hairs and premature graying.
Hylix lotion is one of the widely trusted and effective ayurvedic hair oil that improves hair and scalp health and prevents white hair. Massaging scalp with this oil once or twice a week for 3 to 4 months will give outstanding results.
For more on hair care, check out:
Home Remedies for Shiny Hair
Home Remedies for Black Hair Care
