Home Remedies / Treatment For Gray Hair

Gray hair is the most visible sign of aging and most people would like to prevent grey hair. Graying hair is a condition in which the hair starts to lose its coloring pigment. Usually the graying of hair is considered to be the initial sign of ageing. However, this is not always so.

In fact, there are a lot of people who suffer from this somewhat rare condition in which hair turns gray prematurely. Still, since the graying of hair is generally accepted as a sign of ageing, it can be very distressing for the person who experiences it.

Symptoms of Gray Hair

If the hair is graying naturally, you can experience other signs of old age. Your skin will become different and fine lines and wrinkles may begin to appear. You may also begin to feel other symptoms of old age. Your stamina and immunity may decrease. Premature graying of hair may not have any symptoms other than an increase in the number of hair strands that are grey. Graying may occur on hair all over the body.

Causes of Gray Hair

Our skin contains glands known as melanocytes which synthesize melanin, a pigment which gives the skin its color. The hair follicles similarly contain melanocytes which give our hair its natural color. The greying of hair is usually caused when the pigment melanin is no longer manufactured in the hair follicles. This could be caused either due to the natural ageing process or due to a medical condition which affects the melanocytes.

Some other causes of graying of hair are stress (both physical and mental), constant worrying, washing hair in hot water, malnutrition, using excessive amounts of chemicals in the hair, or using a hair dryer too often.

Home Remedies for Gray Hair

The best remedy for graying hair is known to be Indian gooseberry. You can grind the fruit into a paste and then smear it on your scalp. This not only treats graying of hair but also makes your hair silky and smooth, improving the texture of the hair and helping it grow longer and thicker. You can also warm some coconut or mustard oil and massage your scalp with it regularly.

The juice of the leaves of Amaranth can also be used to treat dull, graying and limp hair. The juice, when massaged into the hair follicles, can help darken the hair. You can also ground some curry leaves and consume them regularly along with your food. This will help prolong the life of the melanocytes of your hair follicles. For best results, take some coconut oil and add some curry leaves and amla paste into it. Now warm this oil and massage it gently into your scalp every time before you wash your hair.

Diet for Gray Hair

To keep your hair healthy, consume lots of vitamins and minerals. Vitamins B, C, E and K are essential for your hair. Your hair is essentially made of proteins. Therefore, it is important to consume a good amount of proteins in your diet.

Other Suggestions for Gray Hair

If none of the remedies are working, you can dye your hair using the chemical dyes which are commercially available. If you want to use a natural dye, you can use Henna.

Vitamins for Gray Hair

Gray hair vitamins help in delaying the process of graying.

The principal gray hair vitamin is Vitamin B.

No other vitamin can overcome the significance of B complex as these are the best of all vitamins for gray hair. These vitamins are basically important for activating the functions of hair follicles and providing moisture to them.

Grey hair vitamins like Para-Aminobenzoic Acid (PABA) and Pantothenic acid or Vitamin B5 are vitamins that stimulate nutrient utilization and releases energy for healthy and beautiful hair. Pantothenic acid in combination with folic acid aids in restoring the natural hair color and eventually prevents and reverses premature grey hair.

Vitamins for grey hair can be received through natural food sources such as yoghurt, liver, wheat germ and yeast. These sources provide the essential B vitamins and aids in regulating the production of melanin. The enhanced but controlled production of melanin inhibits the process of graying.

Healthy, well balanced and nutritious diet can therefore help to provide healthy, strong and beautiful hair even at 40s.