One day you wake up with a wiry little grey strand staring you back in the face. Maybe youâre still in your 20s or just entering your 30s and these grey strands are causing you to freak out. Before you completely lose it, lets learn what can cause your hair to turn grey and how you can reverse premature greying.
What causes Grey Hair?
Hair follicles generate hair and color or pigment cells (melanocytes) that contain melanin. Over time, hair follicles lose pigment cells, resulting in white hair color. So what causes their follicles to prematurely start to produce less melanin? The exact cause it unknown however there are a number of potential causes that can lead to early graying such as:
vitamin B12, iron, folic acid, or biotin deficiency
tuberous sclerosis: an uncommon, inherited condition that causes benign tumors in multiple organs (including the brain, heart, kidneys, eyes, lungs, and skin).
vitiligo: this condition causes melanocytes (the cells at the base of hair follicles that produce color) to be lost or destroyed â perhaps because the immune system âmisfiresâ and attacks the scalp rather than an infection.
alopecia areata: a disorder in which patches of hair may be suddenly lost, especially the colored (non-gray) hairs. This may lead to âovernightâ graying because previously present gray or white hairs suddenly become more obvious. When hair growth resumes, it may be white or gray, but colored hair may eventually return.
While stress doesnât turn hair gray, stress can trigger telogen effluvium which can cause hair to stress three times faster, causing hair regrowth to be gray instead of the original color.
Genetics: if your family has a history for premature greying, youâre more likely to also have premature greying. The exact causes are unknown.
Ayurvedic Herbs for Grey Hair
Amla is rich in vitamin C and vitamin B5 and is a powerful antioxidant. Amla powder can be used as an amla mask or used in conjunction with other herbs such as henna.
 Curry leaves are rich in vitamin B, Selenium and Zinc. Curry leaves can be simmered in coconut oil or Almond oil which is rich in vitamin E, and strained an used on your scalp daily.
 Henna contains the lawsone dye that naturally stains hair a reddish tint. This will color grey or light strands a reddish tint. It additionally it strengthens and conditions strands, and provides antiseptic, antifungal benefits. Henna powder can be mixed with warm water or tea to a cake batter consistency. Let the dye release or 6 hours and then apply to hair for 1-2 hours and rinse.
 Fenugreek contains amino acids, calcium, iron, magnesium, vitamin B12, vitamin B6 and lecithin which nourish the hair and help strands to grow darker. Fenugreek seeds can be simmer in an oil and then strained or soaked in water over night and then sprayed on the hair and roots.
Bhringraj known as King of herbs contains calcium, iron, vitamin D, E, magnesium- and not only darkens that strand but treats dandruff and scalp infection. Bhringaraj powder can be used with amla or jatamansi to make a hair darkening mask.
Jatamansi is an adaptogenic herb known to lower stress ad anxiety and a powerful antioxidant that slows greying and darkens hair. Jatamansi powder can be infused in your favorite oil for 1-2 weeks and then used on the scalp daily.
Sage and rosemary naturally darkens hair at the follicles and is also beneficial for alopecia and thinning hair. Boil half a cup of dried sage and a similar amount of dried rosemary. Strain the solution then when it cools, use it to rinse your hair. You can make tea with black tea, henna, and sage and can be used after shampooing. Repeat at least once a week.
Most importantly outside of topical treatments, you must eat right! A healthy diet with lots of fruits and green veggies may help reverse greying and improve the thickness in your hair.
Have you tried any of these herbs? Check out some of our products below featuring herbs that help with premature greying.
