Why Hair Turns Gray?

While graying hair can be a sign of wisdom, it’s usually something that people don’t want to see on their head. In earlier times, graying of hair was usually associated with ageing. However, in modern times, even people in their twenties and thirties are witnessing gray hair and strands of white as well. Surely, not many of these folks are happy with such developments. And taking advantage of their insecurities are hundreds of products that claim to not only stop graying hair but also to reverse the condition.

It makes us wonder if it is really possible to turn graying hair back to its original color. Well, to answer that question, we first need to find out what actually causes our hair to turn gray or white. Here are some possible reasons.

Ageing – The natural color of our hair comes from pigment cells that are located inside hair follicles. As we age, the cells produce less and less pigment, which in turn causes graying or whitening of hair. In such cases, it’s usually not possible to reverse the condition. The best option for such people is to use hair dye. Of course there are products in the market that claim to reverse age related gray hair. However, there’s always a huge risk in using these products, as their reliability and safety is often unconfirmed.

Smoking – Multiple studies have shown evidence linking premature graying hair to smoking. In one study, smoking was found to increase the chances of graying hair by nearly 250%. If you smoke and have graying hair, you can probably quit smoking to see if it helps.

Nutritional deficiency – Studies have shown that nutritional deficiency can be a contributing factor for graying hair. Common among them are deficiency of Vitamin B12, Vitamin B6, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, biotin, copper, and serum ferritin. You can get a blood test done to know if your graying hair is linked to nutritional deficiency.

Genetic factors – This is one of the most common reasons for graying hair. If your graying hair is due to genetic factors, your best option would be to use hair dye.

Free radicals – If you are eating unhealthy foods, your body may be burdened with free radicals. These are basically waste products that cause damage at the cellular level. You can increase your intake of antioxidants to neutralize the free radicals. You can take antioxidant pills or load up on fresh fruits and vegetables.

Stress – This can cause both graying of hair as well as loss of hair. Stress can be managed via regular exercise, yoga, eating healthy and keeping a positive attitude.

As is evident, some factors like genetics and ageing cannot be reversed. In other cases such as nutritional deficiency, stress, or smoking, you can take the recommended action to try to stop premature graying hair. Last but not least, avoid untested, uncertified pills and products, as they may cause more harm than good.