Just saw a gray hair on your head? Do you think you are not old enough to get them? Calm down. Gray hair can be covered and arrested with a combination of commercial products and home remedies.
What Causes Gray Hair?
Gray hair occurs as a result of a reduction of pigment, and white hair has no pigment. The reason behind this remains a mystery. In a lifetime, everyone’s hair turn gray. The chances of going gray increases 10-20% every ten years after 30 years. In the beginning, hair is white. It gets its natural color from a pigment called melanin. The formation of melanin begins before you are born. The natural color of your hair depends on the type, distribution and the amount of melanin in the middle layer of the hair shaft/cortex. Hair has two types of pigments: dark and light. They blend together to make the broad range of hair colors. Melanin consists of specialized pigment cells known as melanocytes. They are positioned at the openings on the skin’s surface through which hair grows, called follicles. Every hair grows from a single follicle. Hair growth has three phases:
Anagen: it is the active growth stage of the hair fiber. It can last from 2 to u years. At any point in time, 80-85% of your hair is in the anagen phase.
Catagen: this is the transitional phase. It is when hair growth begins to slow down to begin the shutdown process. It lasts for 10- 20 days.
Telogen: This happens when hair growth is completely at rest and hair fiber falls out. At any moment, 10 to 15 % of our hair is in this phase. It usually lasts for 100 days for scalp hair. After this phase, the hair growth process starts again to the anagen phase.
As the hair is being made, melanocytes inject pigment called melanin into cells which contain keratin. Keratin is the protein our hair, skin, and nails are made of. Throughout the time, melanocyctes injects pigment into the hair’s keratin, giving it a color. Melanin reduces with age. The hair becomes gray and eventually turns white. The hair follicle has a melanogentic clock which slows down or stops the melanocyte activity, which decreases the pigment your hair receives. This happens just before the hair is getting ready to fall out, so the roots look pale. Hair also turns gray because of age and genetics. Your genes regulate the exhaustion of the pigmentation potential of each hair follicle. This happens at varying rates in different hair follicles. A failure of melanocyte stem cells to sustain the production of melanocytes can make hair gray. This failure can result in the degradation of signals that produce hair color. There are also other factors that can change the pigmentation of hair. They can be intrinsic and extrinsic. Genes, hormones, body distribution, stress, and age are intrinsic factors. Climate, pollution, chemicals, and toxins are extrinsic factors. In 2009, scientists in Europe explained how hair follicles produce minute amounts of hydrogen peroxide. It builds on the hair shafts, which leads to a gradual loss of hair color. White people begin going gray in their mid-30s, Asians in their late 30s, and African Americans in their mid-40s. Half of all people have many gray hair by the time they turn 50. A white person is said to be prematurely gray their hair turns gray by age 20, and an African American is called the same if he goes gray before 30.
Also Read:Â DIY Remedies For A Flawless Skin And Gorgeous Hair
How To Cover Gray Hair
Get a single process hair color service at the salon. You will see your roots become stronger as you get regrowth. To cover grays between salon visits, cover the gray hairs with products like concealer touch-up sprays or root concealer stick.  Go for highlights. If you do not have more than 50% gray hair, getting highlights is the best option for you. Go heavier on areas where grays are to make them look like highlights. It is a good idea if you do not like the idea of changing your base color. To keep your highlights looking fresh, use color preserving hair products. You can also go for a brass break. This means getting your roots lightened which makes grayish hairs less noticeable. Use a gloss or toner to easily hide few gray hairs. You can also consider changing your hairstyle. Change your part to the side that has less gray hairs or go for hairstyles that cover your roots completely. You can also put on a headband to cover hairline grays.
Home Remedies For Gray Hair
Henna
Henna is made from the leaves of lawsonia plant. It can easily be used at home without damaging or drying your hair. It also binds keratin to hair which makes it strong and reduces breakage. It comes in a variety of colors.
Ingredients
2 tbsp of henna powder, 1 tbsp of yogurt, 1 tbsp of fenugreek seeds, 3 tbsp of coffee, 2 tbsp of basil, and3 tbsp of mint juice
Mix all the ingredients and make a paste with a smooth consistency. Apply the paste and let it sit for 2 to 3 hours before washing it off. Do this regularly to cover gray hair. Henna dye slowly wears off in 8-12 weeks.
Dye Hair with Coffee
Coffee is a natural method of coloring hair. It does not give a permanent color but it makes your hair stronger and gives it beneficial nutrients. It is an easy way of boosting hair color and gives it a dark brown color.
Make strong organic coffee. Let it cool down. Spritz it over your hair. Let it stay for 30 minutes. Rinse with cool water. Repeat this twice a week till you get the desired color. of brown
Amla
Amla is a great remedy for many hair problems like hair dull hair, graying and hair loss. It can be used like an oil or a paste to give a boost to your natural hair color. It also has anti-aging benefits because it is rich in vitamin C and antioxidants. Mix a tablespoon each of amla and lemon juice. Apply this mixture to your scalp every night before sleeping and wash off the next morning. Mix amla oil with almond oil in equal quantity and apply it to your hair. You can make amla oil by boiling dried amla or amla powder until it is charred. Let it cool, then apply it to your hair. Let it stay overnight or for at least one hour before washing it off. Do this once or twice a week.
Sage Rinse
Sage has been used since ancient times to cover gray hair. It has a gradually makes hair darker, shinier and softer. Use it daily for desired results. Boil water and add sage leaves into it. Boil for 2 minutes more and let it stay in that water for one hour. Strain the liquid and discard the leaves. Use the sage tea on your hair. Do this every week for best results. Mix half a cup of both rosemary oil and sage. Add it to boiling water for half an hour and let it steep for 30 minutes. Let it cool and then apply it on your hair and scalp.
Onion Juice to Reverse Gray Hair
There are many scientific studies that have proven this remedy for gray reversal of gray hair. It has minerals and nutrients like biotin and sulfur which are essential for healthy hair. Peel some onions and extract the juice. Apply the juice on your hair and leave it for an hour. You can also grate onions and massage paste on your hair. Onions have a strong smell. You may add honey or sandalwood powder to ward it off.
Black Tea
Black tea works great with prematurely gray hair. It is easy to make. You can apply tea for 2 hours on your hair. If you use it frequently, results will be quicker. Take 2 tablespoons black tea and some water. Boil leaves in that water. Let it cool. Sieve it. Apply it to your hair with a spray bottle. Brush your hair to spread it evenly. Rinse it after an hour or two. You do not need to shampoo after this.
Sesame Seed
Take sesame seeds, preferably black ones for this remedy. Both have trace minerals and vitamin B. This remedy will control hair loss and make white hair black. Take sesame seeds and water. Soak the seeds in water to make them black. Make a paste using either a food processor or a mortar and pestle. Apply the paste on your hair.
Try these tips and tricks and hopefully, you will see a reduction in gray hair. Stress will not help your gray hair, in fact it can make it worse. Remember nothing happens overnight so be consistent in your use of these remedies. Pick a remedy you think will work best for you and try it for at least 3 months before giving up. If nothing works, consult your doctor or dermatologist to get to the root of the problem.
Have any remedy that can help with hair woes? Share with us below!
