PREMATURE GRAYING OF HAIR
Having gray hair is a common occurrence to almost everyone especially at the adulthood stage. Hair has a tendency to lose its natural colour with advancing age and turn grey, but premature greying is a morbid condition and it makes even the young look older. Graying of hair may occur to some people who have medical conditions, but this should not worry you if you do not have any illness.
If you knew that a healthy diet could prevent grey hair, would you change your eating habits? We keep being told that lifestyle and food intake are key factors in staying healthy and looking younger, but many of us just buy the food we like without analysing the contents to make sure we are consuming the right balance of vitamins and minerals. Greying hair often begins at age 35, and continues as we get older. By the age of 50, around half of the population has significant loss of colour.
Natural remedies such as a good hair vitamin, mental relaxation, having a balanced diet and maintenance of cleanliness have considerable effects in preventing gray hair. So, maintaining your youthful appearance is the best gift that you can give to yourself.
What causes Premature Graying of Hair
• Very often, heredity is a predisposing factor. This means that this change in the body is also in the genes.
• Stress and psychological worries may also trigger the early graying of hair. According to studies, people who suffer from anxiety and stress over a long period of time may experience the early appearance of gray hair. The feelings sorrow, worried including malnutrition may reduce the production of melanin which results to gray hair. Also know that stress and anxiety can cause hair loss or thinning in people. Mental worries produce extraordinary tension in the skin of the scalp; this interferes with the supply of vital nutrition necessary for the health of the hair.
• Early appearance of grey hair is prone to people who suffer from chronic cold and sinusitis and those that use hot water in washing their hair.
• A faulty diet diet with lack of vitamins will also causes untimely graying of hair. Lack of some of the B vitamins, iron, copper, and iodine in the daily diet is said to be a contributory factor.
• Other causes of premature greying of hair are an unclean condition of the scalp, washing the hair with hot water, drying it with an electric dryer, and use of hair dyes.
• Women can also suffer hair loss or thinning hair as they get older, or during pregnancy.
• Anemia may also be a contributing factor, but whatever the cause, the results can be distressing and lead to a loss of self confidence.
QUICK TIPS - Helps Reverse Gray Hair
Aside from having age spots, wrinkles, deep-seated laugh lines, crowfeet beside the eyes and other visible marks on the skin, graying hair is another inevitable part of the aging process. For the skin, there are anti-ageing serums that you can use, as well as surgical and non-surgical procedures that you can undergo to counteract the effects of ageing. But what about for the hair?
If you do not want to reveal your true age, graying hair is a dead giveaway, so how can you prevent it from showing? Take a look at the following quick tips that helps reverse gray hair issues:
1. A change of hair color or hair style.
Visit a salon and ask about your hair coloring options. If a major portion is affected, then you can try a new style or hair cut so that you can look younger. You can also buy a hair coloring kit if you want to cover your gray hair right in the comfort of your own home. Finally, if the distribution of gray hair is uneven – or if your hair color turns out to be darker and duller due to aging, then you can use highlights to bring the youth and luster back to your mane.
However, do bear in mind that it is best to choose a color dye closest to your original shade, as this will suit your skin tone and look the most natural. This can look extremely glamorous with a good cut to suit the shape of the face, and removes the need to worry about frequent trips to the salon to touch up those roots!
2. Use gray hair shampoo.
Use of emu oil shampoo is suggested since it is loaded with the much needed omega 3's and nutrition to help with gray hair issues. Emu oil shampoo works great for many different problems including dry hair that comes with age and with too many chemicals in the hair.
3. Treat graying hair with essential vitamins & Omegas.
You need to include a lot of foods with vitamin B12, Folic Acid, and Omega 3 to your diet. These three components are effective in fighting against graying hair. Take them as a supplement or look for foods rich in these nutrients and include them in you diet until you get your diet back on track. The hair vitamins work for so many different hair related problems as well as faster hair growth. The Omega 3 will help your hair grow stronger, since it will become brittle with age. Vitamin B12, on the other hand, helps retain your hair's original color – and a vitamin B supplement is also a good stress reliever.
4.Avoid devitalising foods, soft drinks etc
Devitalising foods such as white flour, refined sugar and all products made from them, soft drinks, pastries, jams and jellies should be avoided. These foods take away energy, cause wrinkles, unattractive skin, grey hair, and premature old age.
5. Reduce stress
There is no perfect solution to prevent stress-related gray hair, but of course, general stress reduction can help.
6. Quit smoking & exercise
If you smoke, try to quit or at least cut back. Get plenty of exercise and eat a well-balanced diet with plenty of anti-oxidant loaded vegetables and fruits. Anti-oxidants are nutrients which fight damage to our cells by chemicals known as free radicals; several studies indicate they may prevent cancer and they may also help prevent premature aging.
7. Adequate Sleep
Along with exercise and diet, be sure to get adequate sleep. Take time during the day to simply unwind and get your mind off your problems. Make time for activities you enjoy.
8. Positive Attitude
Above all cultivate a youthful, positive attitude. A positive attitude is a great buffer against life's stresses, including stress-related gray hair.
Home Remedies for Premature Greying of Hair
Indian Gooseberry
The use of Indian gooseberry is the foremost among the home remedies found beneficial in the prevention and treatment of premature greying of hair. This is a valuable hair tonic for enriching hair growth and hair pigmentation. The fruit, cut into pieces, should be dried, preferably in shade. These pieces should be boiled in coconut oil till the solid matter becomes like charred dust. This darkish oil is very useful against premature greying. The water in which dried indian gooseberry pieces have been soaked overnight is also nourishing for the hair. This water should be used for the last rinse while washing the hair. Massaging the scalp every night with a teaspoonful of indian gooseberry juice, mixed with a teaspoon of almond oil and a few drops of lime juice, also proves beneficial in the prevention and treatment of premature greying of hair.
Amaranth
Amaranth is another effective home remedy for hair disorders. Application of the fresh juice of the leaves of this vegetable helps the hair to retain its black colour and prevents it from premature greying. It also helps the growth of the hair and keeps it soft.
Curry Leaves
Liberal intake of curry leaves is considered beneficial in preventing premature greying of hair. These leaves have the property of providing vitality and strength to hair roots. New hair roots that grow are healthier and contain a normal pigment. The leaves can be used in the form of spicy condiment, or may be squeezed in buttermilk. When the leaves are boiled in coconut oil, the oil forms an excellent hair tonic to stimulate hair growth and bring back hair pigmentation.
Ribbed Gourd
Ribbed gourd boiled in coconut oil is also an effective remedy for premature greying of hair. Pieces of this vegetable should be dried in the shade. These dried pieces should be soaked in coconut oil and kept aside for three or four days. The oil should then be boiled till the solid is reduced to a blackened residue. This oil should be massaged into the scalp. It will help enrich the hair roots and restore pigment to the hair.
Butter
The butter made from cow's milk has the property of preventing premature greying of hair. A small roll may be taken internally and a little quantity may be massaged into the hair roots twice a week.
Coconut Oil & Lemon
Mix coconut oil and a dash of lemon and massage you head with the mixture daily, for about 15 minutes. The recipe is known to be very beneficial for treating grey hair and also gives long term benefits in terms of texture, strength as well as length of hair. There are instances of people having black hairs even up to the age of 60-70 years by using this method.
Almond oil
Massage of the scalp with almond oil is recommended.
Aromatherapy
The simplest method is to massage essential oils into your scalp every night. For dark hair, try rosemary, thyme or sage. For lighter hair, try german chamomile or lavender. Put 2-3 drops of the oil on your palms and rub into your scalp every night. This will help condition the skin of the scalp.
Rosemary & Sage
Take 1/2 cup of rosemary and a similar amount of dried sage. Boil both the ingredients in 2 cups water, for about 30 minutes. Let the mixture sit for 2-3 hours. Now, apply it throughout your grey hair and allow it to dry. Once dry, shampoo your hair. Repeat the procedure on weekly basis, until you see your hair getting the desired shade. Keep applying the mixture for another month, for maintenance.
Herbal Rinse
Herbal rinses are another way to reverse gray hair.
For dark hair, choose one or more:
Rosemary
Sage
Raspberry leaves
Parsley
Ivy Berries
Catnip
Black Tea
Black coffee (just make strong black coffee and use this as a rinse)
For blond or light hair:
rosehips
red hibiscus
calendula
saffron
marigold
tumeric
mullein
privet
yellow broom
Choose some herbs from the lists above and put about 1/2 cup of dried herbs/flower/berries in 2 cups of water. Simmer for 30 minutes and then let it sit for another 2-3 hours. You will have a very strong "tea" for your hair. Strain out the vegetable matter and pour it on your hair after shampooing. Let it sit for several minutes and rinse out. Gradually you will notice your hair color changing.
Potato
For dark hair, boil 1 unpeeled potato. Cool the water and massage the potato-water onto your scalp and into your hair with a cotton ball. Leave it for 20 minutes and then rinse out.
Rum
4 tablespoons of dried sage
1 water
4 teaspoons of rum
1 ounce glycerin
A few drops of vitamin E
Boil the sage in the water and let it sit for 2 hours. Strain it and add the rest of the ingredients. Use some cotton and rub this darkening concoction on your scalp every day. Gradually your hair will get darker.
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