Have you started noticing grey hairs on your head? Or you are worried that number of grey hairs are increasing and making you conscious of the situation? Well it is time that you do a bit of reading about grey hair, what causes grey hair and what to do about it. Let me first tell you something about your hair. We all know that hairs grow on the scalp and all over the skin except palms and soles of the feet. Now let us discuss only the hair on the head. The hair has two parts. Follicle is the name of that part which grows inside the skin of your scalp. They are not visible. Follicles get nutrition from blood supply. The second part of your hair is visible and it is called hair strand or simply hair. This visible part of your hair (the hair strand) is made of a protein called keratin. Each hair strand has three layers. The inner two layers have got pigments which give colour to your hair.
What Causes Grey Hair
A little bit of grey hair always looks stylish and reflects your experience and wisdom. But we start getting worried when we find more and more grey hairs on our head. Some people may get grey hairs as early as 20s and 30s. Obviously you do not want to look too wise at younger age!! Premature grey hair is a cause of worry. So let us find out what causes grey hair.
Normal Aging Causes Grey Hair
This is the main reason and the biggest culprit for hair grey hair. Dermatologists believe that 50% of people will have 50% of their hair grey by the time they are 50 years old. Like your skin hairs also change in texture as age advances. Redheads get grey hair at the earliest. Next in the list are Caucasians followed by Asians d finally Africans.
Lifestyle as Cause of Grey Hair
Our lifestyle has a lot to do with our physical well being. Lack of nutrition, junk food, smoking, pollution, vitamin deficiency etc can cause hair to become grey. These factors also affect your skin in a big way. Healthy hair and healthy diet go together. Consumption of Milk, eggs, salmon, leafy green vegetables, yellow vegetables, orange and water are essential for healthy hair.
Slowdown in Pigment Production
Hair starts turning grey when the body stops producing the pigment named Melanin. This pigment is responsible of giving colour to your hair strands. This can happen due to unbalanced diet. Poor diet causes lack of nourishment of hair follicles. Lesser amount of melanocytes is injected into cells which contain keratin. So larger number of hairs become grey.
Stress May Cause Grey Hair
Stress is not directly responsible for hair becoming grey. But stress certainly is a cause for many health issues. These health issues in turn may be the reason for grey hair. Even physical trauma causes hair loss. Death of a near and dear can also result in hair loss. Though in both these cases hair generally grows back. You would have noticed how many presidents develop lots of grey hair due to stress of their position and responsibilities. But remember that short term everyday routine stress does not cause hair to become grey. But perhaps if there is prolonged period of stress, it might accelerate the rate of hair becoming grey.
Medical Problems can Cause Grey Hair
Following ailments can also cause grey hairs. In such cases you must consult your doctor.
Hypothyroidism
Vitilogo
Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Tuberous Sclerosis
Pernicious Anaemia
Albinism
Werner Syndrome
Neurofibromatosis
Malnutrition
Home Remedies for Grey Hair
Try out these grey hair home remedies. These are without chemicals and use the beneficial properties of herbs.
Black Sesame Seeds
Sesame seeds promote melanocyte activities in the hair follicles. Hence more of melanin is produced. As you already know melanin is the pigment which gives colour to your hair. So you should regularly apply sesame oil to your scalp and hair. You can also chew some black sesame seeds every day. Use this method for three months or so. It will certainly be beneficial for your hair.
Shikakai for Grey Hair
Shikakai has amazing benefits on your hair. You can use it as shampoo, hair wash or for hair pack. It is available in market as powder and also in dried fruit form. Shikakai on its own does not lather much. So it can be mixed with reetha which is also called soap nut. Shikakai cleans your scalp gently without stripping oil from the scalp. So it can be used even by those who have dry hair. Regular use of shikakai makes the scalp healthier and you get stronger and thicker hair. It has anti fungal properties and is useful in removing dandruff.
Shikakai Shampoo for Grey Hair
You can make your own shikakai shampoo easily. Put some dried shikakai pods in a bowl of water. Add soem reetha (soap nut) and dried amla (Indian Gooseberry) to the water. Leave it overnight to soak. Next morning boil the whole thing till the pods become soft. Stop heating and let the water cool. Now mash the pods and strain it into another bowl. Use the strained water as a shampoo to clean your scalp and hair. Remember that it will not lather like your commercial shampoo. But don’t worry!! It will clean your hair and scalp more effectively and in a natural way, without chemicals.
Shikakai Hair Pack for Grey Hair
This hair pack is very beneficial for a host of hair related problems.
Ingredients
Shikakai Powder
Neem Leaves
Dried Amla (Indian Gooseberry)
Fenugreek Powder or Methi Powder
How to Make and Use Shikakai Hair Mask
Take two cups of water in a bowl and put all the ingredients in it. Boil the water for about 10 to 15 minutes. Let it cool. Mash everything with your hands. Now strain the water in a separate bowl. Massage your scalp with this water for few minutes. Apply this water on the hair. Leave it on for half an hour. Now you can wash your hair with cold water. This shikakai hair mask not only helps in reducing grey hair it also helps in hair growth.
Henna and Amla Hair Pack for Grey Hair
This is one of the best home remedies to cover up grey hair. It has benefits of both henna and amla (Indian Gooseberry).
Ingredients
Henna Powder – Two Tablespoons
Amla Powder – One Tablespoon
Coffee Powder – One Teaspoon (Optional)
How to Make and Apply Henna and Amla Hair Pack
Put all the ingredients in a glass bowl. Add some water or tea liquor and stir well to make a paste. Apply this paste on your scalp and all along hair strands. Leave it on for thirty minutes. After this rinse off the hair pack and wash your hair with a mild shampoo.
Sage Water for Grey Hair
Herbal treatment gives you a gentler and more beneficial treatment that chemical based hair colours. Tea, Black Walnut, Mustard Seed Oil and Coffee are some of the natural products which can be used for healthy hair and also to colour grey hairs. Sage tea water is one of very popular methods for colouring grey hairs.
Ingredients
Fresh or Dry Sage – Half Cup
Water – Two Cups
Utensils – A metal Bowl, Strainer
How to Make and Apply Sage Water Hair Mask
Bring two cups of water to boil. Add the sage leaves and continue to boil for another five minutes. Now stop bowling and let the sage leaves to steep in the water for one hour. Now strain the liquid in a separate bowl. You can throw the sage leaves. Pour the cold liquid on your scalp and hair. Put a large bowl under your head so that you can collect the liquid which runs off from your hair. Do not waste this liquid. Use this liquid and pour it again on your hair. Use this home remedy once a week. Continue till your hair becomes dark as per your choice. After this you should do this treatment once in two weeks.
Sage and Rosemary for Grey Hairs
This is a natural treatment for grey hairs. If you are a brunette this treatment will give a beautiful red tinge to your locks.
Ingredients
Sage – Half Cup
Rosemary – One Fourth of a Cup
Water – Two Cups
How to Make and Apply Sage Water and Rosemary Hair Mask
Put sage and rosemary in a bowl. Bring the water to boil and then pour the boiling water over sage and rosemary. Leave it for fifteen minutes. Now strain out the herbs and collect the liquid in a bowl. Apply this liquid to your scalp and hairs. Leave it on for 20 minutes. Now you can rinse off with cold water.
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