Salt and pepper mane is considered normal amongst the ageing population. Melanin is the compound that gives hair a dark colour and it is the level of melanin that determines the darkness of the hair. Though scientific studies have not shown a direct relation between stress and greying of hair but it is common to associate both of them. There is a reason why stress causes greying, persistent stress leads to higher rate of hair fall and their regeneration. This ages the process of body’s pigment producing ability.
Premature greying has become very common nowadays. Hormonal imbalance, nutritional deficiencies, hereditary and genetic factors. In this write up we will discuss various natural ways and means of avoiding this premature greying of hair. In fact if used regularly and over years, these natural treatments may also delay the greying of hair beyond the average age of greying hair.
Natural Treatments For Avoiding Grey Hair
Alleviate Stress
As mentioned in the introduction, greying of hair is indirectly related to stress. This is why it is of utmost importance to de-stress your general lifestyle and manage it effectively. There are many natural ways in which you can alleviate the stress. Getting involved in some sports activity, exercise or yoga is a great way of reducing the stress.
Yoga can help you in managing the stress well by using deep breathing techniques and meditating. Heavy exercises and sports produce feel good hormones in your body. They also distract your mind from every day’s mundane problems and issues. Ensure an hour of physical activity to de-stress everyday.
There are other emerging and popular natural therapies that have been helping people in keeping the stress away. Massaging with essential oils, aroma therapy and acupuncture are some of the common examples of such alternative treatments. Aroma Therapy involves using mild fragrances like vanilla, sandal, lavender etc in form of bath oils and incense sticks to calm your nerves and soothe your senses.
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese remedy which involves pricking the points on your body that are determined by a qualified acupuncturist for your problem. It is a painless procedure and the needles used are super thin so they do not cause pain. Massaging the body releases the pent up pressure in the body and oils used in the process act as aroma therapy.
Eat Right
Nutritional deficiency is one of the leading cause of greying hair. Even though we have enough to eat but what we eat happens to be imbalanced when it comes to nutritional value. Deficiency of vitamin B12, iron, zinc and iodine are known to cause premature greying of hair. Their deficiencies play havoc with the functioning of pituitary gland and leads to premature hair greying.
The best source of Iodine is sea fish and commercial processed salt which has iodine added during the manufacturing. Iron is high in spinach, dark green leafy vegetables, red meat, carrot and beetroot. You can also include seafood and spinach for getting your daily dose of zinc. Apart from these two, pumpkin, cocoa, cashew nuts and mushrooms are also rich in zinc.
Vitamin B 12 is also known as Cobalamin, can be derived from fortified cereals, soy products, mackerel, Swiss cheese, skimmed milk and eggs. You may determine the nutritional deficiency that you are suffering from by getting yourself medically tested and then make the changes in your diet to accommodate the food stuff that will provide you with right nutrition.
Hydrate
70% of our body is made up of water and therefore for numerous health benefits it is extremely important to keep the levels of fluid in the body to optimum level. This is why 1-2 litres of water is recommended as minimum consumption of water. The quality of your skin and hair also largely depends on the water content of your body.
The fluid helps in circulation of toxins out of the body. It carries toxins, germs and foreign particles lodged in our tissues, cells and bloodstream out of the body through excretion. In many people blockage and clogged hair follicles are the main reason behind hair loss and premature hair greying. The clogged follicles prevent the pigment from colouring your hair and therefore the hair grows in a white hue.
It is also important to note that alcohol and smoking both have undesirable effects on the body, skin and hair as smoking leads to accumulation of toxins in the body and alcohol has the effects of dehydrating the body.
Home Remedies For Avoiding Grey Hair
Herbal Remedies For Avoiding Grey Hair
Natural Treatments For Grey Hair
Oil Massage
Massaging has the effect of increasing the blood circulation by stimulating the scalp. Increases blood circulation lead to regular and expeditious clearance of internal blockages of the hair follicles and also reduces their fall. Oil massage also keeps the scalp and hair moisturized which results in less hair fall and therefore keeps the process of pigment production fresh and young.
Take some warm coconut oil and apply at least an hour before the hair wash. The warmth will open the pores on the scalp and let the hair roots absorb the oil nutrition better. You can add some lime juice to the oil if you have dandruff. Lemon and baking soda are also great deep cleansing products so ideal for tackling premature greying of hair.
Mix a spoon of baking soda in half a bowl of water. Mix until it foams and massage on to your scalp. But remember to follow these cleansing routines with application of oil as they also dry out the scalp and hair. If you have extremely dry hair then use of mustard oil is recommended. It is thick and heavily oily.
Regular Hair Routine
A good hair routine is necessary for fighting premature greying. Ones in a week is a good enough frequency but steam therapy must be limited to ones in a month as excess steaming can damage the hair and its roots. Take some warm oil. You can use Coconut, mustard or olive oil according to your preference and extent of dryness in the hair.
Apply this warm oil and massage. If you suffer from dandruff and want to use lemon then apply it along with the oil. Cover your head with a hot towel for steaming the scalp for about 15 minutes. Take your regular shampoo and wash after an hour of oil application. After one wash with the mild shampoo, use baking soda solution if this is what you prefer over lemon.
After a thorough wash, apply your regular conditioner mixed with some egg and let it rest for 2 minutes. Wash off and apply some oil of your choice on your fingertips and run them through your hair. Wash off with 1-2 mugs of water.
Caution: Please use Remedies after Proper Research and Guidance. You accept that you are following any advice at your own risk and will properly research or consult healthcare professional.
