By Maria Eliza Pineda

Nowadays, it seems to be a huge trend lately to ward off all signs of aging for as long as possible. Of course, this isn’t anything new. People want a youthful look for as long as possible because it gives the impression of healthiness, being put-together, and knowing how to take care of oneself. Gray hair is a natural part of aging and one of the first signs that can appear as you get older.

While gray hair is usually a sign of aging, there are instances when it can appear much earlier in life. This is called premature graying and it can happen as early as your teenage years and early twenties. 

For these reasons, gray hair treatments have been created to combat the loss of pigment in the strands. But do these treatments work? Let’s find out the science behind gray hair treatments and how you can use them for your benefit.

How Do You Get Gray Hair? 

Gray hair is what happens when there is no pigment in the hair strands. This occurs when the cells at the very bulb of the hair stop producing a pigment called melanin that creates your natural color. The more pigment is produced, the darker the hair is.

A halt in melanin production can be caused by many things but essentially, this means that the cells at the root of the hair become dormant and either do not get enough nutrition or have a hard time absorbing nutrition. This is what slows and even halts pigment production.

To know how gray hair treatments work to reverse this process, it’s important to know how hair turns gray in the first place.

Causes of Gray Hair

Many factors can cause gray hair. Some can even happen simultaneously. To help your gray hair treatment with its purpose, you can get to the root of the problem to speed things up and increase effectiveness.

Stress

Stress is a notorious cause of gray hair and hair fall. Fascinatingly, the body reacts to stress by having physical manifestations. This includes illnesses, extreme hair fall, wrinkles, and gray hair.

Genetics

Genetics also play a big role in determining whether you will get them earlier or how much of it you’ll get. If you see family members and relatives of yours get a significant amount of gray hair and get it earlier in life, there is a big chance that it is in your genes to go gray.

Smoking

Studies have shown that smokers have a higher chance of going gray prematurely than non-smokers. If you are a big smoker and are going gray much earlier than typical, that may be the reason. If you have not gone gray yet, there is a big chance you will soon, and preventing it will be better and more effective in the long run.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Lack of pigment in the hair can be because your hair isn’t getting the nutrition that it needs. This can be prevented by eating a well-balanced, healthy diet with highly nutritious foods. You can also consult a medical professional to add some supplements to your diet.

Damage

Chemically processing hair, heat styling, and sun damage can all cause de-pigmentation in the hair. A slight amount of sun or heat damage can lighten the strands and give them natural highlights. However, too much will damage the hair and cause pigment to go away completely. Chemically processing hair can cause this as well. Be sure to use heat protectants, hair masks, and treatments to heal your damaged locks to prevent going gray.

Aging

The number one cause for raw ingredients to use as a home remedy. Gray hair is just plain aging. Gray hairs usually start to appear around your late thirties. If you’re lucky enough, they may appear much later in your forties or fifties. While it’s generally the desire to prevent them or get rid of them, there is absolutely nothing wrong with choosing to rock the gray locks. It’s a normal part of life! Wear it loud and proud if you so desire. 

How Do Gray Hair Treatments Work? 

Now that you know how and why hair turns gray, you’ll be able to get a better understanding of how gray hair treatments work to prevent and get rid of them.

Gray hair treatments are loaded with ingredients that stimulate dormant cells at the root of the hair to induce pigment production. Along with this, they also contain ingredients that promote hair growth so that the gray hairs that fall out are quickly replaced by pigmented hairs.

These treatments should not put artificial pigments on the hair and instead, just bring back the original color of your hair. The surface of the hair shaft is not going to be colored. A gray hair treatment should work from the inside to stimulate melanin production, which will color the hair once it regrows.

How Do You Use A Gray Hair Treatment to Get Rid of Gray Hair? 

There are many gray hair treatments out there that have different types of instructions to maximize their effectiveness. It’s important to follow the specific instructions that your gray hair treatment comes with. 

It’s important to note that gray hair treatments do not work overnight. You need to be very consistent and patient with it. You have to use your gray hair treatment regularly and religiously to be able to see results. Results will not come quickly. The quickest you’ll be able to see results will be in about three months if you are consistent with application.

Natural Anti-Gray Ingredients

Multiple ingredients have been shown to have some effect in treating and preventing gray hair. If you want an effective gray hair treatment, you should look for these ingredients in them. alternatively, you can also use these on their own and get a hold of the raw ingredients to use as a home remedy.

Curry Leaves

Curry leaves have been used as a traditional remedy for premature gray hair for ages. Curry leaves are rich in antioxidants, beta-carotene, and proteins, which are all nutrients that help prevent gray hair and keep hair healthy.

Indian Gooseberry

Indian gooseberry or amla oil, as is more famously known in Indian culture, is another traditional remedy for gray hair. Studies have shown that Indian gooseberry does help promote faster and healthier hair growth. This can help with replacing gray hairs with healthy pigmented hairs.

Polygonum Multiflorum

The ingredient with the most scientific backing is polygonum multiflorum. This was another ingredient that started as a Chinese traditional remedy for aging scalp and hair. Recent scientific studies have proven that polygonum multiflorum helps reverse the graying process of the hair and induces pigment production at the bulb. 

Do Gray Hair Treatments Work?

The simple answer would be, yes. Gray hair treatments can work to prevent and reverse gray hair. However, it’s important to note that gray hair treatments are not a miracle product. Not all free hair treatments are made the same. Some are more effective than others and some have better ingredients than others. You also have to have a lot of patience and you have to be consistent with it.

If you are going gray and aren’t ready to rock the salt and pepper look, you can try out a gray hair treatment to reverse the process. Remember to look for good ingredients that have been proven to help nourish the hair as well as get rid of grays.