If you’ve recently noticed your first gray hair, don’t panic! It doesn’t mean that a whole head of white hair is right around the corner.
Going gray can be gorgeous, but if you’re not
yet ready to embrace the grays, you aren’t stuck waiting for nature to take its
course.
There are many ways to naturally slow down the
approach of gray hair, keeping your youthful color for as long as possible.
Here are some of our favorites:
- Manage your stress
You’re
probably stressed out by your new grays, but bad news: getting stressed out
actually makes gray hair worse! Elevated levels of cortisol in your blood can
cause premature graying and hair shed, so if you’re feeling tense your hair is
likely showing the results. Melt stress away by adapting a daily meditation routine,
using an app or online video, or simply sitting alone
with your own thoughts. Other proven techniques for stress busting include low
impact stretching like yoga, practicing gratitude, and staying away from
screens as much as possible. Your hair, and your mental health, will definitely
thank you!
- Eat your antioxidants
Aside
from aging and genetics, oxidative stress is one of the leading causes of
graying hair. New research suggests that it may be possible to help fight back
against oxidative stress by making sure your body has a high level of
antioxidants to draw on, and the best way to do that is by eating a diet high
in these essential compounds. Fruits like blueberries and strawberries, leafy
greens like spinach and kale, legumes, nuts, and even dark chocolate are all
excellent sources of the compounds your body needs to fight off the grays.
Consuming one or more each day will help you stay in living color for as long
as possible.
- Use hair health products specifically designed for
aging hair
Back
in your mother’s time, the best remedies for graying hair were home brewed
concoctions with little scientific support to back them up. These days? It's a
whole new world! Using a hair health serum designed to support aging hair
and help chase the grays away is one of the best things you can do to keep your
strands colorful for longer. Active ingredients like caffeine to combat
oxidative stress, peptides to boost color in new strands, and a vitamin blend
designed to reduce the appearance of graying hair work together to get the job
done.
- Stock up on anti gray nutrients
It’s
not just antioxidants that your hair needs to thrive. In fact, there are a
number of vitamins and minerals whose deficiency can cause your hair to go
gray. If there are nutritional gaps in your diet, your hair may opt to shut
down pigment production in response. Here are the nutritional deficiencies most
closely linked to premature graying, and the foods you can consume to make sure
your hair is getting a full dose:
●
Vitamin B12, found in beef, liver,
and chicken
●
Folic acid, found in asparagus,
broccoli, spinach, and brussel sprouts
●
Biotin, found in eggs, sweet
potatoes, and avocados
●
Vitamin D, found in salmon, milk,
yogurt, and oily fish
●
Iron, found in lentils, beans,
legumes, and leafy greens
●
Zinc, found in cashews, chickpeas,
and pumpkin seeds
●
Vitamin B5, found in whole grains,
potatoes, sunflower seeds, and cheese
By
making sure to consume adequate doses of these essential vitamins, you can help
your hair stay healthy and colorful for as long as possible.
- Stay away from harsh hair products
When your strands are stressed, they’re more likely to go gray—and that includes both internal and emotional stressors and the physical stress caused by overly harsh hair products. Chemical-laden products like hair dyes, straightening and curling treatments, and even something as simple as ordinary shampoo, can impact your hair’s natural melanin, leading to early graying. That's why it's important to switch to sulfate-free, paraben-free natural products, and treatments for gray hair. Take the time to read product labels and avoid any harsh ingredients that could cause damage to your hair. A more gentle approach based on natural ingredients will keep your hair just as clean, with no negative long-term impact on its color or tone.
- Quit smoking
If
you’re still a smoker, you know how hard it is to quit. But knowing you can
reduce your risk of prematurely going gray can provide a helpful incentive!
When you smoke tobacco, you restrict your blood vessle’s ability to carry
oxygen and other essential nutrients to your follicles, leading to hair loss
and earlier onset of graying as the aspects of your follicles that supply
strands with pigment die off. By cutting out cigarettes entirely, you’re
helping to support your stands—as well as eliminating other markers of aging
like wrinkles. It's the best thing you can do for your hair, body, and health.
- Talk to your doctor
Last
but not least, if your gray hair comes on suddenly, and is accompanied by other
worrying symptoms, it could be a sign that you’re experiencing a medical issue
outside of the normal changes aging can bring. There are a variety of ailments
that can cause hair to lose its natural pigment, most commonly autoimmune
conditions, thyroid disorders, and other less common medical issues that can
result in the sudden graying of hair. So if you feel like something's wrong
talk to your doctor. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Chase
the grays away...naturally!
Going gray is a natural part of aging, but
that doesn’t mean that it can’t happen on your terms. By adhering to these all
natural tips for slowing down the onset of gray hair, you’ll be able to keep
your strands colorful for as long as possible.
