Natural Remedies to Treat Grey Hair

What causes premature greying?

If your hair is turning grey at 25, then genetics can be largely blamed for it. Your hair follicles contain pigment cells that produce melanin. This melanin gives your locks their color. When your body stops generating melanin altogether, hair turns into white and grey

Hair primarily turns grey when melanocytes around hair follicles decrease or stop the production of melanin. Read below to know some amazing home remedies which can help turn grey hair into black.

Grey strands of hair are a person’s most devastating nightmare. Hair primarily turns grey when melanocytes around hair follicles decrease or stop the production of melanin. Keratin is the main protein that builds up hair. The absence or deficiency of melanin in keratin causes hair greying. The deficiency of melanin can be caused because of genetics, age, and hormonal changes in the body. Chemical dyes to blacken hair and redeem hair’s luster and shine may have harmful effects in the long run. So, in this article, we talk about some natural remedies which can help turn grey hair into black

Myth 1: Stress turns hair grey

While stress does contribute to greying, it is not the actual cause of grey hair. You won’t suddenly have greys all over after a stressful day at work or a tense situation at home. But yes, stress does speed up the process.

Myth 2: Plucking greys makes more greys grow back

We’ve often heard this from our friends, colleagues, peers, and relatives. While plucking hair, in general, is not a great idea, it does not contribute to more greys. Plucking your hair strand may weaken the follicle and cause collateral damage in the process. And if by mistake, you pluck the strand which is not grey, a fresh grey hair may grow in its place *ouch*

Myth 3: Hair greying has got nothing to do with your lifestyle

Well, it does! Smoking can cause your hair to turn grey before time. Also, a lack of vitamin B, folic acid, and biotin are associated with early greying. Including a well-balanced nutritious diet in your lifestyle may not exactly reverse greys but help keep them at bay.

Home remedies for grey hair

Amla and methi seeds

Add 6-7 pieces to 3 tbsp of an oil of your choice (coconut, olive, almond) and boil for a few minutes. Add 1 tbsp of fenugreek powder. Cool, strain, and apply generously all over the scalp at night. Use a mild herbal shampoo to wash off in the morning.

Amla and methi together make for one of the best natural remedies for grey hair. Indian gooseberry or Amla is a rich source of Vitamin C and has been used in Ayurveda for all kinds of hair problems. Fenugreek or methi seeds are full of several nutrients and the combination of these super ingredients not only prevents premature greying but also promotes hair growth.

Black tea

Applying black tea to your grey hair can make hair black gradually. It also helps in the increasing volume of hair and makes hair shinier. Use the black tea mask twice a week and avoid using shampoo after it, for effective results.

Coconut oil and lemon

Both coconut oil and lemon are great ingredients for hair. They help in preserving pigment cells in hair follicles and make hair blacker day by day. It is suggested that you apply coconut oil and lemon mixture to your hair twice a week for good results.

Oats

Oats are famous for their numerous health benefits, but did you know that they can also turn grey hair into black? You can consume oats in the form of daily breakfast or make a paste out of it by adding almond oil to it. The rich presence of biotin in oats proves to be a great healer of grey hair. Biotin helps hair darken and nourishes them deeply. The oats paste can also be used as a natural conditioner. We recommend you apply this paste once a week.

Onion juice

Onion juice is rich in catalase, an enzyme responsible for darkening hair from the roots. Onion juice is a good source of biotin, magnesium, copper, vitamin C, phosphorus, sulfur, Vitamins B1 and B6, and folate. These help in the blackening of hair and also help in preventing hair fall. To make an onion pack, all you have to do is extract juice from an onion and apply it to hair, particularly to the roots. Leave the pack for 40 minutes and rinse it off. This pack can be applied twice a week for effective results.

Henna and coffee

Add 1 tbsp of coffee powder to boiling water. Cool and make a paste with henna powder. Let it rest covered for a few hours. Mix in 1 tbsp of any oil of your choice and apply liberally covering the hair completely. Wash off after an hour.

Henna is a natural conditioner and a colorant and when combined with coffee, it gives excellent results. Henna is an age-old remedy to turn grey hair into black.

Curry leaves and oil

Boil a cupful of curry leaves in a cup of oil till they turn black. Cool, strain and store. Massage into hair 2-3 times a week. Leave overnight.

curry leaves are full of Vitamin B and help to restore the pigment melamine in the hair follicles and prevent further greying. It is a rich source of Beta-Keratin and also prevents hair fall. This home remedy does more than just prevent pesky greys.

Ridge-gourd oil

Place a cupful of sundried ridge-gourd pieces in coconut oil and leave to steep and mature for 3-4 days. Boil the oil for a few minutes. Strain and store. Massage into the scalp and hair at night and wash off with a herbal shampoo of your choice.

Ridge gourd or Torai contains enzymes that restore the pigment, and melamine in the root of the hair as well as strengthen them. Coconut oil is a natural conditioner making unruly hair manageable.

Onion with lemon and olive oil juice

Mix 2-3 tsp of onion juice, 1 tsp of lemon juice, and 1 tsp of olive oil. Massage into the scalp and hair and wash off after half an hour.

An effective solution for greying hair, onion also promotes hair growth. It increases the enzyme, Catalase, thus darkening the hair. When combined with lemon juice, it gives a shine and bounces to the hair.

Shikakai powder

Make a paste of shikakai powder and yogurt and rub it into the scalp. Wash off after half an hour.

shikakai powder has been used in Ayurveda for ages for healthy hair. It is a natural shampoo and an effective way to reduce greying. Regular use will lead to a healthier scalp and you will notice hair growth.

Pamper and nourish your hair with these home remedies and delay the greying of hair. A good nutritious diet also plays a major role in contributing to flaunting a shiny beautiful mane.

Bhringraj

You may have read about the herb Bhringraj in natural hair oils and hair products. It is one of those few ingredients found in nature that offers a ton of benefits. Right from preventing premature aging to making hair strong and shiny, it can do it all.

Bhringraj hair dye:

Heat Bhringraj in a small pan over low heat with coconut oil and rub the mixture when it’s warm into your hair and scalp. Wash off after an hour and repeat 2-3 times a week.

Hibiscus

The antioxidants and vitamins in Hibiscus produce melanin a pigment that gives hair its natural color. The flower can be used to treat several hair problems like dandruff, dryness, and hair loss.

Hibiscus hair dye:

Soak the leaves and flowers of hibiscus in water overnight and use the water to rinse your hair the next day. If you can’t find hibiscus flowers or leaves you can also use its powder by mixing it with henna.