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One study found that participants with prematurely graying hair had higher cholesterol levels. Taking fish oil supplements could potentially be one way to address this. Beyond internal impacts, what your hair faces externally matters too. "Follow healthy hair habits. Try to avoid repetitive use of heat and chemical treatments which can damage the hair and the pigment cells," recommends Lain. "Limit exposure to, or protect hair from, toxins and pollutants, and when possible, protect your hair from the sun by covering it up with a hat or scarf." While more research is needed, stress has been shown to be a contributing factor to graying hair, as it leads to oxidative damage.
Squelch the Stress
For example, you may be tempted to simply pluck new greys you see. However, repeated plucking can actually damage the hair follicle and lead to permanent hair loss. If you want to get rid of greys, coloring your hair is a better option. If you’re really concerned about your grays, it’s best to see a trichologist or dermatologist for other treatment, such as PRP (platelet rich plasma) treatment. “PRP is a great and effective way to stimulate the stem cells with our own growth factors, causing them to ‘wake up’ and grow,” says Green.
Be patient with the process.
For example, people have used a Chinese herb called Polygonum multiflorum for alopecia (hair loss), as well as for liver disease, diabetes, and heart disease. To improve overall hair health, some people turn to herbal remedies. Some people have a condition called acatalasemia, which causes low levels of these enzymes. Over time, these low levels can cause toxins to build up in the body. If you’re not getting enough of the above nutrients in your diet, taking one or more supplements could help. Vitamin B-12 is another nutrient that’s essential for your metabolism, DNA production, and overall energy levels.
Does stress make a person go gray quicker?
These effects could result in gray hair and other noticeable symptoms. Research has found that people with prematurely graying hair also tend to have vitamin D deficiencies. As each strand grows, all hair goes through a cycle of regeneration and then death, and the cycle continues again and again throughout the lifespan as long as your hair follicles remain active. (If they flip "off" and go dormant, that's when balding occurs.) As hair follicles encounter stressors and age, they can begin to produce less color in each phase. In fact, the Library of Congress says our chance of going gray, on average, increases 10% to 20% every decade after age 30.

You may choose to grab a box of hair dye to cover up those greys, but that’s not the best approach for a couple of reasons. One, just as over-processing or over-coloring can damage normal, healthy hair, it can even more harshly affect grey hair. Some people find that their silver strands become dry and coarse – and that coarseness can make it harder for color to penetrate. You may have to allow the color to sit on your hair for longer, causing damage.
What causes gray hair at an early age? Here's what to know. - USA TODAY
What causes gray hair at an early age? Here's what to know..
Posted: Wed, 11 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more. Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support. Genes for hair texture -- straight, curly, etc. -- as well as genes for beard thickness and eyebrow thickness were also found. Chickpeas contain some of the highest concentrations of vitamin B9.
In fact, up to 23% of people will have half their hair turn gray by the age of 50. We all do our best to get fresh air and avoid all types of pollution, right? However, it's still worth noting, considering that one study found a link between free radical exposure and gray hair. If you're trying to keep your color for as long as possible, it's a nice reminder to control the oxidative stress around you, keep your living environment pure, and breathe fresh air every day. "Living a healthy lifestyle and ensuring a balanced diet with adequate protein, as well as addressing nutritional deficiencies, may be helpful" in preventing graying, according to Farber. Typically, gray hairs spring up all over the scalp rather than in sections.
Foods To Eat to Keep You Looking Young
April (she/her) is the beauty director at Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman's Day, where she oversees all beauty content. She has over 15 years of experience under her belt, starting her career as an assistant beauty editor at GH in 2007, and working in the beauty departments of SELF and Fitness magazines. Marci Robin is a freelance writer and editor specializing in beauty and lifestyle content. With over 20 years of experience, Marci has served as a contributing editor for Allure, senior beauty editor at GoodHousekeeping.com, executive editor of xoVain and senior online editor at NewBeauty. Her writing has also appeared in her writing has also appeared in InStyle, MarthaStewart.com and Refinery29. Lifestyle factors such as smoking can cause any greys you may have to look worse than they should.
When we think of gray hair, we often fail to recognize that there are many different shades. According to Leake, toner isn't one size fits all, but when used properly, it can help add dimension. For example, a light pale gray has a limited capacity to reflect light, so it can appear duller and more muted. "A [silver] toner in this scenario would provide a more silver tone with the illusion of many dimensions and a soft finish," he says. Sarchet explains that balayage or highlights are also great ways to distract the eye from grays because the brightened tones will blend. Aleesha Badkar is a lifestyle writer who specialises in health, beauty - and the royals.
Jamie Lee Curtis is a silver fox and wears her grays in a super-fly pixie cut. Maye Musk is a gorgeous, glorious model with a voluminous white bob. Others love their natural dark hue and stick to it regardless of nature’s intent. Gray hair may burn more easily due to its texture and porosity, so when using hot tools to style, caution must be used. It is very important to purchase good-quality hair tools with temperature controls.

“What matters in the end is how you’ve taken advantage of the years that have passed.” If you fall into this category and just want to fully embrace the gray-hair life, visit your hair stylist and let them know! They’ll be able to provide great ways to fully elevate your look. Scott recommends using a big barrel curling iron to create waves. If you prefer your hair up, Pacheco suggests crossed and french braids that will also help hide grays (or enhance the look with weaves of color).
A cup of them packs a whopping 1,114 micrograms of B-9, nearly three times the RDA of 400 micrograms. All products featured on Vogue are independently selected by our editors. However, we may earn affiliate revenue on this article and commission when you buy something.
You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment. First and foremost, whether or not you get greys all depends on your genes. Before you rush off to embrace your grays, here are some things you should know.