What Causes Your Hair To Turn Gray?
jyotsana raoBE 
Experience: 4 yearsJyotsana Rao is an engineering graduate from NIT, Nagpur, who discovered her love for writing during her undergraduate days. She is passionate about writing about everything related to beauty - makeup... more
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It’s a fact that as we get older, the dreaded gray hair (and, of course, wrinkles) starts to appear. Most of us find our first “grays” around the age of 28-30, usually starting at the temples, and later, across the scalp. But what causes our hair to turn gray?
Here’s the scientific reason for our hair turning gray:
Hair color is produced by cells called melanocytes. Your hair color depends on the ratio of two pigments, which are eumelanin and pheomelanin. Both the types of melanin, when blended, give different shades of colors, and that’s why our hair colors vary from each other.
As we start aging, the amount of melanin starts reducing, eventually causing our hair to turn gray. Apart from this, there are a few other factors as well that contribute to turning our hair gray. Some of them are as follows:
1. Smoking
Tobacco consumption and graying of hair are closely related to each other, and cigarette smoking is often linked to the premature graying of hair.
2. Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Vitamin B12 deficiency leads to the premature graying of hair. You can include fish, lamb, cheese, banana, and lamb in your diet to get the much required dose of this vitamin.
3. Oxidative Stress
Oxidative stress can be referred to as a state where the free radicals outnumber the antioxidant defenses, which ultimately leads to graying of hair.
4. Hydrogen Peroxide
As we grow older, the amount of hydrogen peroxide produced increases, and this ultimately bleaches out the hair pigments, turning them gray.
If you wish to preserve your hair’s natural color for a longer time and prevent gray hair, then these tips may help.
1. Coconut Oil
Massaging coconut oil on the scalp regularly provides moisture and the required amounts of lauric acid to the hair. This helps in strengthening and softening the strands and preventing hair from turning gray.
2. De-Stress
Stress is one of the major causes of going gray early. Try to keep stress at bay and do things that make you feel relaxed.
3. Keep Hydrated
Reduce your alcohol and caffeine intake and try to up the intake of water. Lack of hydration also contributes to gray hair.
4. Sleep For Longer
Regular and good sleeping habits help you relax and rejuvenate your cells.
5. Chinese Herbs
He Shou We or Fo-ti is a very popular Chinese herb that is believed to prevent graying of hair. It restores the natural color of your hair.
Your diet plays an important role when it comes to any problem related to your body. Follow a healthy diet, stay away from stress, and maintain a healthy lifestyle. All your aging problems will be solved automatically.
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