What Are the Causes of Grey Hair?
- Genetics: Family history is one of the key premature hair greying causes.
- Loss of Melanin: Reduced melanin production after multiple hair cycles makes hair lose its pigment.
- Stress: Chronic stress releases hormones that deplete melanocytes, causing hair to turn grey.
- Vitamin Deficiency & Health Issues: Lack of vitamin B-12, thyroid disorders, and autoimmune conditions affect melanin production, leading to white hair.
- Smoking: This habit can damage hair follicles, reduce blood flow, and accelerate premature greying.
How to Prevent Grey Hair?
Eat nutrient-rich food, manage stress, quit smoking, protect hair, use gentle care, and get regular health checkups.
Causes of Grey Hair
Why does hair lose its pigment, aka melanin? Surely, there are numerous grey hair reasons other than aging. Let’s find out!
1. Genetics
Struggling with grey hair in your 20’s? Your genetic structure could be one of the premature hair greying causes. If your parents or grandparents had white hair in their early adulthood, it’s possible that you will develop white hair at an early age. While you can’t change your genetic makeup, you can certainly cover your greys with permanent hair color.
Read our blog on Hair Color and Highlight Solutions for Grey Hair
2. Loss of Melanin
Grey hair reasons often stem from low melanin production in your body. Melanin is produced every time your hair cycle begins (which lasts for several years). However, after 7–15 cycles, the melanin stops growing, causing hair to lose its pigment.
3. Stress
Chronic stress is one of the main causes of grey hair. When stressed, your body responds by releasing a hormone called norepinephrine, causing melanocytes. Under these circumstances, the melanin-producing cell crawls out of your hair follicles, turning your hair grey.
4. Vitamin Deficiency & Health Conditions
Certain grey hair reasons trace back to vitamin B-12 deficiency, thyroid disorders (hyper- or hypothyroidism), and some autoimmune diseases like vitiligo or alopecia areata. All of these health conditions may affect melanin production at the follicular level, causing white hair.
5. Smoking
Smoking and grey hair are thought to be interconnected. Smoking shrinks blood vessels, reducing blood flow to hair follicles and resulting in hair loss. Also, toxins in cigarettes can damage hair follicles, leading to white hair, making it one of the frontline premature hair greying causes.
Now that you know the reasons for silver locks, let’s learn how to slow down the causes of grey hair with simple preventive steps.
How to Prevent Grey Hair?
Follow these tips to prevent grey hair:
- Eat a nutrient-rich diet with B-vitamins, iron, copper, and antioxidants.
- Manage stress by indulging in yoga, exercise, or other relaxation techniques.
- Quit smoking.
- Wear protective hairstyles and use scarves, hats to combat harmful external elements.
- Massage your scalp and hair to experience the and follow with gentle shampoos, and conditioners.
- Go for regular checkups for early detection of thyroid issues or vitamin deficiencies.
Although greying is a natural process, however, considering the causes of grey hair in mind and following the above-mentioned tips will help delay it to some extent. Ultimately, knowledge is the key to care and prevention!
For further hair care-related assistance, browse through the L'Oréal Paris hair care products range and hair care blogs, and pave the way for healthy hair.
