How to prevent and cure premature hair graying?

Hair is supposed to start turning gray naturally only after the age of thirty years. However due to an urban lifestyle, it is not uncommon to see instances of hair graying prematurely, sometimes even as early as the late teens. The dust, grime and other pollutants ever present in an urban environment can damage your scalp and its ability to grow and hold on to thick naturally colored hair. In some cases, premature graying is also caused due to a deficiency in essential nutrients like copper. In other cases, prolonged illnesses like typhoid also are seen to result in an unnatural graying of the hair. Excessive anxiety and stress coupled with a hectic lifestyle too is known to contribute to graying of the hair. The most commonly noticed cause for graying among teens is an improper synthesis of protein which results in a fluctuation in the production of melanin, thus turning the hair gray. The first thing you need to do is ascertain the specific cause for your gray hair. Consult a dermatologist if required. A detailed examination of your scalp, skin, diet and previous medical history will help to zero in on the cause. That done, it would prove quite easy to treat the premature graying.

Unfortunately, there is no way to turn the already gray hair back to its natural color, unless you choose to color your hair, of course. However, excessive coloring of the hair can backfire as it may result in a decreased ability of the scalp to retain moisture thus paving the way for hair loss. What you can do is reverse the trend and prevent any further hair from turning gray. There are several home remedies that will help you achieve this end. Coconut oil is an age old remedy. Boil some curry leaves in coconut oil till it leaves just a black residue, cool and strain the oil. Massage your scalp and hair roots with this oil each night before going to bed and rinse it off in the morning using cool water. This treatment when repeated over a period of time drastically reduces graying of hair. Butter made from cow’s milk is also known to be an efficient cure. Massage it on to the scalp and leave it on for twenty minutes before washing it off.

Additionally, ensure you eat a balanced diet and increase your intake of foods rich in copper. Also drink a lot of water to keep your skin and scalp hydrated.