ALL SHADES OF GREY

The first time I noticed a grey strand of hair on my head, I thought it was cool.  I paid no mind and forgot about the matter until recently. 2 new strands! Someone call the hair bender! I freaked out a bit; am I growing old or something? 

Of course, I am not. Greying hair amongst young adults is not exactly uncommon. There is a belief among people of my tribe, that greying hair signifies wealth. Maybe it’s a good thing, after all.  Okay, I am just kidding.

Before you begin to freak out like me, greying hair does not mean you have a medical issue. Although studies show that it is mostly genetically inclined. While race, as well as ethnicity, plays a significant role in the greying timeline, this is not to say that there are no medical challenges associated with greying hair. Sure, there are, and some of these can be corrected.

Embracing your grey

It is a myth that grey hair makes you look old; I promise you. I think we all love our hair in our mysterious ways. They constitute a significant part of our facial features, and they stand out. But what to do when you’re still so young and the grey is popping out. Embracing the grey might be all you need if you’d rather not opt for colour maintenance. When you see grey as just another colour, you might be surprised at how well you’d welcome the change. It all depends on the attitude you turn towards it.

Chill, it may be a vitamin deficiency.

Let’s take it back a bit. Hair follicles, as well as our skin, contain a pigment called melanin. Melanin is responsible for our vibrant skin and hair colour. As we grow, the body produces less of this pigment. So, if your hair is greying, your hair follicles are probably not supplying enough melanin to give your curls the rich black you so love. Poor nutrition practices have also been implicated in such underproduction. Therefore, if you’re not getting enough protein in your diet, your hair may lose its pigmentation. 

 You’re stressing

It is entirely impossible not to stress over one thing or the other daily. A child is whining; your account is on red, your lover is sick; why will you not be stressed, right? Now, we need a way out of our stress by letting off steam and not repressing issues. My good friend might add meditation to the list.

That stress activates the nerves connecting the fight or flight response in humans. The single action can adversely affect stem cells responsible for rejuvenating hair follicles.

Lastly, if granddad or grandma went grey early, chances are high that you would too. The ability to reverse or maintain white hair depends on the cause. Taking vitamin B12 pills according to prescription are known to correct grey, improve your health and return your black bounce. Rather than loathe your hair, stock up on brightening shampoos or get your hair some dye.