[pullquote]Pollution, stress, smoking, nutritional deficiencies (vitamin B12 deficiency), hormonal imbalances, stress (personal or work-related), and certain medical conditions (like vitiligo) are some reversible causes of prematurely gray hair. And sometimes, the culprit might be your loyal (or not-so-loyal) hair-styling product.1[/pullquote]
You’re standing in front of a mirror, brushing your tresses, when you suddenly notice a white strand peeking at you from the reflection. And you immediately start to wonder how you can get rid of it. Is there a way to reverse gray hair to its natural color?
Unfortunately, no. Your hair gets its natural color from a pigment called melanin. When the melanin-producing cells (melanocytes) in your hair follicles die or cease to function, whether due to oxidative stress, hormonal imbalance, nutritional deficiency, or your genes, your hair goes gray. Since there’s no way to revive the dead melanocytes, your hair cannot regain its natural color. However, there are plenty of ways to prevent hair graying.
1. Amaranth Leaf
Cooked Amaranth leaf is rich in vitamin C and meets 90% of your daily requirement of the vitamin. A potent antioxidant, vitamin C can reduce oxidative stress and prevent premature hair graying.
How To Use
You can stir-fry Amaranth leaf, add it to salads, or add it to any recipe that calls for cooked spinach.2
2. Sage And Rum
Sage is traditionally used as a topical treatment for graying hair. It may also promote hair growth and prevent hair thinning. Plus, sage is commonly used as a sleep aid. So if stress and sleeplessness are causing your hair to turn gray, sage could be of help.3
How To Use
- Place 4 tbsp dried sage leaves in a pot with about 4–5 spoons of water.
- Boil and cover, then let the mixture steep for 2 hours.
- Strain the leaves and add 4 tsp rum, 1 oz glycerin, and several drops of vitamin E.
- Using a cotton ball, rub the mixture into your scalp.
3. Gooseberry And Mango
Gooseberry and mango are both rich in vitamin C, which will replenish your antioxidant store to avoid premature graying of hair.4
How To Use
- Grind 2 slices of mango and 2 gooseberries (or 4 tsp gooseberry powder) into a paste.
- Apply the paste to your scalp.
- Leave the mixture in for 2 hours before washing off.
4. Coconut Oil And Curry Leaves
It’s believed that coconut oil can help maintain the production of melanin by preventing the death of melanocytes. When mixed with curry leaves, coconut oil can help you bid farewell to gray hair.5
How To Use
- Boil quarter a cup of water.
- Add curry leaves to the water.
- Let the liquid cool down.
- Massage the cooled liquid to your scalp.
- Leave in the oil for a few hours before washing it off.
5. Buttermilk And Curry Leaves
The combination of buttermilk and curry leaves is an ancient remedy for getting back your hair’s natural color. It contains lactic acid that makes buttermilk useful as a natural conditioner. Curry leaves are packed with nutrients that aid hair growth.
How To Use
- Mix equal parts of buttermilk and curry leaf juice
- Heat it until the mixture is just lukewarm
- Apply it all over your scalp
- Leave it for 30 minutes
- Rinse it off with warm water
- Repeat this twice a week
6. Almond Oil And Lemon Juice
Almond oil contains vitamin E and copper, which are believed to boost hair health and prevent graying.6 In addition, the lemon juice acts as an antioxidant and keeps premature graying at bay.
How To Use
- Mix 1 tsp lemon juice and 2 tsp almond oil together.
- Massage the mixture into your scalp.
- Leave it overnight and wash off the next day.
7. Blackstrap Molasses
Blackstrap molasses contain copper which can help your hair retain its natural color. The molasses provides approximately 14% of the daily recommended dose of copper. It also contains other trace minerals such as iron, selenium, and magnesium that maintain hair health.7
How To Use
- Mix a spoonful of blackstrap molasses in a glass of hot water.
- Drink the mixture every day.
8. Amla (Indian Gooseberry), Yogurt And Lemon Juice Mask
Amla powder works very well with curd and lemon juice and is useful in limiting gray hair growth. The vitamin C in amla and lemon juice prevent melanocyte death due to oxidative stress. Moreover, yogurt contains para-aminobenzoic acid, which is proved to reduce graying in a few people.8
How To Use
- Mix 2 tbsp amla powder with 2 tsp lemon juice.
- Add 5 tbsp yogurt to the above mixture.
- Apply the paste to your scalp.
- Wash it off with lukewarm water after 45 minutes.
- Apply the mask every alternate day for 90 days.
9. Rosemary And Sage
Both these herbs help cover the gray by darkening your hair color naturally. They also aid sleep and reduce stress levels and thus, indirectly battle graying.
How To Use
- Boil one-half cup each of dried rosemary and sage in 2 cups of water.
- Let it sit for a couple of hours.
- Strain the solution.
- Use it as a hair rinse after shampooing.
- Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing it out.
- Repeat on a weekly basis.
10. Almond Oil And Amla Juice
The nutrients (copper and vitamins) in almond oil and amla juice prevent graying of hair. Plus, they’re great for the general health of your hair.
How To Use
- Mix 2 tsp almond oil with 2 tsp amla juice.
- Massage into the scalp for 15 minutes.
- Gently wash with lukewarm water.
11. Capsicum Essential Oil
Capsicum essential oil and jojoba oil are believed to reduce the growth of gray hair. However, use the capsicum essential oil sparingly as it tends to burn.
How To Use
- Mix 1/2 tsp capsicum essential oil with jojoba oil.
- Apply the mixture to the scalp.
12. Ginger
Ginger is a traditional home remedy for gray and damaged hair. If you want to reverse your gray hair to your natural hair color, give ginger a try.
How To Use
- Grate a few pieces of ginger and make a thick paste using milk.
- Apply the paste to your gray hair and wash off after 10 minutes.
- Repeat the process once in a week.
13. Yeast And Wheat Germ
Wheat germ carries essential B vitamins, which can prevent gray hair. In fact, a B-vitamin deficiency is one of the topmost causes of premature hair graying. Yeast, meanwhile, is rich in copper, which is another nutrient that inhibits gray hair growth.9 10
How To Use
- Mix 2 teaspoons each of yeast and wheat germ oil.
- Add the above mixture to a glass of buttermilk.
- Drink daily.
14. Castor Oil, Henna, And Lemon Juice
A “grandma’s recipe”, castor oil and henna are great for covering your gray hair. Though they don’t reverse gray hair, they cover it up and give your hair a subtle brown tint. Combined with the antioxidants lemon juice, this recipe is believed to work wonders for gray hair. However, remember to use no more than 2 tsp of henna, an excess of it can dye your hair orange.
How To Use
- Mix 2 tsp castor oil, 2 tsp natural henna powder, and juice of half a lemon
- Apply the paste to your scalp and hair strands.
- Leave on for an hour and then wash off with a mild shampoo (preferably a shampoo without sulfites).
15. Potato Peel Rinse
Potato peels carry a number of nutrients, including vitamin C, copper, and zinc – all of which are great for staving off gray hair. While this recipe won’t transform an entirely white head of hair, it can darken individual gray hairs that may be in darker locks.
How To Use
- Peel about five potatoes and gather one cup of peels.
- Pour two cups of cold water into a saucepan and add the potato peels.
- Bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for five minutes.
- Take the saucepan off the stove and let it cool completely.
- Strain the liquid out and save the liquid.
- Add a few drops of rosemary or lavender oil to scent it and pour the cool mixture into a glass container with tight-fitting lid.
- Use this as a hair rinse after shampooing your hair.
- Shampoo as normal, rinse out the shampoo, then massage the potato peel water into the hair.
- Do not rinse it out. Dry and style as normal.
- Save any unused hair rinse in the refrigerator and make more as necessary.
16. Henna-Fenugreek
Henna is a natural dye and can mask your gray hair. Plus, fenugreek seeds carry essential vitamins that benefit your hair.
How To Use
- Mix 2 tsp each of henna powder, ground fenugreek seeds, and coconut oil.
- Add some fresh basil and mint leaves to the mixture.
- Apply to the hair strands and scalp.
- Wash off after 2 hours.
17. Henna And Amla
Henna is one of the oldest remedies to get rid of gray hair and bring back strong, healthy, and dark hair. Amla (known as Indian gooseberry) is rich in vitamin C, nicknamed the anti-aging vitamin, that helps to stimulate the scalp and get rid of dead skin cells.
How To Use
- Mix equal parts of henna powder and amla powder in a bowl of water
- Let it rest for an hour
- Apply the paste generously on your scalp and the lengths of your hair
- Wait for 2 hours
- Wash it off with a mild shampoo
18. Shikakai And Amla
Another option to mix with amla is shikakai aka acacia concinna. Packed with vitamins C and D, shikakai is an extremely popular ayurvedic remedy for bringing back life to your hair and reducing gray hair. To make shikakai powder, you could simply grind the fruit pods. If you can’t get shikakai pods, buy a packet of organic shikakai powder from your local department store.
How To Use
- Add 3 tablespoons of shikakai powder and amla powder in a bowl of water
- Cover the bowl and let it rest overnight
- Wash your hair in the morning with this mixture
- Do this once a week
19. Apple Cider Vinegar
Another folk remedy to battle graying is apple cider vinegar. It’s believed to not only reduce gray hair but also stimulate hair growth. Note that ACV is a weak acid. So, do not use it if you dye your hair as it could interfere with some chemical components in the hair color.
How To Use
- Mix apple cider vinegar (ACV) with water in a 1:1 ratio and rinse your hair with it.
- Then, wrap your hair in a towel and leave it on for half an hour for the mixture to work.
- Go on to shampoo your hair.
- Should you feel that it makes your hair dry, use a thinning solution and a hair conditioner to moisturize your hair after each application.
20. Ginger Essential Oil, Lavender Essential Oil And Sesame Oil
The essential oils of ginger, lavender, and sesame oil are beneficial to your hair. They help your hair retain its color by clearing your scalp of the pollutants that you’re exposed to on a daily basis. The oils also give you a better sleep, reduce stress, and thus, fight graying.
How To Use
- Combine ½ tsp ginger essential oil, ½ tsp lavender essential oil and 10 tsp sesame oil in a small, clean glass bottle.
- Shake the bottle to combine the ingredients.
- Gently massage a small portion of this mixture onto the roots of your hair and leave it on for 20 minutes before washing with a mild shampoo and conditioner.
- This treatment can be repeated daily as long as it doesn’t irritate your scalp.
- Unused portions of this mixture will keep for 60 days if stored in a cool, dark and dry place for later use.
21. Sage Tea
Although it is often claimed that sage tea can bring back your natural hair color, do not be surprised if it gives you a slightly different tinge as it mainly works from outside as a natural hair colorant. Use it regularly and do not expect wonders after the first application.
How To Use
- Dip some sage leaves into boiling water to make a strong sage tea.
- Apply the tea directly to your dry hair.
- After 2 hours, rinse your hair with clean water.
22. Ghee
An ancient Indian remedy, ghee is believed to prevent hair graying by increasing melanin production.
How To Use
- Massage your scalp with ghee (clarified cow milk butter) twice per week.
- Thoroughly shampoo your hair after an hour to avoid stickiness.
23. Black Sesame Seeds
According to traditional Chinese medicine, black sesame seeds are highly effective in getting rid of the problem of premature graying of hair. It is believed that they promote melanocyte activity to produce melanin. They are also rich in protein, iron, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, and copper, which work together to promote hair health.
How To Use
- You can simply eat a teaspoon of black sesame seeds daily for at least three months.
- Alternatively, apply sesame oil on your hair on a weekly basis.
24. Black Tea
Black tea works as a natural hair dye and masks your gray hair.
How To Use
- Combine black tea with 1 tbsp table.
- Massage into the scalp.
- Wash off after an hour.
25. Wheatgrass
When your body has excess hydrogen peroxide, it collects at the root of the hair and bleaches it. Catalase, which is an important and effective antioxidant present in significant quantities in wheatgrass, can break down excess hydrogen peroxide and fight premature aging and graying of the hair.
How To Use
- Mix wheatgrass juice, grated ginger with a little honey.
- Drink daily for 2 months daily.
26. Buttermilk And Curry Leaves
Buttermilk and curry leaves juice act as a preventive remedy that helps with both graying of hair and loss of hair.
How To Use
- Add buttermilk and curry leaf juice in equal amounts in a small vessel.
- Heat the mixture till it gets warm.
- Apply the mixture to the scalp for around 30-35 minutes before washing off.
27. Sesame Oil And Carrot Juice
Sesame oil is an Ayurvedic remedy that’s thought to improve hair health and prevent graying. Additionally, carrot juice is rich in vitamins, beta-carotene, and other antioxidants that reduce oxidative stress and prevent the aging of hair.
How To Use
- Mix equal proportions of sesame oil and carrot juice.
- Add Methi (fenugreek) seed to the mixture.
- Dry the mixture under the sun for 21 days.
- After this 21-day period, the mixture can be massaged into the scalp.
- Try this remedy every day for 90 days.
28. Coconut And Thistle Oil
A mixture of thistle oil and coconut oil can be applied to the hair to help reduce the growth of gray hair over time. The antioxidants in milk thistle help prevent the hair from turning gray and delay aging.
How To Use
- Combine 2 tbsp thistle oil with 5 tbsp coconut oil.
- Gently massage a small amount of the mixture onto the hair, making sure to get to the roots.
- Wash off after 20 minutes using cool water.
- This treatment can be used once per day as long as needed as long as it doesn’t bother your scalp or skin.
29. Coconut Oil And Lemon Juice
Coconut oil is one of the best remedies for any of your hair woes. It nourishes your hair inside and out, hydrates your hair, and reduces premature graying.11 Lemon is a natural antibacterial and anti-fungal agent that helps to reduce hair loss.
How To Use
- Mix a quarter cup of coconut oil with the juice of one full lemon
- Stir it well
- Apply the ointment on your scalp, roots, and along the length of your hair
- Wrap a shower cap around your hair and let it remain overnight
- Wash it off with a mild shampoo the next day
30. Onion Juice
If you frequently use hair styling products, your hair could turn gray due to exposure to hydrogen peroxide. Onion increases the activity of 3 enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase) that your body produces to break down the extra hydrogen peroxide. This prevents the buildup of the excess hydrogen peroxide around your hair roots and reduces graying.
How To Use
- Simply rub onions or onion juice over your scalp.
- Make sure the onion juice does not enter your eyes, as it could burn.
31. Mustard Seed Oil, Jojoba Oil And Castor Oil
The nutrients present in these oils can delay aging and reduce the growth of gray hair. They can also remove the impurities from your hair and prevent graying due to pollution.
How To Use
- Combine 1 tbsp mustard seed oil with 2 tbsp. jojoba oil and 2 tbsp. castor oil in a small container.
- Shake the container so that the ingredients are properly mixed.
- Gently massage this mixture into wet hair and leave it in for 20 minutes with a towel around your neck or in the shower or bathtub.
- After the allotted time, rinse your hair with warm water and wash with a gentle cleanser.
- This treatment can be repeated daily as long as it doesn’t irritate the scalp or skin.
Remember, these home remedies are don’t reverse gray hair overnight. They merely help your hair retain in its color and prevent further graying. To fight premature graying of hair, it’s important that you identify the root cause – be it nutritional deficiency, stress, or smoking – and nip it in the bud.
References
