How to keep your hair colour longer: secrets of the fight against greying
At dinner recently, my friends started sharing stories about grey hair. One told me how she had dreamed that she had pulled out one grey hair and suddenly dozens of new ones had grown in its place! Another complained about her younger brother, who, in his early twenties, already had a fashionable salt-and-pepper look.
Although going grey in your late twenties is not that uncommon, each new grey hair still comes as a slight shock. It's perfectly normal to go grey. But if you'd like to delay the process a bit, there's some encouraging scientific news on the horizon: we may soon be able to slow or even reverse the greying, according to Elle.
Why are we going grey? 🧬
Ironically, the exact cause of grey hair is still unknown to science. Genetics plays a huge role. As dermatologist Dr Ife Rodney explains, each hair follicle has a 'pigment block' containing melanocytes - cells that produce melanin, which is responsible for hair and skin colour. As we age, the melanocytes shrink - and the hair loses colour.
In addition to age, stress affects the process. Dr Hadley King from New York explains: stress does not sow hair overnight, but accelerates the destruction of melanocytes. Smoking, anaemia, B vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems - all of these can also lead to earlier greying.
Interesting point: a study from Columbia University found that reducing stress levels can partially restore hair to its former colour!
Is there any hope 🌱 🌱
One promising new product is a peptide called palmitoyl tetrapeptide-20. This synthetic component mimics the body's natural processes and, according to doctors, can keep melanocytes working and maintain hair pigmentation.
The research is still small, but the early results are encouraging. However, as Dr Rodney warns, if the hair has already turned completely grey (without active melanocytes), you should not expect miracles. Therefore, it is better to use such products for prevention.
What brands offer 🧴
Today, brands like Vegamour, Phyto and Arey already include palmitoyl tetrapeptide-20 in their formulations. They produce serums, shampoos, conditioners and even vitamins to combat greying.
By the way, Arey also uses tangerine extract, which additionally stimulates melanin production. But it is important to remember: such products work only on hair where there are still active melanocytes.
What can be done now? 🥦
If grey hair hasn't yet appeared or is just starting to appear, dermatologists advise:
Eat predominantly plant-based foods rich in antioxidants.
Avoid excessive stress.
Maintain normal levels of B vitamins.
We may not be able to stop the greying completely, but we can slow it down. And that's a small victory.