19 July,2011 06:52 AM IST | | Tunali Mukherjee
With the average age of those getting on the salt-and-pepper bandwagon steadily falling, premature greying is more common than you may think. Can you delay the condition? Active! asks the experts what's making your hair go grey before time
Earlier this month, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni celebrated another milestone in his life: turning 30 and grey, though not necessarily in that order. The IPL after-parties and the responsibility of leading the World Champions notwithstanding, MSD is not alone, with an increasing number of men (and women) greying
prematurely.
"Premature greying typically occurs between the ages of 20 and 30 years, and in certain cases even in one's teens," explains Mohammed Tanveer, Creative Director, Tanveer's Hair education and services at Kallisto Spa and Salon. The colour of one's skin is primarily determined by melanin, a skin pigment, which is also present in hair. "Greying occurs because of loss of melanin in the hair. As time goes by and the amount of melanin in your body is reduced, your hair colour will follow, becoming greyer as melanin levels drop," he says.
The reason the body stops producing melanin can range from a vitamin deficiency to genetics. "In most cases it is hereditary. Other reasons for premature greying include health-related problems, hair treatments and stress. An unclean scalp can also cause grey hair."
Dr Gaurav Dave, Ayurveda specialist, says, "Greying occurs when the balance between the pitta and the vata in the body is disturbed. According to Ayurveda, short-tempered people, those with high stress in their everyday lives and those who push themselves to work beyond their capacity will grey faster."
You are what you eat
Nutritionist Anjali Peswani says that diet plays a major role in premature greying. "Deficiency of certain B-vitamins like pyridoxine (B6), pantothenic acid, Folic acid, cynocobalamin (B12) and anaemia will cause greying. A very common reason these days is following 'Yo-Yo diets' which leads to the deficiency of essential nutrients for the normal functioning of the body, which then leads to premature greying."
Dr Dave seconds this, adding, "Those who eat a lot of salty and spicy food, like pickles, papads and chutneys, grey early. Spicy and salty food increases the pitta in body and that causes ushna, which burns the hair roots."
What you can do
"Greying can be delayed by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, avoiding stress and worry, following a balanced diet and keeping hair and scalp clean," says Tanveer. Dr Dave recommends treating your hair the way most grandmothers suggest one should: oiling it frequently. "There is a procedure in Ayurveda called the Nasya Panchakarma in which we use oil or ghee and put two to four drops in each nostril. I personally use Neem oil for nasya and I've gotten very good results, but it smells like hell," he warns.
Gender differences
While Tanveer insists there are no differences in greying in both sexes, Dr Dave maintains that women tend to grey quicker after menopause or due to hormonal imbalance. "Besides, they (women) tend to suppress their emotions and worries, rather than share them, making them more prone to premature graying," he says, adding, "Ask any husband."
When it comes to covering up greys, Dr Dave recommends henna over hair colour or dye. "Hair colour can be harmful for both hair and eyes. Use Mehendi in its pure form, but not in the winter and rains, because that may cause headache or cough."
Tanveer, however, disagrees. "We have ammonia-free hair colour, which is great for covering grey hairs for those who may be allergic to chemicals," he says.u00a0
Besides stress and hectic lifestyles, Tanveer says that the other reasons for premature greying are pollution and hard water. "Climate and climate change can actually greatly affect hair and scalp. If a person living in a tropical country, like ours, were to move to a colder place, chances are high that they would notice a big difference as the hair and scalp would experience reduced blood flow and circulation. Proper circulation ensures that all the nutrients you get from your food are actually being transferred to your hair," he says.
5 famous faces who make grey sexy
Undoubtedly the poster boy for 'Silver and Sexy', actor George Clooney started greying at the age of 33, but never dyed his hair. He has been quoted as saying, "If you dye your hair, you look wrong." He also went on to become the coolest 50-year-old birthday boy this year, when he joked that it didn't matter how old he was, as thanks to his grey hair, most people think he is much older than his actual age anyway.
The King Khan set tongues wagging when he turned up at industrialist Venugopal Dhoot's daughter's wedding, this February, with a grey beard and long hair tucked under a hairband. The buzz is that the look is for upcoming films Don 2 and Ra.One. While some are praising him for his courage to look 'old', Shah Rukh continues to play nonchalant, wondering aloud why people find him sexy!
The doting father of six and a life-long member on the world's Most Beautiful People lists, Brad Pitt has been showing off his greys ufffdwhether under a hood or in the form of a beard ufffd for a few years now. Ageing, however, does get to him at times. He was quoted as saying, "One thing that sucks, your face kind of goes, your body's not quite working the same. But you earned it. You earned that, things falling apart." Oh dear!
When President Barack Obama talks, the world listens. The reason might have to do with more than just his oratorial abilities, but it helps that the salt-and-pepper look works in his favour, making him look distinguished. First Lady Michelle Obama joked, "He's pretty grey. If he had known that he would be president, he would have started dyeing his hair like ten years ago. Now it's too late."
Those interested in knowing how their Friend Joey is doing, will be in for a shock to see the sudden crop of grey hair that the actor has been recently sporting. Certainly, after spending a decade watching a dark-haired Joey chat up women, it is a bit of a surprise to learn that off-screen, LeBlanc has been grey for a long time. "I dyed my hair the whole time on Friends," LeBlanc told reporters. "I just was sick of doing it."
Theu00a0four diet rules for healthy, black hair
Bulk up on Vitamins A, B and E
Nutritionist Anjali Peswani recommends a diet that's full of Vitamins A, B and E, as well as Iron. "Yeast, liver, lean meat, wheat germ, green leafy vegetables, milk and eggs help carry out important functions in the body, help in enzymatic reactions and the formation of essential proteins and haemoglobin, as well as in delaying greys," she says.
The bitter truth: Karela and brinjal are good for you
The vegetables in your kitchen make useful weapons against untimely greying. "Brinjal is great to prevent greying as it helps in pigmenting the hair while Parval helps maintain the normal working of pitta in the body," says Dr Dave. "Karela or bitter gourd helps improve digestion and ultimately stops formation of abnormal pitta, hence preventing greys."
Incorporate the 'right' salt into your diet:
According to Ayurveda, there are four kinds of salt and Saidhav salt is the most beneficial against greying. "Replacing normal salt with Saidhav will prevent greying," advises Dr Dave.
Garlic pods fried in ghee for lunch and dinner
"Garlic is the most important part of a diet. Fry two pods in ghee till it changes colour and have it daily along with lunch and dinner. It benefits every part of your body, right from the root of your hair to the tip of your toe nails," says Dr Dave.
Home remedies to delay greying
1.u00a0 Opt for a Deep Hair treatment or protein conditioner available at the local supermarket or salon.
2. Mix water with 1 egg and apply it directly to your hair and scalp and let it stay for 15 to 30 minutes before rinsing it off with your usual shampoo. They call it the 'egg shampoo' and it is loaded with Amino acids and proteins.
3.u00a0 Massage coconut oil into your scalp and hair.
4. Apply some yoghurt or curd to your scalp and hair.
5. Eat more amla. It is a powerful antioxidant and is specially beneficial in keeping hair jet black.
