🧬 Why Does Hair Turn Grey?

Your hair gets its color from melanin, the same pigment that gives color to your skin and eyes. There are two types:

• Eumelanin (dark pigment)

• Pheomelanin (light pigment)

Your body produces melanin in hair follicles, thanks to melanocyte cells. But over time:

⬇️ Melanin production decreases

➡️ Hair grows in with less pigment
➡️ Eventually: white, silver, or grey hair

🧓 Natural Causes of Greying

🕒 1. Aging

The most common reason. Most people start to notice greys:

• In their 30s or 40s

• Earlier if it runs in the family (genetics play a big role)

🧬 2. Genetics

If your parents went grey early, you might too. Some people begin greying in their late teens or early 20s—this is called premature greying.

⚠️ What Else Can Cause Premature Grey Hair?

Here’s where nutrition and health come in 👇

🥦 Nutrition & Deficiencies That May Contribute to Grey Hair

While not the sole cause, deficiencies in certain nutrients may weaken the pigmentation process and speed up greying.

🔹 1. Vitamin B12 Deficiency

• Strongly linked to premature greying

• Can also cause fatigue, numbness, memory problems

• Common in vegetarians/vegans or those with absorption issues

🔹 2. Iron Deficiency

• Iron helps with melanin production

• Deficiency = dull, thinning, or greying hair

🔹 3. Copper Deficiency

• Copper is involved in the enzyme tyrosinase, key for melanin synthesis

🔹 4. Zinc Deficiency

• Essential for healthy hair growth and pigment

• Low levels linked to hair loss and dullness

🔹 5. Folate (Vitamin B9)

• Important for cell growth and regeneration

• Works closely with B12

🔹 6. Vitamin D

• May influence melanocyte function indirectly

• Many people are deficient, especially in low-sunlight seasons

😬 Other Contributing Factors

🔥 1. Oxidative Stress

• Free radicals damage cells—including melanocytes

• Over time, this reduces melanin production

How to fight it:
Antioxidant-rich foods!
🍇 Berries, green tea, leafy greens, dark chocolate

😰 2. Chronic Stress

• While the “stress makes your hair grey overnight” idea is a myth, long-term stress can accelerate greying by:

  • Increasing oxidative stress

  • Depleting certain vitamins and minerals

  • Affecting hormone balance

🧬 3. Thyroid Disorders

• An underactive or overactive thyroid can affect hair health and pigmentation

🚬 4. Smoking

• Strongly linked to premature greying due to high oxidative stress

✅ Can You Reverse Grey Hair?

In most cases, no—once a hair grows in grey, it's grey. BUT:

• If the cause is a reversible deficiency, addressing it might stop further greying or, rarely, allow some pigment to return

• There are rare cases where correcting B12 or copper levels led to dark hair regrowth—but this is the exception, not the rule

🧠 Final Thoughts

Grey hair is mostly a natural and genetic part of aging—but in some cases, it can be linked to nutrient deficiencies, stress, or health conditions.

Here’s what you can do to support healthy hair and slow greying:

🌿 Nutritional Support:

• B12 (eggs, dairy, fish, or supplements)

• Iron (lentils, spinach, red meat)

• Copper (seeds, shellfish, mushrooms)

• Zinc (chickpeas, nuts, whole grains)

• Antioxidants (fruits, vegetables, green tea)

🌞 Lifestyle Support:

• Manage stress

• Avoid smoking

• Protect hair from harsh chemicals

• Get regular checkups (especially thyroid & blood tests if greying is sudden or early)