The colour molecule of our hair, Melanin also provides resilience and texture to our hair. Therefore greys tend to get frizzy and can be quite difficult to handle. On the Brighter side, grey hairs grow faster than the dark ones.
Are there ways to prevent or slow down my greying?
Few tips regarding the same are there in the blog
In addition to that, there are several solutions containing melatonin, copper peptides, catalase and antioxidants that act directly on the scalp and can limit the progression of greying to a certain extent. The market is filled with confusing options. Consult an expert to guide you, in this case your dermatologist to get to know what is ideal for you.
To begin with caring, a mild sulphate free shampoo to use on a regular basis. Lessen the amount and frequency of heat you use on the hair.
Prefer a ‘u’ or straight hair cut. Let me tell you why. I (Dr Krishna) am someone with both coarse, frizzy hair and early greying!!! A long-yearned step cut/ layering turned out to be completely unmanageable. It leaves a cut end on all the levels which also splits in a few months. Fuel to the fire!!
Evening baths with cool/ lukewarm water. Towel drying, minimal blow drying. Leave on conditioners while the hair is half wet and serums once dry.
Next comes the the greatest tool! Camouflaging !!“Hair Dyes”
Hair Dyes have been our age-old Astra to deal with greys. But we are just moving towards gentler colours so that it isn’t as strong as an astra(weapon). Choose an ammonia and PPD free dye and make sure to do a patch testing behind the ears before every application. It is better to choose colours like dark brown rather than black as it matches more with Indian hair colour and tends to be less allergic. Black hennas are to be avoided at all cost. The frequency of dyeing can definitely be kept to the minimum. A more detailed blog on just the hair dyes is coming soon.
One more tip: Regular use of sunscreens decrease the deposition of hair dyes onto the skin of the face. So, pigmentation of the face from frequent dyeing can be lessened. Root touch can be tricky right!
Temporary Colour Sprays or Powders:
These products can offer a short-term solution to grey hair coverage and are less damaging than permanent dyes. Very minimal greying can be covered by these rather than using dyes.
Nutritional and Supplement Support:
Consult with your dermatologist to know what supplementation your body needs. This is mostly in case of sudden or early greying (<25yrs of age in Indians)
As research progresses, new targeted interventions are emerging to deal with premature canities. Hope they hit the market before the entire Gen Z turns grey. There are high chances of greys turning into a fashion trend, and the research may end up being in vain.
While we can’t change our genes, we can definitely slow things down by taking care of ourselves. Any underlying systemic illness, deficiencies, emotional and psychological health issues can be addressed, not just for the greys of course. There’s something beautiful about keeping things simple and gracefully accepting the changes that come with life and our bodies. Difficult, but might be worth trying!
