Premature Grey Hair Treatment
"Premature grey" is all in how you define it, but a conservative definition of the term is when more than half of your hair is white by the time you're 40. For various reasons and causes that can be blamed on genetic makeup, the more unfortunate of the lot may start to notice premature grey early in their salad days. What exactly can be done about premature grey? The Internet can appear to be a treasure trove of grey-hair treatments to those willingly searching for a cure. Before you invest in a product that could well be a scam, however, consider the one treatment that you know will work: the trusty box of hair dye. Does this Spark an idea?
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Premature Grey: Why You?
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If you're unhappy with premature grey, you can blame your genes. Although old age is most closely associated with the greying process, the primary link between your age and the time you start to notice white strands is genetically determined, and has great bearing on the time and rate at which the cells in your hair follicles that produce pigment (melanocytes) die. Unhappily for those who have the desire to usher in their golden years with a full head of healthy, naturally colored hair, melanocytes are "pre-programmed" from the time you are born to work for a certain number of years and then no more. So if your parents and other family members went grey at an early age, there's a good chance you will, too.
Can I Reverse Premature Grey?
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There's no medical treatment that coaxes melanocytes to get back on the job once they've given their notice. There are an abundance of infomercials and Internet sites, however, that promise to give you the "ancient secret" to reversing premature grey. The most tantalizing herbal remedies use the Chinese herb Fo-Ti, which is used to promote longevity. Legend has it that an elderly man named "Mr. He" took the herb religiously, sired a child at 60 and lived to the ripe old age of 130--all the while maintaining a head of black hair, as well as his physical youth. Other natural cures contain various incarnations of vitamin B, which also purports to reverse grey hair. All of these products have only word-of-mouth testimony to support their claims, and they can be rather pricey. If you're tempted to try one of them, make sure you do your research and see what other people who've used these products have to say. If you're looking for a cost-effective, sure way to treat premature grey, look no further than your drugstore's hair-care aisle.
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Treating It Slow
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When it comes to treating premature grey, the only way to make sure you get the best results is to dye it. A popular method of restoring hair back to its natural color among men is use of a progressive hair colorant, such as GreyBan or Grecian Formula. These differ from regular hair dyes in that the ingredients in the colorant--usually lead acetate or bismuth citrate--target unpigmented (grey or white) strands and temporarily provide surrogate color to the hair. Progressive colorants are effective only when used regularly (after each shampoo) and for a long period of time, and seem to work best for those with blond, dark brown or black hair. In most cases, progressive colorants will not give full grey-hair coverage. But for men who want to color their hair discreetly, progressive colorants are usually a first choice.
Semi- and Demi-Permanent Dyes
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Semi- and demi-permanent (temporary) hair dyes are a gentler option to treat premature grey, and stay in the hair for between one and four shampoos. These may be a good choice for those with premature grey who are new to coloring their hair. Grey hair, however, is extremely porous and does not retain temporary color.
Permanent Hair Dye
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Permanent hair dye gives the best all-over coverage to prematurely grey hair. These dyes may contain ammonia and other chemicals that allow the pigment to seep into the hair cuticle. It's important to not over use permanent hair dyes and to apply dye only to new grey regrowth to avoid damaging the hair. When choosing a permanent hair dye, select a color that's one shade lighter than your natural hair color.
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- Photo Credit Photo: Marcelo Moura (stock.xchng)
