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Have you recently noticed some white strands of hair after looking in the mirror? You're certainly not alone. As we get older, our hair naturally loses some of its color, so it's nothing to be worried about.
But what causes white hair, and how can you prevent it from happening? Join us as we dive deep into the woes of white hair and look at some of the ways to bring color back to your hair.
What causes white hair?
White hair is primarily caused by age, and it's a natural part of growing older for most people. Melanin is the pigment in hair that gives it color, and when you lose melanin as you age, your hair also loses its color, causing it to go white.
Some people notice white hairs forming in their thirties, while others don't notice them until their forties or fifties. It just depends on the person. However, if you experience white hair at a younger age - perhaps in your teens or twenties - it might be caused by any of the following reasons:
Genetics
If your parents or grandparents had white hair from a young age, there's a fair chance that you may also experience the same. Of course, you can't change your genetics, but you can change the way you color and style your hair.
Stress
Stress-related issues are thought to contribute to white hair. Sleep-deprived people and those of an anxious disposition are potentially more likely to have white hair, but there isn't a significant body of evidence backing this up. A limited animal study found a connection between stress and the regression of melanin in hair cells, but more research is needed to say conclusively.
Health conditions
Some health conditions, including autoimmune disease and a thyroid disorder, may also contribute to the appearance of white hair in some people. Such health conditions require a diagnosis from a medical professional, whom you can ask about the potential side effects, including whether it could have caused your hair to whiten over time.
Habits and diet
White hair, particularly in younger people, may be caused by smoking. Smoking constricts blood vessels, which can reduce the flow of blood to hair follicles. People who follow specific diets, like a vegan diet, may also be more susceptible to white hair. Some vegans are vitamin B12-deficient, which can limit the amount of oxygenated blood in hair follicles.
How to prevent premature white hair?
In most instances, white hair can't be prevented, as it's a natural part of aging and may be built into your genetics. However, if your white hair is caused by an underlying health condition, receiving medical treatment may limit the side effects and help your hair retain its natural color.
That being said, if you're a smoker, quitting the habit can improve the color of your hair. It can also have many other positive benefits, including improving heart and lung health and reducing cancer risk.
Equally, if you follow a plant-based diet, taking a B12 supplement can be advantageous, as can incorporating more natural B12 sources into your diet if you think you might be deficient.
How to prevent white hair naturally?
As mentioned, most people can't prevent white hair naturally. However, as introduced above, subtle lifestyle changes are your best option. But what about how to prevent white hair from spreading? Well, there are numerous things you can do to treat your whitening hair:
Use hair color products
The obvious solution to white hair is to color your hair. You can go with your natural color or change your color entirely, depending on what you want to achieve. Though it can be expensive to color your hair consistently, it's your best option if you want to keep those white hairs at bay.
Increase your mineral and vitamin intake
Your hair follicles need vitamins and minerals to thrive, so boosting your diet with a multivitamin can help your hair. Also, increasing the vitamin and mineral rich foods in your diet can make a big difference. The likes of zinc, iron, magnesium, and copper are all key to your hair's health and color.
Massage coconut oil into your hair
Coconut oil can have many benefits to your health and well-being, and it may also help the pigmentation of your hair. Every two days before you go to bed, massage some coconut oil into your scalp and then wash your hair in the morning. This will also help to moisturize your hair and prevent it from drying out.
What about facial hair?
So, how to prevent beard hair from turning white? Well, facial hair turns white for the same reasons as the hair on your head so that you can follow all the advice introduced above.
You can also use a beard dye product, which can be an easy and effective way of preventing your beard from looking white. Another alternative is to be clean shaven, which may also help you to look younger and fresher.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, whitening hair is an unavoidable aspect of aging for most people. When you get older, you lose the melanin in your hair follicles, which reduces the natural color in your hair and causes it to go white.
If you have white hair at a younger age, you can improve your diet and stop smoking if applicable to help your hair retain its natural color. Other than that, if you think you may have an underlying health condition causing your hair to go white, arrange a consultation with your doctor for a diagnosis.
FAQs
Q1: What causes hair to turn white?
Age is the main cause of whitening hair in most people. However, it can also be caused by your genetics, smoking, diet, or an underlying health condition that needs to be treated by a doctor.
Q2: What causes a patch of white hair?
A single patch of white hair is known as Poliosis. It can be caused by numerous health conditions.
Q3: How to prevent white eyebrow hair?
If your eyebrow hair goes white, you can use henna to darken them. You can also use hair coloration products to treat them if you wish.
