My first grey hair stuck out like a sore thumb. It wasn’t well hidden at the back of my head under a bunch of regular black hair, it was on my forehead, right at the beginning of my centre-parting. The only logical thing to do? Cover it up by changing my part. Except I didn’t realise it was only the beginning.
By the time I was 25, people started pointing out the number of greys on my head. They were everywhere – from my fresh parting to the crown and even the nape of my neck, there was just no stopping them. Turns out, I wasn’t the only one facing this.
Greying In Your 20s Is Very Normal
At least that’s what my trichologist told me. Today, the internet agrees. Turns out, there’s no set age for greying or hair loss and there are several factors that can contribute to melanin (the pigment that gives your hair its colour) production. Genetics is the first and primary one. If you have grey hair at an early age, it’s very likely that your parents or grandparents also did. There’s no changing your gene structure unfortunately so you just gotta wing it. Or colour it – that’s what I did.
Another major factor that contributes to premature greying is stress. The higher your stress levels, the more likely it is you’ll grey early. With increasing competition in every field and the strive to climb up the ladder getting more difficult, stress is inevitable. Therefore, greying is also inevitable.
Your health is the third likely cause of premature greying. Hormonal changes and the health of your thyroid gland may also influence your hair colour. Autoimmune diseases and Vitamin B12 deficiency are also linked to loss of melanin, which in turn leads to grey hair.
Can Greying Be Prevented Or Controlled?
In short, no. But the number of grey strands also won’t increase if you pluck one out, that’s merely a myth. All you can do is keep your health and hair in check.
An easy way to increase your B12 levels is with the help of supplements.
A head massage with oils not only alleviates stress but also hydrates the scalp, reduces breakage, and strengthens the hair follicles. It also soothes the scalp and makes the hair so much softer, post-wash.
And if you realllyyy want to cover the greys, an ammonia-free hair colour is the way to go. It’s comparatively less damaging and lasts around 3-4 weeks.