Everyone’s hair turns gray at some point. It’s a natural sign of aging, and no one can avoid it. Some people start to see gray or white hairs very early in their lives – as young as their 20s. Others manage to make it past 50 without a single gray appearing. Some experience salt-and-pepper locks for decades, while others seem to be completely gray overnight. You may even get gray hair due to dry scalp.
If you’re starting to go gray, it’s natural to want to turn it around and enjoy your natural hair color once more. One way to do this is to increase your body’s production of melanin – the vital pigment that gives hair its color.
We’re going to look at ways you can increase the melanin in your hair. This could help restore your natural color and prevent the grays from appearing for longer. We’ll look at vitamins and specific foods which increase melanin production, as well as exercises and activities you should do – or avoid. If you’ve ever wished you could turn back the clock for your hair, read on!
What Role Does Melanin Play with the Hair?
Melanin is the naturally-occurring substance that gives your hair, skin, and eyes their unique coloring. Melanin is produced by pigment cells called melanocytes. In people with darker skin, melanocytes produce more melanin per cell.
Melanin forms in our bodies before we’re even born. Our natural hair color is entirely dependent on the type, amount, and distribution of the melanin in the cortex of our hair (the middle layer of the hair shaft).
Experts believe that, as we age, our melanocyte activity begins to slow down. This means our hair receives a little less pigment over time, and eventually, it will begin to turn gray or white. Other factors also come into play here: genetics can dictate the ‘melanogenetic clock’ of each of our follicles. If your parents went gray early, it’s likely you will too.
So if a lack of melanin production is responsible for graying hair, it stands to reason that we should strive to increase that production if we can. Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to increase melanin production.
Ways To Increase Melanin Production
There are a variety of ways you can increase melanin production in the body. They range from eating the right foods and taking additional supplements, to carrying out certain activities or avoiding toxins. Here are some of the most effective ways to boost your body’s production of vital melanin, to keep those grays at bay.
Foods
One of the best ways to increase melanin production in the body is to make sure you’re getting enough protein. Not only is the hair made up of protein (keratin), but it’s been proven that a prolonged protein deficiency could cause the pigment in your hair to fade over time.
Instead of a bright blonde or a vibrant brown, your hair could turn dull because you’re not getting enough protein. Eating food like meat and eggs can help keep your melanin production at a normal level.
• If you’re not allergic to seafood, this is also a great option to help boost your melanin production. Food like oily fish and shellfish are not only high in protein, and they’re rich in copper and iodine – a lack of which can inhibit your hair’s melanin production.
• Foods that are rich in iron are also essential if you want to up your body’s melanin count. Many women have iron deficiencies because of their menstrual cycle – in some countries, doctors recommend that all women pay greater attention to their iron intake than most men do.
• Dark green vegetables are a wonderful source of iron – spinach and kale, for example. Bananas, tomatoes, beans, and peas of all kinds are also packed with plenty of iron. Why not cook up a chili con carne with tomatoes, plenty of kidney beans and a side of green vegetables for an iron-rich meal?
• Foods rich in vitamin A have also been known to increase melanin production. Stock up on products like carrots, red peppers, tomatoes, apricot and papaya all have lots of vitamin A. Try to eat at least one or two of these with every meal.
• Indian gooseberry may be a more challenging ingredient to get hold of, but if you can, it’s worth it. This traditional remedy has been used in India for centuries to solve many hair problems, including the early onset of white or gray hair. It’s thought to enrich hair pigmentation, and it’s delicious in Indian cuisine.