Gray hair is one of the signs of natural aging of the human body. Although some people accept them, there are others who prefer to resort to different alternatives to eliminate or hide them.
Applying a dye to change the tone of the hair and hide gray hair is one of the most common options, however, it is not the only one. Oils are also a preference to hide them.
“Of course, it is not surprising that nourishing oils have a special place in our dressing tables, since these —in addition to helping to fade those gray hairs that are beginning to be noticed— achieve everything from improving the condition of the hair to preventing severe conditions and counteracting the effects of the weather, the hairstyle and the colors”, details the Glamor website.
Castor, rosemary and walnut oil are some of the oils that can be chosen to hide the strands of hair that have already changed their hue to white or gray.
According to Glamour, this oil stands out for helping to prevent and combat gray hair. In addition, “it is an excellent adjuvant to stimulate hair growth and repair the damage caused by the constant use of dyes and thermal tools.. All this thanks to its concentration of vitamin E, ricinoleic acid and omega 3, 6 and 9 acids.which give it great moisturizing, regenerating and healing power”, details the portal.
How to take advantage of its properties?
- Apply a sufficient amount of castor oil on the scalp.
- Perform a gentle massage on the scalp for 10 minutes.
- Cover the hair completely. Make the bow of the ballerinas (all the hair collected at the top).
- Put on a shower cap.
- Let the oil act for 15 minutes.
- After this time, rinse the hair and carry out the usual hair routine. It is important to clean the roots very well to prevent the scalp from becoming greasy.
stress and gray hair
A study led by Dr. Ya-Chieh Hsu of Harvard University found that stress can contribute to the early appearance of gray hair.
The nerves of the nervous system extend throughout the human body, including the hair follicles. According to research, stress causes the release of the chemical norepinephrine in the follicle.
“Norepinephrine affects the melanocyte stem cells that live there. It causes them to quickly turn into pigment cells and break out of the hair follicles. Without stem cells to create new pigment cells, new hair turns gray or white.”explain the National Institutes of Health of the United States (NIH, for its acronym in English).
Other causes
Gray hair appears due to the decrease in melanin in the body; This is the pigment in charge of giving the color to the hair. Although it is a normal sign of old age, there are other factors that can cause the appearance of gray hair, indicates the Sanitas health entity.
- Genetic (hereditary) factors. It is common in poliosis.
- Continuous stress situations.
- Unhealthy eating.
- Diseases, such as hypothyroidism, vitiligo, vitamin B12 deficiency (pernicious anemia), etc.
- smoking.
- Abuse of the dryer, hair straighteners, dyes and other chemical products that can damage the hair and scalp.
- Improper hygiene.
types of gray hair
The health entity Sanitas points out the different types of gray hair that exist:
- Physiological: it is due to the biological process of aging.
- Premature: in most cases it appears before the age of 20 or in childhood.
- Poliosis: is a condition in which gray hair appears in specific areas, forming a white spot, on the head, eyebrows or eyelashes.
- Annular: gray hair appears isolated and scattered on the head. In some cases white strands of hair may form.
