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Stop Grey Hair Naturally: Are you on a ruthless routine hunt for gray hairs? Get this — there’s often more to the cause of those pesky grays than simple genetics. Did you know that a number of nutritional deficiencies can actually cause your hair to lose its luster? Reach for foods that contain essential vitamins and minerals to maintain your colorful tresses and enjoy an ample dose of additional health benefits.
How to Stop Grey Hair Naturally
Leafy Greens
Reach for dark leafy greens to get your essential B vitamins. Your scalp relies on Vitamin B-6 and Vitamin B-12 for the production of red blood cells which transport oxygen and nutrients. Hair color is also all about hormones and Vitamin B-2 is an important player in hormone production.
Chocolate
Copper is essential to the production of melanin — the source of hair color. As such, copper deficiencies can cause hair to gray. To load up on copper, reach for a sweet treat. Semisweet chocolate packs the power of copper; additional copper-rich foods include lentils and mushrooms.
Salmon
Salmon is often touted for its health benefits so it is a little surprise this seafood staple provides a healthy hair essential. The selenium found in salmon helps regulate the hormone production essential to healthy tresses. This trace mineral fights free radicals to boot.
Berries
Berries — and strawberries in particular — are a delicious way to get an extra boost of Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps produce collagen (found within hair follicles) and fight free radicals which have been linked with the aging process. Additional antioxidant vitamins include Vitamin A (think orange and yellow fruits) and Vitamin E (go for nuts and beans).
Almonds
For an on-the-go boost of Vitamin E and copper, reach for almonds. They’re an easy snack to combat the mid-meal munchies and a number of studies suggest that almond consumption can help lower bad LDL cholesterol levels.
An Expert’s Guide to Caring for and Styling Gray Hair
All products featured in Vogue are independently selected by our editors. However, we may earn affiliate revenue on this article and commission when you buy something.
Along with the multitude of changes our body goes through as we age, the transition to natural gray hair can feel the most nerve-wracking—leaving many of us struggling to embrace the inevitable silver strands. Perhaps you’ve decided against dyes or your usual routine is just no longer cutting it and you’re looking for the best way to care for your changing strands. Whatever your motivation, you can use our guide; we’ve enlisted two hair-care experts to help share their top tips.
For starters, it might be helpful to understand how natural gray hair differs. “With age, hair loses density, shine, and pigment, and the oil glands in the scalp produce less sebum,” says a Ph.D. scientist, certified hair practitioner, and biotech/pharmaceutical patent attorney Dr. Gaby Longsworth. On the color of gray hair, Longsworth emphasizes that it’s not white, but transparent like glass because it has lost its melanin, a natural protectant against ultraviolet radiation. “Gray hair lacks this natural protective mechanism making it more sensitive to the sun’s rays, which results in the oxidation of hair proteins,” she notes. “That is why white and gray hair is more likely to oxidize, looking yellow and tarnished.”
That said, the reduction of sebum production can result in hair that feels coarse, wiry, and dry—especially for curly texture, according to Longsworth. Thus, Nina Rubel, creative director and head of the color at Rob Peetoom Salon in Williamsburg, explains that one may have to alter their styling and maintenance routines accordingly. Read on to discover the essential steps to make sure your natural grays are as healthy as ever.
Remove Buildup With a Clarifying Shampoo
“To keep gray hair healthy, only use gentle clarifying shampoos and avoid sulfates which are especially drying for gray and curly hair,” says Longsworth. “Using a charcoal, ACV detox type product weekly or biweekly also keeps silvers as white as possible—and keeps the scalp healthy.” Formulated with chelating agents, apple cider vinegar, and hydrolyzed keratin, Oua’s Detox Shampoo is just the ticket to slough away dirt and oil while conditioning hair. Otherwise, Rubel recommends rotating between L’Oréal Professionnel Metal Detox Shampoo and traditional cleansers for a deep clean.
L’Oréal Professionnel Metal Detox Shampoo
Cleanse With Care
When you aren’t using a clarifying formula, your daily shampoo should enhance the look and feel of your mane. “The absence of pigment in gray hair can cause hair to turn yellow due to product build-up, metals and minerals in our water, heat styling, sun exposure, and other external factors,” notes Rubel; so, investing in purple shampoos or products to prevent brassiness is key. Of Longworth’s picks, there’s Davines’s color-enhancing purple shampoo crafted specifically for platinum and cool blonde tones, or Klorane’s neutralizing shampoo enriched with organic centaury to counteract copper and yellow tones.
Davines Alchemic Silver Shampoo
Klorane Anti-Yellowing Shampoo with Centaury
Prioritize Moisturizing Treatments
Per usual, after cleansing, comes conditioning. Remember: “Gray hair needs more moisture than non-gray hair,” according to Longsworth. Aside from the conditioners corresponding to your chosen shampoo, a hydrating mask can be a thoughtful addition. Briogeo’s mask is always a good idea, known to revive dry, damaged hair after just a few uses. Prefer a clean formula? Enter Innersense’s option infused with shea butter, flax seed, quinoa, coconut, and tamanu oils to quench thirsty strands without weighing them down.
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask
Innersense Organic Beauty Hydrating Hair Mask
Select a Reparative Leave-In
“Because gray hair is more susceptible to damage, making sure we are strengthening and protecting the hair is imperative,” Rubel explains. “Repair masks such as K18 are a great way to reverse prior damage while protecting the hair from future stress and wear and tear.” Aside from the oft-talked-about K18 treatment, Augustinus Bader’s formula is powered by the brand’s acclaimed TCF8 complex alongside supercharged superfoods and antioxidants to promote shiny, thick, hydrated strands.
K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask
Augustinus Bader The Leave-In Conditioner
Keep a Balanced Scalp
For pigmented and gray hair types alike, healthy hair starts at the scalp! New York City-based trichologist Bridgette Hill previously told Vogue hair serums were helpful to “provide moisture, protection, and/or styling benefits for scalp or hair fiber.” Of the best, Dr. Barbara Sturm’s works minimize dryness, oiliness, and inflammation of the hair fibers. On the other hand, Kérastase’s option uses a blend of ceramides, conditioning agents, and green tea extracts to soften hair and reduce breakage.
Kérastase Initialiste Strengthening & Volumizing Advanced Scalp & Hair Serum
Dr. Barbara Sturm Balancing Scalp Serum
Promote Hair Growth and Strengthening
Similarly, a product dedicated to strengthening and subsequently growing your hair won’t hurt. Longsworth is partial to Mielle’s acclaimed oil, which boasts an impressive cocktail of castor oil, rosemary, peppermint, biotin, and tea tree oils. Then there’s Oribe’s treatment serum enriched with chia seed, bamboo, plant-based protein, and hyaluronic acid to not only fortify strands but protect against heat up to 450 degrees.
Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil
Oribe Hair Alchemy Fortifying Treatment Serum
Pair Hot Tools With a Heat Protectant
“When gray hair is overworked with hot tools, it can become dull and turn a yellowish tone due to the heat so proper protection is a must,” Rubel advises. While some of your chosen hair products may already have heat-protecting qualities, a standalone spray could be useful. Both Kenra and Bumble and Bumble’s formulas safeguard against heat up to 450 degrees.
Kenra Thermal Styling Spray 19
Bumble and bumble Bb. Heat Shield Thermal Protection Mist
Switch Up Your Stylers
Don’t be frustrated if the stylers you once held close no longer work for you. Longsworth is partial to Miribel’s lightweight gel for soft weightless hold; not to mention it moisturizes simultaneously through conditioning ingredients like aloe vera, flaxseed extract, and vitamin E. Or perhaps your hair feels flat. Amp up the volume with Paul Mitchell’s volumizing liquid, which counts Maye Musk as a fan, or Shu Uemura’s mousse endorsed by Rubel. For any other styling needs, Living Proof’s spray delivers versatile benefits from instant volume to undone texture.
Miribel Naturals Silky Smooth Flaxseed Gel
Paul Mitchell Clean Beauty Volumizing Liquid
Shu Uemura Awa Volume Volumizing Mousse
Living Proof Full Dry Volume & Texture Spray
Lock in Moisture
As a final step, a drop of hair oil can remedy dry, brittle strands by locking in moisture. Delicately slather on Davines OI Oil to add shine and softness to wet or dry hair without weighing it down, especially if the hair is feeling extra coarse. Bread Beauty Supply’s elixir is a solid choice, too, powered by Kakadu plum for unmatched shine and hydration.
Bread Beauty Supply Hair-Oil Everyday Gloss
5 Tips for Keeping Long Gray Hair Healthy, According to Stylists and Dermatologists
If there’s one pervasive myth in the beauty industry, it’s that you must cut your hair short as you ease into mid-life. This misconception arose for a few reasons. Among them is that maintaining long hair becomes much more difficult once it grays. During that process, the hair’s natural oils decrease, making strands drier and more brittle. However, with a few haircare and lifestyle changes, you can keep your hair long for decades after it loses its pigment. Keep reading to hear from hairstylists and dermatologists about the best and most stylish ways to keep long gray hair healthy.
READ THIS NEXT: 5 Benefits of Letting Your Hair Go Gray, According to Stylists.
Read the original article on Best Life.
© Provided by Best Life
Up Your Hair Game With the Best Dry Scalp Treatment
A dry scalp is a tricky condition. It can start out so subtle that it’s hard to notice, but over time it can become so severe that it interferes with your everyday life. Whether it’s caused by a dry winter or an ongoing problem with the texture and health of your hair, it’s essential to address the issue so you don’t end up with a severely dry, itchy scalp that’s prone to infection. In this guide, we’ll go over the causes of scalp dryness, what to look for in products designed to solve this kind of problem, and how to use them properly to achieve optimal results. Reasons for Dry Scalp Chemical exposure
Hair products like hair dyes and shampoos often contain harsh chemicals like chlorine, bleach, and sulfates that strip away your scalp’s natural oil and make it more susceptible to dryness. Often, this type of damage is seen as dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis.
If you’re dealing with dandruff or an itchy scalp that causes redness and irritation, try using a moisturizing shampoo that contains ingredients like tea tree oil and peppermint oil.
Over-washing or under-washing
There are some people who wash their hair too often and some people who don’t wash their hair enough. If you wash your hair too often, it will strip off all the natural oils from your scalp, resulting in dryness. On the other hand, if you don’t wash your hair enough, then there will be oil and dirt on your scalp, which can clog up the pores and cause dandruff.
To avoid these issues, it is recommended that you use lukewarm water when washing your hair and limit the number of washes to every two to three days.
Scalp infections
One of the most common reasons for dry scalp is psoriasis. The condition causes skin cells on your scalp to grow in thick, scaly layers that shed off easily. If you have psoriasis, the scales may contain flakes of skin or even blood.
While you can use OTC products to relieve the symptoms of a dry scalp caused by psoriasis, it’s best to get treatment from your doctor. You may be advised to take prescription medications or use ointments that contain corticosteroids.
What To Look For in a Dry Scalp Treatment Ingredients
Just like other skin care products, the ingredients in a dry scalp treatment play a huge role in your skin’s overall health. You want to look for products that contain natural ingredients like tea tree oil, aloe vera gel, and shea butter, as these will nourish your scalp without drying it out further. Some even contain active ingredients like salicylic acid and lactic acid, which help exfoliate dead skin cells on the scalp to reduce flaking.
Besides these ingredients, you should pay close attention to the product’s formulation. While some dry scalp treatments are simply a mixture of essential and carrier oils, others contain ingredients like alcohol, parabens, and sulfates. Although these chemicals will give you the instant relief you’re looking for, they’ll also dry out your scalp and cause further problems down the line.
Consistency
When choosing a dry scalp treatment, it’s important to consider its consistency. While most people are familiar with the difference between liquids and creams, there are many other types of products that will suit different hair types.
For example, if your hair is very thick and curly or coarse, you may want to choose an oil-based product over something water-soluble like shampoo. Similarly, if you have fine, thin hair that’s prone to frizziness, a gel or mousse will help keep flyaways under control.
Ease of use
If you don’t want to spend a lot of time in the shower each morning, you should probably choose a hair care product that’s easy to use. These days, many come with a convenient nozzle or a comb applicator, making the application process a cinch. If you’re looking for something even more simple, look for products that don’t require rinsing out or leave behind any residue.
