Three Homemade Tricks to Cover Gray Hairs
No matter how vigilant you’ve been, on occasion you’ve probably found a gray hair or two. Perhaps you were really surprised the first time. Maybe you looked for tricks to cover gray hairs.
Over the years, though, you became used to your gray hairs.
Gray hairs are normal for everyone, especially in people who are older in age or have certain disorders or problems. In today’s article, we’ll take a closer look at them.
What are gray hairs?
A gray hair is no different than your other strands of hair. It simply has taken on a gray or white appearance.This color occurs when your hair loses its original pigment, which is caused by a decrease in melanin production by your body.
Melanin, among other functions, is responsible for giving your hair its pigment.
See also: 6 home remedies for early gray hair
Why do people get gray hairs?
Although the appearance of gray hair is usually associated with age, that’s not the only factor that influences its appearance.
Therefore, a few other important things must be considered, which can directly or indirectly influence the appearance of gray hairs:
Stress
Believe it or not, gray hair comes on even faster if you consider the current fast pace of your life.
Stress, in excess, promotes the appearance of gray hair due to hormonal changes. In the long run, your stressful life will wind up being obvious in your hair color.
Certain medical conditions
There is an endless supply of different diseases and disorders that can cause the appearance of gray hair. Anemia and hypothyroidism are the most common ones, however.Genetics
It’s very common to inherit the characteristics of your parents and grandparents.
Gray hair is no exception, and genetics seems to be one of the most influential factors. It’s even been said that this is the main cause of the appearance of gray hair.
Diet
What you eat can have a decisive influence on all aspects of your body.
One clear example of this is the appearance of gray hair. If you’re not getting the nutrients you need, it’s more likely that you’ll see grays popping up at random.
Alternatives to hair dye
While there are countless products available to mask gray hair, it’s better to use some natural alternatives that you can prepare at home.
This way, you’ll know the type and source of each ingredient you use.
1-Walnut leaves
These are distinguished by the strong color they have. This is why they’re a great alternative for covering gray hair.Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons of walnut leaves (60 g)
- 4 cups of water (1 liter)
Preparation and application
- Add the walnut leaves to the water in a large saucepan.
- Bring this mixture to a boil for 15 minutes.
- Allow it to cool to room temperature.
- Once it is cool, strain off the liquid and apply it to your hair.
2-Henna
Henna is a dye that results from crushing the leaves of a shrub known as Lawsonia Inermis.
In certain Asian countries like India, henna is used as a natural dye. You can take advantage of its properties to cover gray hair.
Ingredients
- Henna (the amount depends on how much hair you want to cover)
- Water (relative to the amount of henna)
Note: a basic measurement is 1 cup of water (200 ml) for every 5 tablespoons of henna (75 g)
Preparation and application
- Mix both products in a bowl until you get a homogeneous paste.
- Apply this to your hair, taking care to spread it over each strand, especially where you have gray hairs.
- Leave it on until your hair reaches the desired shade.
We recommend you read: 5 natural ingredients to treat dry hair
3-Ivy extract
Ivy leaves produce an excellent extract that can counteract the effects of gray hair.
You can make a dark dye that’s ideal for covering up your grays.
Ingredients
- 3 handfuls of ivy leaves (45 g)
- 4 cups of water (1 liter)
Preparation and application
- Mix both ingredients and heat on low heat until the ivy leaves soften.
- Allow this mixture to cool and strain off the liquid.
- Apply the liquid throughout your hair.
- To achieve the best results, repeat this application three times a week.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Chou W, et al. (2013). Direct migration of follicular melanocyte stem cells to the epidermis after wounding or UVB irradiation is dependent on Mc1r signaling.
nature.com/nm/journal/v19/n7/full/nm.3194.html - Pandhi D, et al. (2013). Premature graying of hair. DOI:
10.4103/0378-6323.116733 - Redondo P, et al. (2007). Repigmentation of gray hair after thyroid hormone treatment [Abstract].
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17961449