Delaying the onset of hair graying is a universal goal today. Although hair graying is a natural phenomenon, premature graying is taking the world by storm. The answer to managing hair graying lies in managing the melanin – the natural pigment present in your hair. The question that follows is how to increase melanin in hair?
Most of us are concerned about how our hair looks. Hair adds up as a bonus point to our personality. It makes us look beautiful. As we age your hair starts graying. Graying melanin hair impacts your appearance. People complain of graying of hair even amongst young people. This is probably due to pollution and products that we apply.
Many choose to color their melanin hair when they turn gray. It is well known that hair color constitutes harmful chemicals. These chemicals do not only deteriorate the quality of our melanin hair, they eventually make your hair brittle and weak thereby resulting in hair loss and hair thinning. It is wiser to opt for a natural alternative. One of the methods to restore our hair color is by increasing melanin for hair.
Melanin is a naturally occurring pigment and determines the hair colour. When melanin production slows, hair graying begins, often leading to melanin hair whitening and hampering hair growth. Having grey hair as we age is normal, however, might not be that normal in most cases. can be occurring due to a variety of reasons.
Thus, boosting melanin for hair can help in dealing with premature graying as well as graying in general. Here, we will discuss how to increase melanin for hair through practices and food intake that maintain a healthy melanin balance in the hair.
Also Read : Can Ayurveda Reverse Grey Hair
What Is Melanin?
Melanin is found in the human body and other living organisms that determine the color. It is a natural pigment that is responsible for the color of our melanin hair, skin, and eye. Cells particularly responsible for melanin formulation are melanocytes. Every human body has the same number of melanocytes but they might produce more in some people than others. This is why the pigment of people's skin, eyes, and melanin hair color is different.
People with more melanin have darker skin and hair tones. The production of melanin depends on our genetics. You inherit the number of melanin your body produces. Melanin helps protect you from UV rays but is not enough. When your body is exposed to sunlight, it produces more melanin. People with lighter skin tone or having less melanin in their skin are more prone to skin cancer than people having more melanin.
This article provides you with information regarding melanin for hair and its impact on hair. The best alternative to hair coloring is increasing melanin levels. This article will examine if melanin treatment for hair is possible and how to increase melanin in hair. As melanin is helpful in the protection of the hair from sunlight's harmful UV rays; people often devote their time in search of how to increase melanin in hair.
Why Does Hair Lose Colour?
There are various reasons for the loss of melanin in your hair. Age, genetics, lifestyle and a variety of vitamin deficiencies play a role in this. Let us look at each of these.
- Age
With age, the hair colour changes. The hair colour gets darker as you move from childhood to teenage. Slowly, with age, the melanin production slows and by the age of 50, most people start experiencing greying of hair.
- Genetics
may be a result of genetics. It is possible that early greying has been inherited from previous generations.
- Damage from sun
Extreme exposure to the sun can impact melanin production in the hair and even hair growth. Ultraviolet rays can destroy the melanin in the hair and damage its natural shade.
- Stress
Chronic stress leads to a lot of health issues like anxiety, hair greying and other cardiovascular complications. Sleeplessness, high blood pressure, anxiety and loss of appetite are the most common symptoms of stress.
- Smoking
Smoking creates congestion in the blood vessels leading to restrictions in the blood flow. This impacts the hair follicles as well leading to hair loss and
- Deficiency of vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is instrumental in the production of red blood cells and in improving hair growth. A deficiency of vitamin B12 impacts the oxygen supply to the hair follicles causing hair greying.
- Usage of chemical products
Sulfate, paraben and silicones are today present in most of the hair products that we use. These are harmful to the health of the hair and are closely linked to of the hair. If you’re looking at how to increase melanin in hair, you should switch to products with natural ingredients, like the ones at Traya.
Importance of Melanin in Hair
Before finding out how to increase melanin in hair, let's understand the importance of melanin. Melanin for hair - apart from giving the hair its natural characteristic colour also has protective functions.
- Regulating the colour of your hair
By now you know the melanin for hair gives the hair its colour but you’ll be surprised to know that the hair is originally white and gains the colour only after it emerges from the hair follicle. Melanin, which is found in the cortex or the middle layer of the hair, is of two types – eumelanin & pheomelanin.
Different combinations of these two types produce different hair colour types. These colours can be one of the five types, black or dark brown, light brown, yellow (or blonde), red, white.
Eumelanin is the dark form of melanin and is divided into two types – brown eumelanin and black eumelanin. This is the most commonly occurring melanin in human hair. If the black eumelanin is in huge concentration, the hair is black. Similarly, brown hair results from a high concentration of brown melanin. Conversely, a low concentration of black melanin results in grey hair and a low concentration of brown melanin makes the hair yellow or blonde.
Pheomelanin is the brighter shade of melanin and has a reddish hue. In higher concentration, it gives the hair a red colour. When mixing with brown eumelanin, the result gives your hair an orange tinge popularly known as ginger.
- Protection against sun rays
This is also one of the major functions of melanin. The melanin in the hair and skin offers protection against the UV rays of the sun. Thus, it is important to know how to increase melanin in hair. A higher concentration of eumelanin over pheomelanin provides higher protection against the sun. This means that darker skin or hair is more protected against the harmful rays of the sun compared to lighter shades.
Is It Possible to Increase Melanin Production in Hair?
The simple answer is yes. Here it must be noted that the loss or the slowdown in melanin for hair due to age or genetics is not reversible. However, it is always possible to control the other factors such as sun exposure, smoking, and stress. The studies have proven facts regarding the possibility of melanin production for better hair growth. Taking care of vitamin deficiencies in the body and limiting the usage of chemical hair products or shifting to natural and herbal hair products can go a long way in increasing the melanin for hair as well as reducing the destruction of the melanin. We will look at the methods on how to increase melanin in hair in subsequent sections. We will also answer questions like how Ayurveda can help in reversing gray hair.
How to Increase Melanin For Hair?
- Melanin for that contains melanin induced products
The products that contain lutein, probiotics, Astaxanthin, lycopene in their ingredient list are highly encouraged to be used. All of these help in increase melanin for hair . If it is particularly for hair that you are concerned about increasing melanin content in your body, you could use hair dye that has less harmful chemicals and they are based on melanin.
- Pills
Consuming pills may not be a safe way to increase melanin in hair. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) warns not to use such pills. The association warns people against its harmful effects. Since the color of the eye is also determined by the amount of melanin your body produces; the extra melanin that the pills can produce might prove to be harmful to your eyesight. And you would never be involved in such a risk that might damage your eyesight just to change your hair color!
Besides the chemical consumption through pills which is prone to have side effects on the human body; there are other ways through which melanin production for hair growth can be increased. Among the numerous ways, some of them are presented in the upcoming part of this article.
- Sun Exposure - Tanning
Exposure to the sun for prolonged periods has proven to be helpful in increasing melanin for hair. Though melanin has some protective properties; it is not enough to protect your skin and hair from harmful UV rays. These emissions could lead to serious skin diseases therefore it is not advisable to expose your body to sunlight for tanning even though it would help in melanin production for hair growth.
Also Read: Is Stress Affecting Your Health?
How to Increase Melanin in Hair Naturally?
Other than low melanin there are other factors that are responsible for graying our hair. Age, hormonal imbalance, use of chemical-induced products, stress, and genetics play a major role in the graying of hair. Hair dyes could not only damage hair but they are only a temporary method to color your hair. If you wish to have a longer impact on your hair melanin production would certainly help.
The methods that are previously discussed in the article might not seem effective. You must have wondered and asked yourself about how to increase melanin in hair using Ayurvedic remedies. The search comes to an end as there are proven Ayurveda facts regarding the hair color preserves that help in delaying the graying process of hair. It answers our question about how to boost the melanin in hair using ayurvedic medicines naturally.
Ayurveda texts emphasize not involving in activities that provoke pitta dosha in our body. Pitta dosha controls the digestive system and metabolism as per Ayurveda texts. It is advised not to involve yourself in pitta dosha-provoking activities as it might be a major obstruction in production of melanin for hair. The ayurvedic medicine that would answer the question regarding how to increase hair melanin is discussed in the upcoming texts on this article.
Ayurvedic Herbs to Increase Melanin Production in Hair
If you are looking at how to increase melanin in hair Ayurveda options, there are many. These ayurvedic herbs are useful in promoting the production of melanin in the hair –
BhringrajThis particular medicine is very effective in solving the issue of graying hair at a young age. It could be infused in oil and used as hair oil or could be mixed with hair masks in powder form. It has darkening properties that are believed to be an agent to boost melanin for hair growth.
Also Read: Benefits of Bhringraj For Hair
Vibhitaka
Vibhitaka is a fruit from one of the deciduous trees which has similar properties as bhringraj. It has similar benefits that could be used to boost melanin content for your hair. It helps in boosting melanin in hair follicles. Just like bhringraj, vibhitaka can also be used as hair oil or used in hair masks.
Mango seed
Mango seeds are rich in vitamins and minerals. It contains antioxidant properties that help in melanin production in hair. Use it as a paste and apply it to your scalp. It will not only help in preventing the graying of your hair, but it will also help strengthen the hair follicles and promote hair growth.
Triphala
Triphala is an ayurvedic medicine that helps in improving melanin for hair. It can be used as a supplement and taken with honey orally before you go to bed. Its properties will help prevent grey hairs and can also be used as a cleanser for your hair instead of shampoos that are full of harmful chemicals.
Henna
Henna or Mehendi can be used as a natural dye replacing the chemical formulated hair dyes. It also has antioxidants that promote melanin production makes your hair long and strong
Hibiscus
Hibiscus is a natural remedy to graying hair as it has vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant properties. You can use it as oil or mask whichever is suitable for your hair type. It will promote melanin production and also improve the quality of your hair. You can also consume it orally by making yourself a cup of tea using hibiscus flowers.
Gooseberries
Indian Gooseberries or amla is one of the main ingredients of many of the hair products sold in the market. It is Vitamin C rich and also has antioxidants. Both of these contribute to melanin production and helps prevent the greying of your hair at a younger age.
Can Melanin Help to Restore Hair Color?
Melanin is the pigment that is responsible for our hair color. If melanin production is stopped or reduced our hair will eventually lose its color and it will turn gray with time. If your hair is turning grey due to factors like stress, hormonal imbalance, use of chemicals, etc, it is possible to restore melanin by increasing your body’s melanin production.
But if your hair is turning grey due to genetics it is impossible to restore your hair color through melanin production. It is recommended to either be used to the natural process of life or to dye it using less harmful chemical-infused colors.
Similarly, if your hair is turning grey as a process of aging you can delay it up to some extent. As you age, your body cannot function as it used to, as a result, the melanin production is reduced, and eventually, hair loses its color. It can be delayed by improving the melanin level.
Melanin Rich Foods That Can Increase Melanin in Hair
If you are looking at how to increase melanin in hair, managing your diet correctly can go a long way in increasing melanin production as well as reducing its degradation. Conversely, greying might also be occurring due to certain nutritional deficiencies which if addressed, can give the desired results. Melanin rich foods are food that is full of vitamins and has antioxidant properties is believed to be helpful in melanin production for hair.
Here we look at the various nutrients essential for a healthy melanin level and the melanin rich foods. You must always consult your nutritionist to give you the best diet plan that will also improve hair nutrition.
Consumption of supplements
Melanin production for hair can be boosted through the consumption of some of the vitamins and minerals also.
Iron
Some of the melanin rich foods for hair are food containing iron can help in melanin production that would be helpful for your hair. Found in dark green vegetables (such as spinach, broccoli), tomato, banana, dark chocolate, lentils, nuts (cashew, peanuts), seeds (flax seeds, pumpkin seeds), dark chocolate and fish. Include these in your diet if you’re looking at how to increase melanin in hair naturally.
Copper
Copper intake in the diet is very important in order to help in melanin production that would be helpful for hair. Take sufficient amounts as cereals, chickpeas, nuts (almonds, cashew), seeds (sunflower and poppy seeds), sweet potato, avocado, dark chocolate, liver and seafood such as oysters. These are some examples of melanin rich foods for hair.
Antioxidants
Fighting free radicals is very important if you want to know how to increase melanin in hair. Antioxidants fight free radicals which target healthy cells such as melanin-producing cells. Melanin rich foods such as blueberries, beans, leafy green vegetables, dark chocolate and artichokes are rich in antioxidants.
Catalase
This is a naturally occurring enzyme that neutralizes hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide builds upon hair follicles over time and causes oxidative damage which is one of the reasons for greying of hair. If you’re looking at how to increase melanin in hair, include cucumber, onion, sweet potato, spinach, celery, kale, pineapple, peaches, watermelon, cherries and apricots in your diet to provide a sufficient amount of catalase to your body.
Vitamins
Lack of vitamins such as A, C, B12 is also linked to greying of hair. If you’re looking at how to increase melanin in hair, you must include in your diet, melanin rich foods and foods that are rich in vitamins.
o Vitamin A – stimulates the oil-producing glands in the hair follicle and keeps the hair moisturized. Found in carrots, kale, spinach and sweet potatoes.
o Vitamin C – fights free radicals and prevents melanin breakdown caused by them. Citrus fruits such as orange, lemon and other fruits like berries, papaya, cherries, guava, strawberries are rich in vitamin C. It is also found in broccoli and sprouts.
o Vitamin B6 and B12 – these help in melanin production. Vitaminalso helps in red blood cell production which keeps the oxygen availability to the hair follicle regulated. Vitamin B6 is found in spinach, potato, beans and turkey. Vitaminis found in eggs, chicken, lamb, pork, seafood and fortified cereals as well as dairy products.
Here we discussed the various approaches on how to increase melanin in hair. You can accelerate the rate of melanin production by consuming the right melanin rich foods for hair as we discussed above. It is equally important that you maintain a stress and healthy lifestyle by adopting exercise for hair growth and health.
Side Effects of Melanin in Hair
hair is an issue. Solving it through melanin is a good idea. But excess melanin production may result in other problems. Melanin is not only responsible for your hair color but the color of your skin and eyes too.! If you are focused on how to increase melanin content in hair; you might overlook the side effects it has on your skin and eyes.
The increased level of melanin can cause hyperpigmentation. It also can cause a problem and result in poor eyesight. Anything you want to indulge yourself and your body, you are advised to balance it out. Never exceed the levels as advised by your doctor. It is recommended you discuss with your doctor before opting for any of the above measures.
FAQs
Which foods increase melanin in hair?
Melanin rich foods like dark chocolate, blueberries, citrus fruits, nuts, leafy greens, lentils, fish and meat can help increase melanin in hair. Eating foods that contain vitamins and minerals are also essential to increase melanin in hair.
How can I increase melanin in black hair?
A healthy diet which includes all food groups - especially iron, proteins, vitamins and minerals helps increase melanin in black hair. You can also use Traya Hair Ras and Hair vitamins that help to increase melanin in the hair.
4) Gray or white hair is due to the loss of melanin. Grey hair has minimal melanin, while white hair has none.
How does melanin affect hair color?
Melanin is a natural pigment that determines the hair color. More the melanin, darker the hair colour and vice versa. As you age, the pigment cells producing melanin goes on decreasing and this leads to loss of melanin. This is the reason why hair begins to turn grey. Some individuals also tend to loose melanin at an early age called premature greying. Traya's Hair ras natural tablets help to delay this premature hair greying.
Does white hair have melanin?
Melanin is responsible for the colour of our skin, eye and hair. Gray or white hair is due to the loss of melanin and the melanin producing pigment cells in the body. Grey hair has minimal melanin, while white hair has few to no melanin cells remaining.
Which foods reduce melanin?
Some foods that reduce melanin are dairy and dairy products (milk, cheese), eggs, aloe vera and green tea. It is preferred to eat foods that are melanin rich foods for hair to prevent hair from turning grey.
