Finding a few hairs in the shower is one thing, but seeing pesky grey hairs in the mirror, or worse still, when someone points it out, is completely different. Grey hair can appear in people of all ages, regardless of race or gender. Before making an appointment to get it dyed or getting highlights put in, it is important to understand all the facts.
When we envision a person with grey hair, society often projects an image of an elderly person. Of course, it is true that as a person ages, they will likely see more and more grey hair, but what about grey hair at 25?
What causes premature hair greying and what are the options for tackling this ?
What causes grey hair?
For some, grey hair is like a physical disfigurement. Crushing self-esteem and confidence. This is especially true for premature greying.
Some think that grey hair is strictly tied in with age, but in actuality, it is a little bit more complex. First and foremost, genetics are responsible for dictating when and how fast greying will onset. Other factors, like copper deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency, stress, smoking, and obesity have taken part of the blame too.
Simply put, grey hair is caused by a decreasing amount of melanin in hair follicles. Melanin is produced in cells called melanocytes, and the formation of melanin can be thrown off by a number of factors.
What limits melanin production?
Melanin is the pigment that gives hair its colour. It is present in different forms in many plant and animal species. Because hair colour is so diverse (black brown, blonde, red), levels of melanin vary. In human hair it exists in two forms: eumelanin (predominantly in black and brown hair) and pheomelanin (responsible for red hair). As people age, melanin levels start to drop off, eventually diminishing to the point where hair is all grey or white.
Genetics, genetics, genetics. Apart from rarer conditions that can affect melanin production, for loss of pigmentation (premature or at the usual age) genetics play a significant role in whether you go grey at 25 or 55.
The limiting factor in melanin production is an enzyme called tyrosinase. Tyrosinase is a copper-containing enzyme that is essential for normal pigment production.
Copper and premature greying
Copper plays a key role in many biological processes. Most importantly, copper-containing enzymes are required for ridding the body of free radicals (anti-oxidant effect), transporting vital compounds between cells and within cells, collagen and elastin formation, and of course, copper lies at the heart of tyrosinase, the stuff that melanin is made of.
Because copper is necessary to form tyrosinase, and in turn, tyrosinase is vital to melanin production, low copper levels can make one go grey much earlier than expected.
The science on greying hair
Going grey at 25 has little to do with stresses from school, family, and life in general. There is very little evidence to suggest that stress can cause overnight greying. Although, there have been some studies that have implicated chronic stress, there is considerably more evidence for other factors.
As mentioned before, greying in general can be caused by various reasons. Unbeknownst to some, there are many risk factors for going grey early. A studypublished in The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that smoking, obesity, and a family history of premature greying are all associated with premature greying.
Research on serum copper concentrations, published in Biological Trace Element Research, showed a clear link between low serum copper levels and premature greying. This is direct evidence that a diet low in copper can have detrimental effects on the body, and this is why copper is at the core of Melaniq®
Obviously, if multiple factors are at play, this can significantly increase the probability of going grey earlier than expected.
The Melaniq® approach
Some embrace the silver blaze of ageing, while others are more inclined to want to keep their natural hair colour. Melaniq® includes the vital nutrients needed to keep hair looking gorgeous and natural. Melaniq® contains copper, L-tyrosine (the raw material for tyrosinase), vitamins B7, B9, B12, C, and D, and other potent nutrients. Melaniq® thus provides a unique blend of naturally-based ingredients, including copper, that contributes to the maintenance of natural hair colour.
Try Melaniq® today!
