Grey Hair Treatments
Given the currently available options it appears that the greying process cannot be reversed. There is no scientific evidence that any existing medicine, diet, herb, supplement or natural product can prevent or reverse greying hair. Several cosmetics and pharmaceuticals giants are working on the discovery of the ultimate cure for grey hair but no satisfactory solution is commercially available yet. The only currently available option that delivers results is dyeing hair. You can either use regular hair dyes or try progressive hair colorants. Unlike regular hair dyes, progressive hair colorants only affect your grey hair, changing its colour gradually and unnoticeably. But hair follicles will continue producing grey hair. Men usually prefer this option since it makes their hair look more natural, as they do not have to cover up all their grey.
Nonetheless, there are some traditional anti-grey hair therapies and a couple of active substances that can be found in commercial products that claim to be helpful in treating grey hair. Greyhairloss.com took a closer look at the stories behind such claims and presents a brief summary. Please refer to the blog to read the reviews of commercial grey hair treatments. You are invited to rate and write a review on any commercial product examined on the blog.
Active Substances Used in Grey Hair Cures
apple cider vinegar, folic acid, Fo-Ti, lead acetate, PABA, sage tea, synthetic pigments
FO-TI is a Chinese herb called He Shou Wu (polygonum multiflorum), marketed under the name of Fo-Ti (root). The literal English translation for He Shou Wu is "black haired Mr. He". This name refers to the legend from the 9th century A.D. of an old villager named Mr. He, who took Fo-Ti and restored his black hair, youthful appearance and vitality. In Chinese medicine, Fo-Ti is a longevity tonic that is used for greying hair, premature aging, weakness, vaginal discharge and erectile dysfunction. It is also believed to possess the ability to maximize the length of hair growth cycles. Fo-Ti is the main active ingredient in many overpriced grey hair products such as Shen Min, Shou Wu Pill, Shou Wu Pian, Reminex, etc (and some hair loss products, too). There is no clinical research available supporting the claim of its efficacy in treating grey hair and consumer product reviews are mixed at best. It is unthinkable that products containing Fo-Ti as their principal ingredient can reverse premature or age-related greying of hair. They might, though, be used successfully in certain rare, non-genetically determined, grey hair conditions.
PABA (para-aminobenzoic acid) is often referred to as vitamin BX or B10 and it is believed to be an anti-aging and anti-grey hair vitamin. Some research claims that PABA combined with folic acid helps restore hair to its original colour.
FOLIC ACID is another member from the group of vitamins B (B9) and it is believed to be essential in maintaining and restoring the original hair colour.
Both, PABA and folic acid are frequent components of generic, grey hair cures. An average healthy person is unlikely to register a change in the colour of their hair as a result of the extra intake of these two vitamins. Their administration can only be beneficial in rare, grey hair conditions caused by the deficiency of any of these two vitamins.
SYNTHETIC PIGMENTS - these are products of the chemical reaction of one or more components contained in progressive hair colorant and atmospheric oxygen. First, the colorant must coat and penetrate the hair and then synthetic pigment develops both, on the surface and in the pores of white hair, as a result of a chemical reaction. This synthetic pigment becomes a substitute for the missing melanin (natural pigment). Synthetic pigments are either metallic salts or organic compounds. The most frequent metallic-based pigment is lead sulphate. Lead acetate is its better-known precursor and can be found in numerous hair colorants. Bismuth sulphide is the other type of metallic pigment used (Restoria) and bismuth citrate is its precursor. Organic pigments are polymers. Poly Re-Nature is a typical representative of the organic-based, hair colorant, using 5,6-dihydroxyindoline as its precursor, which reacts with the oxygen in the air to produce melanin-like acting polymers.
LEAD ACETATE is a white crystalline substance with a sweetish taste. Like other lead compounds it is toxic and should not be digested. However, lead acetate has a sweet taste, which has led to its use as a sugar substitute throughout history. In low concentrations it is the principal active ingredient in hair lotions such as Grecian formula, Youthair, Restoria, GreyBan and Greyout. Such lotions, however, cannot make follicles to produce pigmented hair, they can only reverse the colour of the existing grey hair. Although these products are currently available in pharmacies in Europe and North America, some doctors warn about the risks associated with the potential absorption of lead acetate through the skin. Many grey hair sufferers have been using these products for years with very good success. To see satisfactory results, every time these lotions are applied you should allow them enough time to work (ideally two days) before washing your hair. Direct sun reduces the efficacy of these agents.
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR - its water solution applied topically is said to be an old, traditional method of reversing grey hair. It is assumed to work in a similar fashion to the metallic-based, hair colorants, gradually changing the colour of white hair. Its mechanism of action and potential efficacy are obviously unknown. Neither scientific evidence nor user testimonials exist to confirm the story behind this method of reversing grey hair. It is an old wive’s tale.
SAGE TEA is another traditional natural remedy to recover the original hair colour. Strong sage tea should be applied to the hair and left to dry, then rinsed with water and dried. This therapy should be repeated weekly until the desired shade is achieved. It is conceivable that the strong sage tea could stain and colour the hair naturally but no customer testimony was found to confirm that it is really effective.
Other Treatments
RUBBING THE NAILS against each other is said to help circulation (as nerve endings are located under the finger nails), thereby reducing grey hair. This is an old technique from India and it requires a bit of commitment as it is not as easy as it sounds to rub one’s nails against each other for five minutes at a stretch. This method sounds weird but trying it does not cost anything.