Why Grey Hair in Your 20s? Know the Science Behind Early Hair Greying

Have you ever caught a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and seen a strand of grey or white hair staring back at you? You are not alone. It is becoming common among people as young as 20 to have white or grey hair. But ever wondered why it is happening at such an early age, and can these turn back? Let's read further to know more!

What causes hair to turn grey or white?

To understand why hair turns grey or white, we need to first start with a simple explanation. Hair gets its colour from a colouring pigment called melanin found in hair follicles. More melanin, the darker the hair colour and vice versa. And this is why some people are blonde or have light brown hair colour, as the amount of melanin is less in amount.

As we age, the cells in the hair follicles that produce melanin slow down or even stop working altogether. It is due to this reason that hair becomes white, silver, or even snow-white. Generally, this begins around the 30s or the 40s, though some people might start experiencing white hair even at a much younger age.

Why is hair turning white at 20?

It can be quite surprising to see grey or white hair in one's 20s. It is not a very common occurrence, but there are some pretty good reasons why this may happen. Here are some of the most popular causes:

• Genetics
  The most important reason that makes your hair appear white before the usual time is genetics. Maybe your parents or grandparents also experienced premature greying of hair, and you ended up inheriting that trait.

• Stress
  You probably have heard people say that stress makes one's hair turn grey. Stress triggers body inflammation, which might affect the cells' production of melanin, impacting premature greying.

• Vitamin deficiencies
  Sometimes a deficiency of some vitamins, like Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Vitamin A, can contribute to the greying of hair. A well-balanced diet that has enough vitamins will maintain healthy hair. The thing is, the foods that we eat daily are mostly produced with artificial pesticides that kill their nutritional value. So, the things that we are putting in our bodies are not always organic and hence, getting deprived of essential nutrients, lead to these issues which are beyond our control.

• Health conditions
  Certain diseases, such as thyroid-related or autoimmune disorders, can influence how your body produces melanin.

• Smoking
  Scientists have verified that smoking causes damage to cells that produce melanin, and this accelerates the otherwise normal ageing process.

Can white hair turn black again?

Now that you know a few reasons why hair turns white early, you may have a question: Can white hair turn black again? The answer is that it depends.

If your hair has turned grey, resulting from a vitamin deficiency or health issue, then perhaps treating the root cause can once again help restore the hair's colour.

For example, if vitamin B12 deficiency is causing your hair colour to grey, an alteration in diet may reverse the process. Hypothyroidism is the same - once the disease condition is corrected, the hair turns back at least partially into its original colour.

Ensure a diet rich in Vitamin B12, iron, folic acid, copper, and omega-3 fatty acids to support melanin production.

But if your grey hair is a result of genetics or old age, then you cannot treat it unless assisted by a professional's help. It is here that treatments and hair dyes come into action.

How to restore natural hair colour

You can try one or more of the following to restore natural hair colour or at least to refrain from further greying:

• Hair dyes
  From temporary colour sprays to permanent dyes, there are many products out there that would help you cover up those white or grey strands.

• Natural remedies
  You can also opt for natural treatments, which can darken your hair, such as coconut oil, curry leaves, amla juice or onion juice, which you can apply to the scalp to stimulate melanin production. Although not scientifically proven, some have been shown to benefit from these methods.

• Control stress
  It can also help you improve the general body's well-being and slow down the process of greying. Try adding some type of relaxation technique, like yoga, meditation, or deep breathing, to your daily routine.

• Stop smoking
  Smoking can cause some long-lasting effects on your overall health. Quitting smoking can do wonders not only for your hair but also for your skin, nails, and overall well-being.

Embrace your grey/white strands

Indeed, it is hard to accept when your hair turns grey, and you are barely in your 20s. Many influencers with premature grey hair have created a fashion sensation to accept this with ease. So, it doesn't matter at all whether your hair is black, brown, grey, or white because what matters most is how proud you are of wearing it.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why do I have grey hair reverted to its natural colour?

If you have made any lifestyle changes like reduced stress levels or diet improvements, your hair colour may return to its original colour.

2. How to get white hair back to black?

You cannot turn white hair back to black naturally. However, you may try using hair dyes or pay more attention to a healthy diet for the overall improvement of your hair health.

3. Can you turn your hair black again after it turns white?

You may not reverse the existing white hair, but a healthy lifestyle may prevent more of your hair from turning white in the future.

4. Is it normal to have a grey hair at 20?

Yes, it’s normal to have a few grey hairs at 20, as genetics, stress, and lifestyle factors can influence early greying.

5. How to stop the greying of hair in the 20s?

While you can’t completely stop greying, maintaining a balanced diet, managing stress, and avoiding excessive heat or chemical treatments can help slow the process.