17 DIY Home Remedies for Premature Graying of Hair

Hair gets its color from two types of melanin called eumelanin and pheomelanin, and more melanin means darker color. Most people start losing pigmentation and seeing gray hair at about age 35, but for some of us, genetics and other factors lead to premature graying. It’s more common among women than men.

Causes range from stress and overuse of blow dryers to hormonal fluctuations and vitamin deficiencies such as iron, vitamin B, copper and iodine. Other causes are aging, hereditary, regular usage of hair dyes, washing the hair with hot water, intake of tobacco, smoking, malnutrition, pollution and diseases like anemia, TB, PCOS, Werner syndrome, albinism, vitiligo, etc.

Home Remedies for Grey Hair:

Salon color gets expensive, and store-bought color is time-consuming and difficult to get right. Luckily, there are several at-home treatments you can use to cover grays and maintain a youthful appearance. They’re affordable, safe, and most importantly, effective.

1. Indian Gooseberry Or Alma

Indian gooseberry is rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, which promote hair growth and prevent premature graying by revitalizing the pigmentation in your hair.

Process 1:

• Dry gooseberry pieces in shade. Once they dried completely, grind them into a powder.
• In a pan, mix 2 teaspoons of alma with 1 teaspoon of fenugreek and 1 cup of coconut oil.
• Place pan over low flame and heat until oil is brown.
• Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
• Make sure that it doesn’t get into solid state.
• Strain and pour in airtight jar.
• Massage into scalp before bed and leave on overnight for maximum benefit.
• Wash hair in the morning.
• Repeat daily.

 Process 2:

 This method is useful for oily hair.

• In a pan, mix 1 teaspoon of Alma powder into 1 cup of water.
• Boil until half the water is gone.
• Add 3 teaspoons of lemon juice.
• Now add this to required amount of water.
• Wash your hair with this solution daily.

 Process 3:

• Crush gooseberries (deseed) to make a paste by adding some water.
• Massage into scalp and leave on 20-30 minutes.
• Rinse with water.
• Repeat daily to get rid of premature hair.

 Process 4:

• Mix equal quantities of gooseberry juice and almond oil.
• Stir well by adding½ teaspoon of lemon juice.
• Massage into scalp and leave on 1 hour.
• Rinse with water.
• Repeat daily to promote healthy hair.

 Process 5:

• Crush gooseberries to remove seeds.
• Soak berries in water for 3 hours.
• Stir in one teaspoon of eucalyptus oil and let stand overnight.
• In the morning, stir in 1 egg white, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, and curd.
• Massage into scalp and leave on 2 hours.
• Wash with water and mild shampoo.
• Repeat thrice a week.

 Process 6:

• Mix 1 tablespoon Indian gooseberry powder, 1 tablespoon black sesame seeds, 2 tablespoons Bhringaraja into a cup of warm milk.
• Stir well and drink 2 times daily.

2. Coconut Oil and Curry Leaves

Curry leaves nourish your hair’s roots and revitalize hair pigment, and they contain vitamin A , which helps to retain your hair’s original color. Curry leaves also aid in the scalp’s regeneration process, promoting the growth of healthy hair with rich color. Coconut oil moisturizes and nourishes your hair to defend it from toxins and pollutants.

Process 1:

• Add 100 ml coconut oil and a handful of curry leaves to a pan.
• Boil over medium heat until leaves turn black.
• Strain and pour into container.
• Before bed, massage into scalp for 15-20 minutes.
• Leave on overnight.
• Wash hair in the morning.
• Repeat everyday nightly for at least 3 months to reduce premature graying.
• Note: you can add fresh curry leaves to buttermilk or curd and consume regularly.

 Process 2:

• Add handful of curry leaves to 1 cup of water.
• Boil for few minutes.
• Strain and drink daily.

Process 3:

• Melt 1 cup coconut of oil over low heat.
• Add ¼ teaspoon of black pepper powder, 12 basil leaves, and 12 curry leaves.
• Crush 2 Indian Gooseberries and add to pan.
• Let simmer for 20-30 minutes.
• Remove from heat, let cool, and strain.
• Apply to hair from root to tip.
• Leave on 3 hours.
• Rinse with water.
• Repeat 2-3 times weekly.

3. Amaranth

Amaranth prevents hair loss and graying, and it leaves hair shiny, soft, and healthy.

Process:

• Apply amaranath juice to hair thoroughly.
• Leave on 2 hours.
• Rinse with water.
• Or you can make paste from amaranath leaves and apply to hair.
• Repeat 3 times weekly.

4. Ridge Gourd Or Ribbed Gourd

Ridge gourd revitalizes the hair’s roots and helps to restore the pigment.

Process:

• Dry a few pieces of ridge gourd in shade.
• Soak them in coconut oil for 3-4 days.
• Boil the oil and ridge gourd on low flame until the oil turns black.
• Strain the oil and pour it into a container.
• Massage into scalp and leave on overnight or for 3 hours during the day.
• Repeat 3 times weekly.

5. Hibiscus Flowers

Hibiscus promotes hair growth, stops dandruff, delays graying, and eliminates toxins and impurities from your hair.

Process:

• Add 10-12 hibiscus flowers and 4 cups water in a pan.
• Boil 20-25 minutes, then strain.
• Mash the boiled flowers to make a paste.
• Massage paste into scalp and leave on few minutes.
• Rinse with strained hibiscus water.
• Rinse with normal water.
• Wash with shampoo.
• Repeat 3 times weekly.

6. Sesame and Carrot

Sesame oil and carrot juice is used by many Ayurvedic practitioners to treat and prevent gray hair.

Process 1:

• Add 100 ml of sesame oil, 100 ml of carrot juice, and 50 ml of fenugreek seed powder to a bottle and shake to mix.
• Leave the bottle in the sun for 21 days.
• Massage this mixture into hair and scalp for few minutes.
• Rinse with water and mild shampoo.
• Repeat daily for at least 3 months to get normal hair color.

 Process 2:

• Mix equal quantities of Indian gooseberry powder and sesame seeds.
• Store in an airtight container.
• Twice a day, stir 1 teaspoon of this mixture into a glass of water and drink.
• Or eat plenty of sesame seeds in your regular diet.

7. Alfalfa, Carrots, and Lettuce

Alfalfa is rich in calcium, potassium, iron, zinc, carotene, proteins, vitamins A, B1, B6, C, E and K, which strengthen hair and promote growth.

Process:

• Put equal quantities alfalfa juice, carrot juice, and lettuce into a blender and mix until smooth.
• Drink daily to treat premature graying.

8. Buttermilk

This method is similar to the coconut and curry leaves method, but it is better for those with oily hair.

Process:

• Crush curry leaves to extract ½ cup of juice.
• Mix with ½ cup of buttermilk. To prepare buttermilk churn plain yogurt with warm water and remove butter.
• Boil over low flame 5-7 minutes.
• Let cool and massage this lukewarm buttermilk into scalp.
• Leave on 30 minutes.
• Rinse with water.
• Repeat regularly to prevent the grey hair and hair loss.

9. Lemon Juice and Almond Oil

Lemons are rich in vitamins B and C and phosphorus and protect hair follicles from getting damage. Both lemon juice and almond oil increase melanin and nourish hair.

Process:

• Mix 1 teaspoon of lemon juice with 2 teaspoon of almond oil.
• Apply to scalp and leave on 3 hours.
• Rinse with water and mild shampoo.
• Repeat 3 times weekly.

10. Henna

Henna acts as a natural hair color and conditioner, leaving hair healthy and shiny.

Process 1:

• Grind a handful of henna leaves to make a paste.
• Mix in 1 teaspoon of coffee powder, 3 teaspoons of Indian gooseberry powder, and plain yogurt.
• Massage into scalp and spread evenly through hair.
• Allow to dry, then rinse with water and wash hair as normal.
• Repeat every 2-4 weeks.

 Process 2:

• Melt coconut oil or mustard oil over low heat.
• Add a handful of henna leaves.
• Boil until leaves are blackened.
• Let cool and strain.
• Massage into scalp and comb through hair.
• Leave on 3 hours or overnight.
• Rinse with water and shampoo as normal.
• Repeat regularly.

 Process 3:

• Mix hot black coffee with henna leaf powder.
• Use enough to make a yogurt-consistency mixture.
• Let stand 2 hours.
• Apply to hair and scalp and leave on 3 hours.
• Shampoo hair as normal.
• Repeat every 2 weeks.

 Process 4:

• In a bowl, mix 2 teaspoons of henna powder, 1 tablespoon of basil juice, 1 cup of yogurt, 1 teaspoon of alma powder, 1 teaspoon of ground coffee, and 1 teaspoon of fenugreek powder.
• Apply to hair and leave on 3 hours.
• Wash with mild shampoo.
• Repeat every 2 weeks.

11. Coconut Oil and Lemon Juice

Coconut oil moisturizes hair, stimulates growth, detoxifies, and adds luster.

Process:

• In a bowl, mix 3 teaspoons of lemon juice with ½ cup of coconut oil.
• Massage into scalp and comb through hair from root to tips.
• Leave on 2 hours.
• Wash with shampoo and water.
• Repeat 3 times weekly to get natural color.

12. Rosemary and Sage

Rosemary and sage darken the hair naturally to cover grays.

Process:

• Mix 2 cups of water, ½ cup of dried rosemary and ½ cup of dried sage in a pan.
• Boil for few minutes.
• Let stand 2 hours, then strain.
• Shampoo hair and use rosemary and sage water as a rinse.
• Leave on 15-20 minutes, then rinse with water.
• Repeat once weekly.

13. Onion Juice

According to research, gray hair is caused by a buildup of the hydrogen peroxide in hair follicles and a decrease in a natural anti-oxidant compound called catalase. Onion juice promotes catalase production.

Process:

• Massage onion juice into scalp and leave on 1 hour.
• Repeat daily for at least 3 weeks.
• Note: You can add few drips of lemon juice to onion juice.

14. Black Tea

Black tea helps to darken hair and add shine. Use brewed black tea regularly to make hair color black.

Process:

• Add 2 teaspoons of black tea to 1 cup of water.
• Boil foe few minutes.
• Add 1 teaspoon of salt.
• Let cool and use to rinse hair.
• Leave on 15-20 minutes.
• Rinse with cold water and do not shampoo.
• Repeat 2 times weekly.

15. Ginger

Ginger prevents premature graying and promotes new hair growth. It also increases the blood circulation to the scalp, which stimulates hair follicles. The fatty acids in ginger prevent dryness and breakage.

Process 1:

• Mix 1 tablespoon of fresh grated ginger with 1 of teaspoon honey.
• Eat this mixture daily.

 Process 2:

• Mix grated ginger with milk to make a paste.
• Massage into scalp for few minutes and leave on 15 minutes.
• Wash with water to clear the paste.
• Repeat daily for at least 10 days to reduce the problem.

 Process 3:

• Mix equal quantities of grated ginger and jojoba oil.
• Massage into scalp and leave on 1 hour.
• Rinse with water.
• Shampoo as normal.
• Repeat daily to stimulate hair growth and to treat premature gray hair.

16. Blackstrap Molasses

Blackstrap Molasses contains about 14% of your daily recommended amount of copper, which increases pigment production. It also contains other trace minerals like iron, selenium, and magnesium, which also prevent premature graying. Eat 1 tablespoon of blackstrap molasses every morning for at least 4 months.

17. Healthy Diet

• Eat foods rich in vitamin A, B, folic acid, iron, proteins, zinc (prevents hair loss), and copper (increases melanin production).
• Eating iron rich foods like eggs, red meat, sunflower seeds, wheat, beef, and dried apricots prevents premature graying.
• Eat foods rich in anti-oxidants to prevent damage and detoxify hair.
• Avoid fatty, fried, salty, and processed foods.
• Avoid caffeine, refined sugar, and alcohol.
• Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, especially leafy greens.
• Drinking carrot juice daily to keep the hair black and it slowly reduces the gray hair problem.
• Drink 8-10 glasses of water a day to detoxify the body and stay hydrated.

Tips for Preventing Gary Hair:

• Regularly massage the scalp with warm mustard oil or almond oil to treat premature and for healthy hair.
• Mix coffee grounds into your hair conditioner and apply to hair.
• Avoid smoking.
• Allow hair to dry before combing or tying. Never comb wet hair as it leads to hair fall and it makes hair to grey in color.
• Avoid hair products that contain harsh chemicals and wash hair with cold water.
• Always shower after swimming in chlorinated pools.
• Wear a hat or scarf over your hair while outside to retain moisture.
• Do regular exercise or to ease the stress and this allows your hair to grow healthy and strong by improving the blood circulation.
• Always keep scalp clean and massage the scalp regularly to improve blood flow.
• Apply herbal oils to scalp regularly.
• Massage butter made from cow milk on hair regularly to get rid of premature gray hair.
• Massage scalp with pure ghee or clarified butter for twice a week.
• Add chamomile powder to water and boil for about 20 – 25 minutes. Strains and let it cool. Apply this to hair regularly to get rid of the grey hair problem.
• Applying aloe vera gel and neem oil (anti-bacterial) is another effective remedy for premature graying of the hair.
• Massage hair with brahmi oil, clove oil, arnica oil, etc. helps to reduce gray hair and increases melanin production.
• Grind guava leaves and apply on the scalp helps to get natural hair color.
• Consult doctor or dermatologist if problem is not solved in a month.

Have you tried any of these, safe, natural methods for preventing hair loss and treating premature gray hair? Tell us which ones worked best for you.