Hair loses its colour when melanin production by melanocytes in the hair follicles becomes disrupted. Melanin is a complex polymer that originates from the amino acid tyrosine. This pigment is present in human skin and is responsible for your unique eye-hair and skin colour. Hence, grey hair is actually hair with reduced melanin, while white hair completely lacks melanin.

The underlying causes of greying hair are: aging, genetics, illness, nutritional deficiencies, and certain environmental factors. Asian people tend to start experiencing greying hair in their late 30s. Half of all people have a significant amount of grey hair by the time they turn 50.

Some health problems such as thyroid disease, vitiligo, etc., and deficiencies in Vitamin B12 and trace elements such as iron, copper, and calcium, reportedly cause grey hairs to appear. Nutritional deficiencies, a protein-energy malnutrition, and a chronic loss of protein are causes of hair greying as well. Hence, it is important to maintain a balanced healthy diet; some foods that are good for hair health include eggs, nuts, beans, fish, low-fat dairy products, and chicken.

Certain drugs and antimalarials can cause premature hair greying while oxidative stress from UV rays, pollution, emotional factors, or inflammatory causes could damage melanocytes leading to decreased pigmentation. Choose hair care products that are free from harsh chemicals to maintain your hair and scalp health.

In summary, there are several causes of hair greying, and Raise is actively exploring solutions that can help with normalizing melanin production.