Not only our skin does reflect time passing by, but also our hair, which gets whiter. White hair is a shared condition, and although it is not possible to avoid its onset, there exist remedies to prevent it from occurring or, once it has come, to treat it best.

In the same way as skin starts producing less collagen and elastin, as you can read in our article here, so it happens with our hair, which in turn begins producing less melanin. White hair is right what we are dealing with in this article, and here's what you are about to read:

• What is white hair caused by?
• How to prevent and delay the onset of white hair?
• How to treat best white hair?
  • Hennetica plant-based dyes
• Conclusion

What is white hair caused by?

The onset of white hair is a condition shared by both women and men, and as to the former, it generally occurs between the age of 35 and 40 years old. As to the latter, white hair occurs between the age of 30 and 35 years old. Cases where white hair appears between the age of 20 and 25 years old are defined as early greying.

According to trichology, the discipline that studies the hair and the sculp, white hair is defined with the term "greying" and it is mainly due to hair losing its natural color. As reserarch shows, the loss of one's natural hair color depends, in turn, on the natural aging process of cells called  melanocytes, which are responsible for producing melanin. As one gets older, melanocytes produce less melanin, just like our skin produces less collagen and elastin. In particular, as for blonde or reddish hair, melanocytes produce less pheomelanin, and as for darker hair, melanocytes produce less eumelanin.

Among the other causes of white hair, we also have to include:

• Genetics: in cases of people with early greying, their DNA contains information that tells the melanocytes to stop producing melanin starting from the age of 20ies. Such information is inherited and transferred from generation to generation.
• Stress and anxiety: if one is experiencing stress and anxiety, their hair might get white, or they might experience hair loss. However, white hair caused by stress and anxiety is only white either on the lenghts or on the tips. On the contrary, if the hair is white from the root it means that it will continue growing white, because it no longer produces melanin. 
• Lack of minerals and vitamins: such elements are necessary to the hair health, strenght, and pigmentation . A lack of such elements lead to a reduction in the melanin production. 
• Alcohol and smoke: these habits reflect also on the strenght and pigmentation of the hair.

How to prevent and delay the onset of white hair?

As we have already said, there is nothing we can do to avoid the onset of white hair, being aging a natural process. Nevertheless, if you don't want to see it appear, remedies to prevent and delay the onset and white hair exist! But first of all, we'd like to share with you a fact: it is not true that if you tear white hair, it re-grows doubled! Instead, it's true that the melanocytes' natural process of aging causes more and more white hair.

So, now that we have made things clear, do not tear your white hair anyway, because we are about to suggest you how to prevent and delay the onset of white hair. First thing to do is to follow a balanced and healthy diet rich in specific food that contributes to the hair health, strenght, and pigmentation. Make sure to add to your shopping cart:  

• Proteins and Omega 3 are essential to strenghten the hair from the root, thus preventing hair loss.
• Copper helps melanin production and it is contained in dried fruit, mushrooms, and shellfish.
• Selenium counteracts free radicals, which are responsibile for the aging process, and it is contained in eggs, nuts, and sunflower seeds.
• Group B vitamins fight hair loss and stimulate melanin production.
• A, C, E vitamins are rich in antioxidants that counteract free radicals.

How to treat best white hair?

Some people love their white hair and prefer not to cover it, but some may want dye it to have a uniform hair color. Whatever you do to take care of your hair, it is important to choose natural and gentle products. 

If you have already overcome the prevention step and you are looking for a remedy to cover white hair, use natural dyes that do not attack either the lenghts or the scalp. 

Are you a fan of DIY recipes? Try to DIY natural hair dyes using black tea, coffee, or cocoa if you have dark hair; chamomile if you have light hair; hibiscus tea if your hair has red nuances. On the other side of the coin, if you prefer something ready-to-use, try our plant-based dyes from the Hennetica collection. 

Hennetica plant-based dyes

Our Hennetica collection includes a Pre-dye shampoo and 8 henna dyes that come in different shades. All the dyes are plant-based and contain organic dyeing herbs to give the hair natural and glowing nuances. 

Plant-based dyes are a healthier and a more respectful alternative to chemical dyes: in facts, being polluting substance, the latter contain powerful allergens that might sensitise the scalp and damage the acquatic wildlife.

Contrarily, by choosing natural dyes, coloring pigments wrap around the cuticle and bond to keratin, filling the scales of the hair. As a result, the hair shaft becomes much denser and shinier, with fewer split ends and always very natural shades.

You can find the perfect shade for your hair by choosing it among 8 colour variations: 

• Sand-coloured hair: Devi
• Hazelnut-coloured hair: Lakshmi
• Light brown hair: Sarasvati
• Dark brown hair: Ratri
• Hazelnut-coloured hair: Indrani
• Pomegranate red hair: Durga
• Copper-coloured hair: Parvati
• Rosé-coloured hair: Shakti

What most fascinanting is about organic dyes is that they adapt to the orignal colour of one's hair without attacking or covering it completely: each shade obtained is the combination of one's natural hair colour with the dye used, which results from the hair absorbing the dyeing herbs.

If you want to find out more about our Hennetica dyes, read the article here!

Conclusion

To conclude this article on white hair, we care to remind you that hair getting white is part of a natural process... and there is no reason to be ashamed of it! Sure thing is that the first white hair is unforgettable, but it makes us think about all the experiences and memories we have created so far. Whether you cover it or not, remember to take care of white hair with natural and gentle products.💚