Gray hair is a natural part of aging, but for some of us, those pesky silver strands are sprouting earlier than we would like. While genetics play a significant role, lifestyle factors and daily routines can also impact how quickly your hair turns gray. Here are 15 things you should stop doing right now to help preserve your natural hair color and keep those grays at bay.
1. Using Hot Water on Your Hair
We get it; a hot shower is sometimes the most relaxing thing to treat yourself to after a long day, but washing your hair with hot water can strip it of its natural oils and pigments. If you’re consistently putting your hair under stressful conditions like hot water, this can lead to dryness and potential graying. Try rinsing your hair with lukewarm or cool water to preserve its health and color.
2. Stressing Out Constantly
Chronic stress can wreak havoc on your body, including your hair. If you’re constantly stressing, this can accelerate the graying process by affecting the hair follicles and reducing melanin production. Managing your stress is not only good for your broader health, but it’ll keep the color in your hair for much longer.
3. Stop Smoking
Smoking is bad for your overall health in countless ways, and your hair is no exception to this. Smoking causes oxidative stress, which can cause an imbalance, leading to damage to the hair follicles and triggering premature graying. Quitting smoking can help slow down the appearance of gray hair and thwart other health issues.
4. Skipping Sunscreen for Your Hair
We all know that your skin needs sunscreen, but the scalp does too. UV rays can fry the skin on your scalp, which over time can weaken your hair and lead to premature graying. Protect your locks by wearing a hat or using hair products with UV protection when you’re out in the sun in order to protect your color.
5. Eating an Unbalanced Diet
Eating badly affects every aspect of your body, including your hair. Your hair needs a variety of nutrients to stay healthy and maintain its shine, strength, and even its color. A diet lacking in vitamins and minerals, particularly B vitamins, iron, and copper, can make your locks turn gray practically overnight. A well-balanced diet is one step to keeping the grays at bay.
6. Going To The Salon Too Often
Getting a color service at the hairdresser is a fun way to change up your look, but dyeing, bleaching, and heat styling your mane can actually damage your hair and contribute to it graying faster. Over time, excessive use of these harsh treatments can weaken the hair shaft and deplete the melanin that gives your hair its color. Try to minimize the use of chemicals and heat, and give your hair a break between treatments.
7. Ignoring Your Scalp Health
A healthy scalp is essential for healthy hair. Your scalp is just as important as the rest of your skin and like the skin on your face, it needs a little TLC. Neglecting your scalp by not washing it regularly or using harsh products can lead to an unhealthy environment for your hair to grow, potentially accelerating the graying process. Make sure you treat your scalp to an occasional exfoliation and moisturizer to protect your hair color.
8. Failing to Protect Hair from Chlorine
We all know that chlorine in swimming pools can be harsh on your hair, stripping it of its natural oils and color. But what you might not know is that it can also speed up the graying process. Make sure to rinse your hair with fresh water before and after swimming, and consider wearing a swim cap to protect your hair from chlorine damage.
9. Drinking Too Much Alcohol
Excessive alcohol consumption can wreak havoc on your body, from depleting your body of essential nutrients to dehydrating your organs. If you have a tendency to drink most days, you can expect your hair’s health and color to be affected by this. Cutting back on alcohol can help maintain your hair’s natural vibrancy.
10. Not Getting Enough Sleep
Sleep is when your body repairs itself, including your hair follicles. If you aren’t consistently getting a good night’s sleep, you can expect to have a weak head of hair that’s peppered with grays. If you want to keep your natural color for as long as possible, aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night to give your body the time it needs to rejuvenate.
11. Neglecting Regular Haircuts
Regular trims not only look great on you, but they also keep your hair looking fresh and healthy. If you neglect a regular haircut, you’ll allow split ends and damaged hair to linger and make your hair look dull and lifeless, which can highlight any gray hairs you may already have. Regular haircuts also keep your hair at its healthiest, which protects against developing even more grays.
12. Not Staying Hydrated
Dehydration is not just bad for your body, but it can also lead to dry, brittle hair, which is more prone to graying. You need to be drinking at least a gallon of water a day for your body to operate at its best. Drinking enough water each day helps keep your hair hydrated and healthy, preserving its natural color for longer.
13. Overexposure to Pollution
If you live in a city, you’re bound to be exposed to a ton of chemicals and pollutants in the air every day. Environmental factors like pollution can contribute to oxidative stress, which damages your hair shaft and speeds up the graying process. Make sure that you’re regularly washing your hair to keep the toxins from damaging your scalp and hair follicles.
14. Ignoring Thyroid Health
Thyroid imbalances are more common than you think and can affect everything from your weight to your hair color and texture. Hypothyroidism, in particular, can lead to premature graying. If you’re experiencing other symptoms like fatigue or weight gain, it’s worth getting your thyroid checked by a healthcare professional.
15. Failing to Manage Blood Sugar Levels
High blood sugar levels are another health condition that can lead to inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which can accelerate the aging process, including turning your locks gray faster than you anticipated. You can thwart having high blood sugar by maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise, which will keep your hair looking as youthful as possible.