This article has been updated since its initial publish date to include more expert insight.
Graying hair is an inevitable part of aging, and while some love to embrace salt-and-pepper tresses, others may want to conceal these strands or prevent them from taking over their hairstyle. We checked in with professional hair stylists, beauty aficionados and other experts, who answered the question as to whether reversing gray hair is possible (hint: it’s not), and clever ways to hide gray locks if you wish to! They also shared which three nutrient-rich foods could actually slow or even delay graying, and explained why they are essential to add to a hair-loving diet.
Through our research and chatting with experts, we’ve learned more about how poor nutrition can lead to premature gray hair. Deficiencies in vitamin B-12, insufficient protein intake, vitiligo, anemia, and thyroid and pituitary gland disorders have all been linked to early graying. If you believe you are experiencing rapid graying due to a health issue, it’s crucial to consult your doctor. In certain cases, addressing the underlying problem can reverse both the issue and your grays.
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3 Nutrient-Rich Foods That Might Slow Gray Hair, According To Experts
1. Berries
Blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries brim with antioxidants, which, according to experts, help fight oxidative stress in the body—a factor that can lead to early greying. Dr. Anna Chacon, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and writer for My Psoriasis Team, tells us that "going gray early or premature graying can occur in some women due to a variety of reasons," but a healthy diet composed of berries can promote stronger, more vibrant and softer hair.
2. Leafy Greens
Lush greens like spinach, kale, and Swiss chard are abundant in essential vitamins A, C, and E, along with crucial minerals such as iron and calcium, Chacon points out. These nutrients are instrumental in sustaining healthy hair follicles and boosting the production of melanin, the pigment that gives hair its color.
Graying is a "natural process that happens when the pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) in the hair follicles start to die or become less active," she adds. It happens, she stresses, "when melanocytes stop producing melanin, the pigment that gives hair its color." This can be due to "genetic factors, B12 deficiencies, poor nutrition, or certain medical conditions." Eating more leafy greens can make a noticeable difference in your mane's look and color.
3. Nuts & Seeds
Experts highlight that almonds, walnuts, flaxseeds, and chia seeds are exceptional providers of biotin—a B-vitamin that bolsters hair strength and could ward off early graying. Additionally, they are rich in zinc, which promotes hair health. “Nuts and seeds are a good source of zinc, a mineral that’s important for healthy skin and hair,” Dr. Rebecca Hilton, a dermatologist at J-Beauty, tells us.
“Zinc helps to protect the scalp from damage and keeps the hair follicles healthy. Nuts and seeds are also a good source of vitamin E, which helps to protect the hair from damage and keep it shiny and healthy.”
Additional Pro Tips For Gray Hair Care
#1: Find Out Why You're Going Gray
Since reversing gray hair cannot be done (once you start seeing gray hairs, you can't make them go back without dye), Gwenda Harmon, hair and beauty expert at Power Your Curls, suggests visiting a trichologist to learn more about why your hair might be changing. "The first step to stopping graying hair is to rule out a medical reason for the graying," she explains,"It might be caused by underlying conditions such as thyroid problems, autoimmune disease, vitamin B-12 deficiency, genetics, etc."
If it's not because of medical reasons, she notes that graying hair can be "slowed down, but it cannot be stopped completely as it's a part of the aging process."
Jean Will, hair expert and Co-Founder of NiaWigs Inc. agrees, and says that "having gray hair is natural due to aging and genetics, which may mean that it cannot be reversed, but there are still other ways to cover it or hide it if you wish."
#2: Prioritize Nourishing Products
As we age, our hair loses its vibrance, natural shine and thickness, so experts say it is imperative to practice a consistent haircare routine. Ways that you can prevent premature aging in your locks, Harmon adds, include "reducing stress (stress increases the hormones that hasten the aging process), avoiding too much sun exposure, and smoking."
Also, Harmon advises taking vitamin and mineral supplements that support hair pigment production like "Vitamin B-12, biotin, copper, and zinc," that can help slow down the graying of your locks.
#3: Conceal Grays With Dye or DIY Hairstyles
If you'd like to hide the grays, Will suggests heading to a salon for a professional dye treatment. "I would recommend going to a salon rather than coloring your hair by yourself," she stresses. With the help of the stylist and/or colorist, Will says that you can "choose any type of color or mixed colors that you prefer, to look younger." Harmon agrees, and says that "using a hair color that matches your own," is the way to go. For example, "if you have dark brown hair, choose a blonde or brown shade that is closer to the shade of your natural hair color," she recommends.
Another solution, she adds, is to "use a hair color that is darker than your natural hair color, but lighter than gray." This, she says, will "help make it look like you dyed your gray roots, rather than covering them up entirely with black dye."
Other than hair coloring, Will concludes that "the most affordable way to hide the graying" is through a ponytail or hair bun. "It is your hair, you can style it in ways that you want," she says, noting that "you can also put light accessories to better hide the graying."
