Do you have a hard time keeping your hair color looking vibrant? Are you tired of using harsh chemicals to achieve the look that you want? If so, then you need to start using natural methods to boost melanin in your hair.
Melanin is what gives your hair its color, so by boosting melanin levels, you can keep your hair looking healthy and vibrant. In this article, we will discuss six ways that you can naturally boost melanin in your hair. Let’s get started!
What Is Melanin & What Does It Do To Your Hair?
Before we get into how to boost melanin, let’s first discuss what melanin is and what it does for your hair.
Melanin is a natural pigment that is produced by your body. It is responsible for giving your skin and hair its color. Melanin levels can fluctuate due to a variety of factors, such as sun exposure, hormones, and aging. When melanin levels are low, your hair may appear lighter in color. Conversely, when melanin levels are high, your hair may appear darker in color.
In addition to giving your hair its color, melanin also provides a number of other benefits. For example, it helps to protect your hair from damage caused by the sun, UV rays, and other environmental factors. Melanin is also known to help keep your hair moisturized and can even promote hair growth.
What Causes Loss Of Melanin In Your Hair?
There are a number of factors that can cause your body to produce less melanin. Let’s take a look at some of the most common ones:
#1 – Aging
As we age, our bodies produce less melanin. This is why you may notice your hair starting to lose its color as you get older. From a child to a teenager, your hair colour will get darker. But eventually, melanin production slows down when you start aging.
#2 – Genetics
Melanin production is also determined by your genes. If your parents or grandparents had greying hair early on in life, chances are you will too. You may have also noticed that some tribes have extremely black coarse hair. It happens because of their genetic inheritance.
#3 – Sun Damage
Prolonged exposure to the sun can also cause your hair to lose melanin. The UV rays from the sun damage the melanocytes, which are the cells responsible for producing melanin. This is why you may notice your hair getting lighter in color after spending a lot of time in the sun.
#4 – Stress
Stress can also lead to hair loss and a decrease in melanin production. When you are stressed, your body goes into survival mode and starts to shut down non-essential functions like hair growth. This is why you may notice your hair thinning or turning grey when you are under a lot of stress.
#5 – Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Vitamin B12 is essential for hair growth and melanin production. A deficiency in vitamin B12 can cause your hair to become brittle, dry, and discolored.
#6 – Smoking
Smoking cigarettes can also cause your hair to become dry, brittle, and discolored. This is because smoking decreases blood flow to the scalp and damages the hair follicles.
#7 – Autoimmune Disease
Autoimmune disease can also lead to loss of melanin in your hair. In an autoimmune disease, your own immune system starts attacking your healthy cells. Alopecia and vitiligo are such diseases where your immune system starts attacking your hair cells and impairs melanin production.
#8 – Usage of Chemical Products
Harsh chemicals present in hair dyes and other hair products can also lead to loss of melanin. Chemicals like hydrogen peroxide can damage the hair follicles and lead to discoloration of your hair.
How To Increase Melanin In Your Hair Naturally?
Now that you know the factors that can lead to the loss of melanin, let’s look at some ways to increase it.
#1 – Vitamins
You can get your daily dose of vitamins by eating a healthy diet or by taking supplements. Vitamins A, C, and E are known to be helpful in increasing melanin production.
#2 – Minerals
Minerals like copper and zinc are also essential for the production of melanin. You can get these minerals from food sources like seafood, nuts, and beans. You can also try taking mineral supplements after consulting with a doctor.
#3 – Antioxidants
Antioxidants are substances that help protect your cells from damage. They can be found in many foods, including fruits and vegetables. Dark chocolate, beans, leafy green vegetables, broccoli, carrot, and pumpkin can add antioxidants to your diet.
#4 – Biotin
Biotin is a vitamin that helps your body produce keratin, which is a protein that makes up your hair. Biotin can be found in foods like eggs, salmon, avocado, and nuts. You can also take biotin supplements if you want to increase your intake of this vitamin.
#5 – Natural Remedies
There are a few natural remedies that you can try to boost melanin in your hair. Fenugreek seeds are one option. You can soak the seeds in water overnight and then grind them into a paste. Apply this paste to your hair and scalp and leave it on for 30 minutes before washing it off.
Another option is ginger root. You can make ginger hair oil by mixing ginger root powder with olive oil. Massage this mixture into your scalp and leave it on for 30 minutes before washing it off.
Both fenugreek seeds and ginger root have anti-inflammatory properties that can help to improve scalp health. These remedies can also help to stimulate hair growth.
#6 – Melanin-Rich Ingredients
There are also many ingredients that can help to boost melanin in your hair. These include:
- Henna
- Amla
- Shikakai
- Bhringraj
Henna is a plant that has been used for centuries to color hair. It can also be used to help boost melanin in your hair. Amla is a fruit that is rich in vitamin C. Shikakai is a powder made from the seeds of the Acacia Concinna tree. Bhringraj is an herb that is native to India.
All of these ingredients can be found in natural hair care products. You can also find them at health food stores.
Conclusion
So, these are six ways that you can help boost melanin production in your hair. If you’re looking for a natural way to get darker locks, give some of these methods a try and see how they work for you. Do you have any questions about boosting melanin production? Let us know in the comments below!
