Grey hair is a sign of graceful aging, yet it's not always welcomed. Some see it as a sign of wisdom and maturity, while others view grey hair as an unwanted sign of old age, especially among women. And though hair turns grey with time and advancing age, today even young people below the age of 30 may not be untouched by the problem of grey strands. Scientifically, hair becomes grey when the production of the pigment responsible for the colour stops being produced. Hair can also naturally produce hydrogen peroxide, which bleaches it. Though there are many dyes on the market formulated specifically to cover grey hair, the chemicals in these products may make them undesirable to those with an eye on maintaining optimal health. Fortunately, there are natural remedies for slowing, halting and sometimes even reversing the growth of grey hair, as well as masking it without hurting our bodies in the process. Here are some homemade remedies to incorporate into your hair-care routine: Beet, carrot,and lemon juice: Beet, carrot,and lemon juice: Juicing your hair with beetroot juice, carrot juice, lemon juice, or a combination of the three will restore reddish hues or add vibrant highlights to your existing colour. Beets are better for darker reds, carrots for softer orange and lemon for golden blonde. Combine one cup of juice with hair conditioner or coconut oil and massage into the hair. Protect your face by applying oil around your hairline, ears and neck. Leave the mixture on for an hour before rinsing. For lemon juice applications, sit out in the sun for extra lightening. Tea Tea: This can be good for covering grey hair and restoring natural hair colour. Black teas work best for darker hues, chamomile for blondes and rooibos for redheads. Soak three to five teabags in two cups of boiling water and allow them to cool before applying to clean, wetted hair. You may also mix the tea with conditioner. Leave it on for at least one hour, and then rinse out in cool water. The longer the tea is on your hair, the more intense the colour will be. Repeat once a week as needed. Potato skins Potato skins: Save the skins of peeled potatoes to make a natural, hair-darkening dye. The starches in the potato peel act as a colourant that will slowly darken grey hair. Boil two cups of water with one cup of potato skins for at least 25 minutes, strain out the peels and let the potato water cool down. Add a few drops of essential oil to the mix as it may not smell nice. Shampoo and condition your hair as normal, parting your hair into several sections. You can either pour the liquid directly onto the hair sections or use a small hair-dyeing brush to saturate each section. Rinse the hair with cool water and repeat the process regularly until you get the desired look. Curry leaves Curry leaves: Boil some curry leaves in coconut oil until the mixture turns black. Apply this to your scalp as a hair tonic for treating the problems of hair loss and pigmentation. You can also combine curry leaves with curd or buttermilk. Coffee Coffee: For black or brown hair, brew a pot of strong coffee. Once cooled, mix one cup of the brew with two cups of hair conditioner. Throw a few spoonfuls of spent coffee grounds into the mixture for added effect. Henna Henna: This should be used regularly to maintain its brilliant colour and to effectively mask the grey – anywhere from once a week to once a month depending on the depth of colour desired. Mix two tablespoons of henna powder, one spoon of fenugreek paste, two spoons of basil leaves paste, three spoons of coffee, three spoons of mint juice, and one spoon of yogurt. Apply this mixture regularly to the hair to get good results. Henna can also be mixed with coconut oil to get natural, dark brown hair. To give a shiny touch to your strands, soak the henna overnight and mix it with walnut pulp. Rosmary Rosmary: Put an equal amount of rosemary and sage leaves in one cup of water. Steep and sieve the liquid to use as a natural hair colourant. If using rosemary oil, this can be applied directly to the hair. Guava leaves Guava leaves: These are good for turning grey hair black. Just grind some guava leaves and apply the mixture to your scalp on a regular basis.
