Men and gray hair: Causes, prevention and how to get rid of it?

Muškarci i sijeda kosa: Uzrok, prevencija i kako ih se riješiti?

Read the guide to gray hair that will explain in more detail the causes and prevention of gray hair, and provide guidelines for maintaining a youthful-looking hair!

Hair is certainly one of the key factors of good style for men. Gray hair, apart from being the first sign of aging, has a negative connotation for men and reverberates in several spheres of life, from business career and love relationships to self-confidence in general. Short and disheveled, long and tied, with a line as a signature note - hairdressing salons for men fill their portfolios with creative solutions.

Keeping in mind the importance that men place on their hair, we have written a guide to gray hair that will explain in more detail the causes and prevention of gray hair, and provide guidelines for maintaining a youthful-looking hair!

Gray hair has historically symbolized wisdom and power.

For thousands of years, the value of men was based on how much strength and power they possessed. White hair, or gray hair, was a widely accepted symbol of power and was closely associated with this role. For example, it was believed that those who survived long enough would attain greater wisdom and strength. In colonial times, many men wore gray wigs to appear older and to emphasize their patriarchal appearance.

In the early 1970s, when it was first discovered that dyes and chemicals could safely remove gray hair, coloring hair became a routine for many. All with the same common goal - to hide gray hair, seemingly slow down the signs of aging, and get rid of feelings of inferiority. Grooming procedures, once considered feminine or unusual, have become commonplace for men who decide to look good and stay in shape despite their age.

In the modern era we live in, men, just like women with gray hair, have begun to feel the pressure of a beauty-obsessed culture. Therefore, they have begun to put more effort into achieving a youthful appearance.

What causes gray hair?

Hair grows from hair follicles, and each follicle contains cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes produce two types of pigments: pheomelanin and eumelanin. Dermatologists often simply call them melanin. Pheomelanin is dark brown or black, and eumelanin is reddish-yellow, and their combination creates hair color.

What causes white hair is when the hair follicle loses melanin and a gradation of color begins to occur. When the hair still has melanin, it takes on a grayish color, and when there is no melanin left, it becomes completely white. At this stage, the melanocyte cell dies forever and never produces melanin again.

Gray hair care products should be based on clinically proven nanotechnology. Namely, such products contain gray molecules that trigger the physiological process of gray hair renewal. This ensures that cellular stress caused by aging is alleviated and stimulates hair melanocytes to produce more melanin.

Does stress cause gray hair?

Stress doesn't directly cause gray hair, but anxiety can lead to a number of scalp problems. Hair loss caused by stress related to a traumatic experience is known as Telogen effluvium (TE). It occurs when the number of hair follicles that grow changes. After the hair falls out and grows back, its new color is often less pigmented than the previous one or may even turn completely gray!

When do men go gray?

A little over 100 years ago, the average life expectancy was around 48 years, so people would usually die before their hair turned gray. As life expectancy has increased, gray hair has become a natural phenomenon that comes with age. Caucasians go gray in their early thirties, Asians in their late thirties, and African Americans in their mid-forties. So age is certainly an important factor, but it's not crucial because not everyone goes gray at the same age.

Gone are the days when men only started getting their first gray hair in their late thirties and forties. Gray hair can actually appear at any age. Some men inherit this predisposition, and may notice their first gray hair as early as their twenties. In other words, if your parents or grandparents went gray early, there's a good chance you will too.

'About $150 million was spent last year on hair coloring products for men.'

Statistics show that more than 50% of women and approximately 15% of men dye their hair, while the rest of men are believed to just hide it. Namely, if people did not dye their hair, half of our current population would have 50% gray hair. Today, with quality products that support a natural look, hair coloring seems unnecessary.

What are the best products for gray hair?

Scalp care should be based on three main products: shampoo, toner and gel. There are many products on the market for gray hair that help men maintain the vitality of their hairstyle. However, only a few products have already proven their effectiveness.

  1. Anti-grey hair shampoo with an advanced sulfate-free formula, it is gentle on hair and provides color protection. Its regular use can reduce the yellowish tone that appears with gray hair, and cover it up to 75%.

  2. Tonic for gray hair is a simple and quick solution for natural color results. A quality tonic for gray hair should not contain ammonia, peroxide, parabens or silicones, as its main purpose is to alleviate the cellular stress of the scalp caused by aging. The tonic should contain molecules that stop and prevent further graying.

  3. Gel for gray hair With an innovative formula, it bonds to the hair, provides subtle gray coverage, and strengthens hair's UV protection.

In case you are a beard caretaker, this is an additional recommendation for you:

  1. Moisturizing beard cream and aftershave lotion Alcohol-free is an excellent choice. It stimulates hair melanocytes to produce more melanin, changing the physiological process of gray hair.

What are the natural ways to prevent and restore gray hair?

Graying is primarily genetically determined. However, poor nutrition, smoking, and other environmental toxins can easily contribute to it. Plucking out gray hairs is definitely not a good solution. This puts additional stress on the scalp.

Prevention of gray hair is possible with the following steps:

  1. Enrich your diet with vitamins B and E, magnesium and zinc. Include ingredients that reduce the possibility of graying, such as black sesame seeds, black beans and nuts. Introduce a diet rich in essential and omega fatty acids, which are found in olive oil, avocados and various nuts and seeds.

  2. Use the products which reverse the physiological process within the hair follicle and restore the original color of newly grown hair. The product formula should contain a mineral complex that binds to gray hair and gradually re-pigmentes it.

  3. Instead of dyeing your hair, use a few drops of an oil twice a week that promotes darkening of your hair. Rosemary oil is recommended, and you can use it in combination with almond, coconut, olive or jojoba oil.

  4. Other natural ingredients you can use are neem oil and sage.

Conclusion: with or without gray hair?

Men have always paid attention to their appearance, but unlike women, they are less open to sharing their habits. Nowadays, men really want to look well-groomed, as it leads to many other successes. The Silver Daddy look may sound sexy, but men generally prefer to stay as close to their natural hair color as possible. By using the right hair products to keep it healthy and shiny, this goal is no longer impossible to achieve.

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