While a small study from 2021 suggests that this may be possible in very specific, short-term scenarios, the resounding answer from experts in dermatology and trichology (specialists who study the hair and scalp) is probably not. At least, not permanently.
As of now, there are no effective treatments that can reverse or prevent gray hair. New research shows that gray hair may be reversible to a small extent, but more studies are needed to look into this question further.
However, reversing your grey hair is much less likely if you're older. To reverse grey hair, you need enough melanocyte stem cells (McSCs), which produce pigment cells (melanocytes) for your hair. These stem cells stop working with age, and hair greying is thought to be irreversible when they do [3].
In most cases, once hair has turned grey or white, it cannot naturally return to its original color. This is because the melanocytes in the hair follicles stop producing melanin. While there are exceptions due to specific factors, regaining natural hair color without external intervention is rare.
Unfortunately, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that increasing vitamin B12 intake can reverse existing gray hair. Hair that has already lost its pigment is unlikely to regain its natural color.
Melanin rich foods like dark chocolate, blueberries, citrus fruits, nuts, leafy greens, lentils, fish and meat can help increase melanin in hair.
That said, certain conditions may temporarily restore pigmentation. For example, if greying is caused by a vitamin deficiency, stress, or an underlying medical condition, addressing these issues may slow or even partially reverse greying. However, the complete reversal of naturally aged hair remains a challenge.
The average age of onset of hair graying appears to be mid- to late forties; however, this varies with race, with the average age for Caucasians being mid-thirties, that for Asians being late thirties, and that for Africans being mid-forties.
Gray hair is a natural course of aging; however, it may not be an inevitable or permanent process. Medications which target inflammatory cytokines, such as psoralen and cyclosporin, or stimulate melanogenesis, such as imatinib or latanoprost, have been reported to induce gray hair repigmentation in rare cases.
We have previously published findings that, after the age of 50, humans are seldom with- out gray hair. At this age, around 50% of men and 30% of women are moderately or totally gray haired.
A review of research suggests that proper supplementation may reverse premature graying in those who are deficient in certain nutrients, including iron, vitamin D, and vitamin B12. However, even though some supplements are specifically sold as “anti-graying,” there aren't any studies that prove they work.
Premature graying may be reversed with vitamin B12 supplementation only if vitamin B12 deficiency is the cause. If you are graying due to other factors, such as genetics, zinc deficiency, and medications, your gray hair cannot be reversed.
In humans, thyroid hormone may reverse graying by repigmentation of terminal hair. Follicular melanocytes may be the target cell for these actions.
When melanocytes stop producing pigments altogether, the result is completely white hair strands. It's possible to have both of these natural processes going on at the same time for a blend of white and gray hair.
If the cause of greying is genetic, it is not possible to reverse the process, no matter what some marketers on the internet claim. In case of nutritional deficiencies and underlying medical conditions, you can gradually slow down or even reverse the process.
Vitamin A, C and B12 are the most needed vitamins to increase the melanin production in your hair. Add citrus fruits like oranges, grapes, pineapple, and melon to your diet. Also eat vegetables like potatoes, carrots, beans, etc. Non vegetarians can try adding red meat, chicken liver, fish, and eggs to their diet.
Customers find that the shampoo effectively covers grey hair. They describe it as a wonderful product that provides good quality and results. Many customers are satisfied with its hair health, softness, and appearance. However, some feel it's not worth the money and an expensive experiment.
Melanin is what gives your hair (and skin) its natural color. People of African descent, Thai, and Chinese people, go grey more slowly.
There's no hard-and-fast rule about when (or if!) you should stop coloring your hair and go gray; it's ultimately a personal choice.
It has long been thought that reversal of gray hair on a large scale is rare. However, a recent study reported that individual gray hair darkening is a common phenomenon, suggesting the possibility of large-scale reversal of gray hair.
The reason why your gray hair is turning yellow might surprise you: hard water. Hard water and hair don't usually get along, and after enough exposure to minerals and metals (like calcium, magnesium, aluminum, copper, manganese, and iron) it can turn yellow.
So, gray hair is not actually a color resigned to the elderly. Gray hair is a natural color that many young people are masking. And, with the right hairstyle, gray hair doesn't have to look frail or frumpy.