Premature Greying: Everything You Need To Know

It's always alarming to find those first few strands of grey hair. For most Asians, this usually happens earlier than expected — here's what causes it and how to slow it down.

Spotting your first grey strand can be unsettling, especially when it shows up earlier than you expected. Premature greying — defined as significant greying before the age of 25 — is more common in South Asian populations than you might think, and it is rarely about age alone.

Hair gets its colour from melanin, produced by cells called melanocytes inside each follicle. When these cells slow down or stop functioning, new strands grow in without pigment. Genetics play the largest role: if your parents greyed early, you likely will too.

Beyond genetics, several lifestyle factors accelerate the process. Chronic stress can disrupt melanocyte activity. Deficiencies in Vitamin B12, iron, copper and Vitamin D are strongly linked to early greying. Smoking, harsh chemical treatments and prolonged exposure to UV also contribute.

What helps: a balanced diet rich in leafy greens, eggs, nuts and seeds; weekly oil massages with ingredients like bhringraj, amla and curry leaves; managing stress through sleep, movement and downtime; and switching to gentle, sulfate-free cleansers.

While you cannot reverse hair that is already grey, you can absolutely slow the progression and improve the health of the pigmented hair you still have. Consistency is everything — the scalp responds to care given over months, not days.