White hair, while it develops naturally for most people as they age, is a cause of concern for young people, especially those in their forties and below. The most common explanation for this is that the white hair obviously causes one to look older than they really are, and this does not auger well with many individuals. Apart from aging, there are a number of factors that may cause hair to turn white prematurely. These factors range from a stressful lifestyle, to fluctuating hormonal levels, environmental pollution and poor dietary intake. In addition, sometimes hair turns white due to diseases such as those affecting the thyroid gland, sinusitis and even recurrent colds and flu in some affected persons.

To understand why hair turns white, you need to know why hair has its natural color, a factor that is attributed to the activity of melanin-containing cells in the body. As one advances in age, or is exposed to any of the aforementioned causative factors, the production of melanin plummets, thus causing the hair strands to turn white. For quite a long time, the go-to solution has been to use commercially available hair chemicals that dye the hair strands and retains its original color.

These solutions, while providing great results within a remarkably short period, have their own side effects. Instead of this option, you can always turn to natural remedies and an improved diet to deal with white hair with minimal or no side effects at all. Below are the top home remedies recommended for white hair, alongside the directions to be followed and the approximate time you will need for each. Note that for the remedies below, the quantities included are an average guide – you should be guided by the length of your hair.

 

1. Amla:

Time Required: 1 Hr for preparation and overnight application.
What You Need: 1 Tablespoon of amla powder, coconut oil in a pan, and warm water to rinse.
Difficulty: Easy

 

Amla, also known as Indian gooseberry, is a popular option for those who would like to darken their hair and maintain it in its healthy state. A popular home remedy for healthy hair too, amla is recommended because it is rich in antioxidants and Vitamin C. The antioxidants present help eliminate free radicals from the scalp.

These radicals are detrimental to healthy hair, and by eliminating them, amla helps you slow/reverse the formation of white hair. The addition of coconut oil, undoubtedly one of the best hair care remedies, compliments the role of amla and helps with the anti-aging benefits. Amla is easy to use, and if you can set aside just 1 hour twice every week, you can be certain to notice some improvements with your hair.

Directions:

  1. Add the amla powder to the coconut oil and turn on the heat.
  2. Let the mixture boil for a couple of minutes until you notice that the powder has blackened.
  3. Let the oil cool for sometime before passing it through a strainer. Do not do this while the oil is sizzling hot as it will melt the strainer, and poses the risk of scalding.
  4. Once strained, part your hair in sections so that it is easy to manage.
  5. Apply generous amounts of the oil on both the hair and scalp.
  6. Leave the remedy on overnight. You may need to tie a headscarf to prevent the oil from making your pillows dirty.
  7. The next morning, rinse your hair as you normally would. Use this remedy twice weekly or simply make it a part of your hair care routine for best results.

 

2. Henna:

Time Required: 3 Hrs (or more depending on the length of your hair)
What You Need: A handful of henna leaves, 2 tablespoons of amla powder, 1 teaspoon of black coffee powder, 1/2 cup of plain yogurt, pestle, and mortar as well as your usual shampoo products. A shower cap to cover your head. (optional).
Difficulty: Moderate

 

Henna has long been used as a natural hair coloring agent, and you can always harness its benefits for the treatment of white hair. Not only does henna darken your hair, it also adds tensile strength to the hair strands, making them less prone to breakage. The addition of black coffee powder adds to the darkening of the hair, while the amla powder compliments the benefits of henna powder. Yogurt is added for consistency purposes and to ease the application process. Owing to the significant colors of the ingredients required for this remedy, you may want to use a shower cap to lock in the effects and prevent messes.

Directions:

  1. Place the henna leaves in the mortar and grind with the pestle until you have a paste.
  2. To the mortar with the henna paste, add the amla powder, coffee powder and yogurt.
  3. Grind some more to ensure that the paste is distributed evenly.
  4. Once you have an even paste, scoop some of it and slather a generous amount on your scalp, making sure you spread as much as you can on the hair strands.
  5. Let the paste on your hair dry. You may wear the shower cap at this point.
  6. When dried, rinse the hair and scalp before shampooing as you would normally do
  7. Use this process twice monthly and look out for any improvements as far as the white hair is concerned.

 

3. Blackstrap Molasses:

Time Required: 10 Min
What You Need: Blackstrap moloasses.
Difficulty: Easy

 

Blackstrap molasses are a byproduct of sugarcane processing, and unlike sugar, these are highly nutritious. The molasses are recommended for those with white hair because they have a high concentration of Copper. Copper is a much-needed requirement for the synthesis of the pigment found in hair. By increasing the amount of Copper in the body when you use these molasses, you should be able to effectively treat white hair. The molasses also provide many other mineral requirements for the optimum functioning of the body, making them a health addition altogether.

Directions:

  1. Simple add blackstrap molasses to your diet. Make sure you take at least a tablespoon daily for 10 weeks until you start to notice a difference in your hair color.

 

4. Ghee and Onion Juice:

Time required: 2 Hrs
What You Need: 1 Cup of ghee, 2 onions, piece of cloth, string, and choice shampoo products. You may also need a water bath and lemon juice (optional).
 Difficulty: Moderate

 

The mixture of ghee and onion makes for a great home remedy for the treatment of white hair. Ghee not only provides nutrients for proper and optimal hair pigmentation, it also creates a reliable base for the application process. Onions on the other hand, are used to extract onion juice which has a high concentration of an active compound known as catalase.

Research studies show that catalase helps breakdown the accumulated toxins which are known to whiten hair. A combination of the two goes a long way in managing your hair’s color and preventing premature graying. The water bath is included for the purposes of melting the ghee without destroying its structure , while the lemon juice works perfectly well for anyone who finds the smell of onions extremely pungent.

Directions:

  1. First place the ghee in a small bowl and then set aside in the water bath so that it melts as you prepare the onion juice.
  2. Peel the onions and cut them into small pieces before transferring to the piece of cloth.
  3. Ensure that the onion pieces are placed centrally on the piece of cloth before tying both ends using the string.
  4. Tug the tied piece of cloth in opposite directions so that you juice the onion as effectively as you possibly can.
  5. Collect the onion juice in a bowl.
  6. After juicing, add the juice to the melted ghee and mix well.
  7. Divide your hair into sections especially if you have long locks. This makes application easy, and allows for deeper penetration of the remedy into the hair follicles.
  8. Leave the remedy on for about 2 hours and rinse before following your usual shampoo routine. Incorporate this remedy into your hair care routine for the best results.

 

5. Black Tea:

Time Required: 2 Hrs
What You Need: 1 Tablespoon of black tea, a cup of water, 1 teaspoon of salt, and cold water to rinse. 5 Black teabags and hair conditioner (optional).
Difficulty: Easy

 

Black tea is one of the most common home remedies for white hair. The tea’s intense color impacts your hair pigment, thus helping you manage your hair color and retains its original state. Other benefits of using black tea include softening of the hair strands and the addition of a luscious sheen. You may use the black tea in its natural state, or you may opt for the addition of black teabag contents to your hair conditioner.

Directions:

  1. Place the black tea powder in a pan and pour in the cup of water.
  2. Stir in the salt and bring the mixture to boil.
  3. Allow the mixture to cool before using it to rinse your hair severally.
  4. During the last rinse, allow the solution to stay in the hair for half an hour.
  5. Rinse with cold water for the last time, making sure you do NOT shampoo the hair. Use this remedy at least twice weekly to manage white hair.
  6. Alternatively, add the contents of the 5 black teabags to a cup containing the hair conditioner and apply as normal during your hair care routine.

 

6. Black Sesame Seeds and/or Sesame Oil:

Time Required: 30 Min
What You Need: Black sesame seeds or sesame oil.
Difficulty: Easy

 

Black sesame seeds have been in use as a home remedy for the treatment of white hair since ancient civilizations. In fact, the seeds are recommended for dealing with white hair in TCM (traditional Chinese Medicine). This is because they are thought to enhance the activity of the hair melanin-producing cells, thus ensuring that hair remains healthy and pigmented without graying prematurely.

In addition to this, the sesame family has a high concentration of nutrients essential to the health of your hair. These nutrients include, among others, Copper, Iron, Calcium and Magnesium. You may ingest the seeds in their natural state or apply the oil on your scalp.

Directions:

  1. Make sure you eat at least a tablespoon of sesame seeds daily for 12 weeks.
  2. Alternatively, apply sesame oil to your scalp at least twice weekly.

 

7. Fenugreek Seeds:

Time Required: Overnight soaking and 15 Min in eating the seeds and drinking the water.
What You Need: Fenugreek seeds, water in a bowl, and a strainer.
Difficulty: Easy

 

Fenugreek seeds are a handy home remedy available for you whenever you need to manage white hair. These seeds not only boost the health of your hair, they also have active compounds which prevent hair loss and premature formation of white hair. Add these seeds to your diet, and ingest regularly to maintain your hair’s natural color.

Directions:

  1. Soak the fenugreek seeds in water and leave overnight.
  2. The next morning, chew on the soaked seeds and down with the marinated water first thing when you wake up. Use this remedy daily for up to 5 months and see whether you note any improvements.

 

8. Curry Leaves and Butter Milk Paste:

Time Required: 1 Hr
What You Need: A handful of curry leaves, butter milk in a cup, and your choice shampoo products.
Difficulty: Easy

 

Curry leaves are a popular home remedy for white hair, thanks to their ability to cause darkening of the hair strands. Butter milk is added to the remedy because it nourishes the hair follicles and ensures the effects of the curry leaves have more permanence. In addition, butter milk also helps create a paste that is easy to apply to the skin. Once you have applied the remedy, rinse off and follow your usual shampoo routine.

Directions:

  1. Prepare the paste by adding the curry leaves to the butter milk and allowing the leaves to marinate for half an hour.
  2. Mix well after 30 minutes and apply on your scalp and hair.
  3. Massage the remedy gently and leave on for another half hour.
  4. Follow this through with your normal shampoo routine. Incorporate the use of this paste into your hair care routine for best results.