‘I’ve been feeling really self-conscious lately about my hair. I’ve noticed a lot of grey hairs showing up and it’s starting to affect my confidence. I don’t know what to do or where to turn.
‘Can you help me figure out how to manage this?’
I can totally sympathise that this is upsetting you. It can be overwhelming to see your hair change so suddenly, but it’s important to remember that premature greying is a natural part of ageing for many people.
In fact, it affects about 30 per cent of people under the age of 30 and about 50 per cent of people by the age of 50.
Causes of premature greying can be caused by a number of factors, including genetics, stress, nutrient deficiencies, and environmental factors such as exposure to harmful chemicals.
In some cases, it can be a sign of an underlying health condition, so it’s always a good idea to speak with your doctor to rule out any potential health concerns.
The good news is that there are things you can do to maintain healthy hair, even if it’s greying prematurely:
A Healthy Diet
A healthy diet that’s rich in vitamins and minerals, particularly vitamins B12 and B9, and reducing stress can help keep your hair looking and feeling its best. You should also avoid harsh chemicals and heat styling tools, and use gentle, nourishing hair care products
Covering Grey Hair
If you’re not ready to embrace the grey, there are so many options for covering it up. Make sure you go to a professional colourist to cover your grey.
I wouldn’t recommend attempting to colour your hair yourself. This is a job for a hair professional. Temporary hair colour, highlights, or lowlights can all help to blend the grey and a tint will give full coverage so no one will know or see any greys.
Have a consultation with your colour technician and give your hair a more youthful appearance while helping you to feel more confident again.
Embracing Grey Hair
Finally, it’s important to remember that grey hair can be beautiful and unique.
Embracing your natural hair colour and texture can help you feel confident and comfortable in your own skin. Plus, with the right hair care routine and styling, grey hair can be soft, shiny, and healthy.
By focusing on a healthy lifestyle, choosing the right hair care products, and finding the right styling options, you can feel confident and comfortable with your hair, no matter what colour it may be.
Clare Devereux is an internationally recognised trichologist and stylist. She currently holds trichology clinics in Dublin and London to help people with hair and scalp problems. If you have a question for Clare email [email protected] and we will run it in her next column. Check out her new website here.