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When your hair starts showing your age its time to take action.

Although grey hair can look elegant and even sexy particularly it seems on men, for most of us its just one more reminder that the years are passing.

There is no doubt that for most of us grey hair places us in the fifty plus year group no matter how unwrinkled our face. This is ok if your are fitty or sixty but for those of us who are younger well its just got to go. We start getting grey hair from about the age of about thirty. Hair doesn't actually turn grey the cells that colour your hair gradually stop working and so your hair starts to grow white or grey.

There are several ways you can cover up those aging greys, for those with light coloured hair such as blonde highlights or tinting carried out carefully at home or by a professional stylist can be very effective.

On darker coloured hair grey can be more obvious at a more earlier age if you are just starting to see grey hair have your stylist apply lowlights or a temporary colour that blends with your natural hair colour. If you are moving toward being completely grey you may be better with a permanent colour which blends well with your skin tone.
You may of course decide you want to keep you grey hair a good shampoo and conditioner is vital as grey hair can be dry and wiry.

In either case good styling is essential to keep your hair in tip top condition.

There are many hair products available for you to use in your own home but be careful follow the instructions carefully and remember it can be a worthwhile and pleasurable experience to have your hair looked after by a professional stylist.

If you knew that a healthy diet could prevent grey hair, would you change your eating habits? We keep being told that lifestyle and food intake are key factors in staying healthy and looking younger, but many of us just buy the food we like without analysing the contents to make sure we are consuming the right balance of vitamins and minerals. Greying hair often begins at age 35, and continues as we get older. By the age of 50, around half of the population has significant loss of colour.

Male baldness is a common problem and can start in the late twenties. The first stage is a receding hairline, then thinning on top of the head and the temples. Women can also suffer hair loss or thinning hair as they get older, or during pregnancy. Other causes may be anemia and stress, but whatever the cause, the results can be distressing and lead to a loss of self confidence.

Aside from hereditary factors, it is the quality of the body's blood which affects the thickness and colour of hair. So we should look at what we can do to maintain healthy blood, which will both benefit our health, and also help to maintain our looks.

Too much salt can damage the blood and raise your blood pressure, so avoid adding extra salt when cooking or at the dinner table. Crisps, snacks and processed foods generally contain high levels of salt. The guideline daily amount for salt is only 6g, so do look at labels on packaging to ensure you do not exceed this safe level.

The kidneys act as a filter to remove waste products from the blood, and also produce hormones which control blood pressure. Blood quality can be maintained by eating foods containing Iron, Folic acid, vitamins B12 and C. Seaweed, vegetables, grains, seeds (especially sunflower and pumpkin), and nuts are naturally rich in these elements, and you can also take vitamin supplements.

If you do go gray prematurely and decide to use a colour, it is best to choose one closest to your original shade, as this will suit your skin tone and look the most natural. By the age of 60, many women prefer to let nature take its course, revealing a full head of silver or white. This can look extremely glamorous with a good cut to suit the shape of the face, and removes the need to worry about frequent trips to the salon to touch up those roots!

Before you learn how to eliminate grey hair, you need to know what causes grey hair in the first place. As a rule, our hair contains a protein called melanin which is black in color. This melanin is responsible for the black color of our hair. If you thought that people with blonde hair don't have any melanin, you cannot be further from the truth. In fact, people with dark as well as blonde hair have melanin present in hair. It is the amount of melanin present that makes all the difference in the color of the hair. As a person ages, the amount of melanin decreases and his hair slowly turns grey. When there is no more melanin left in his hair, his hair becomes completely white. In this article I will give you 3 tips to eliminate grey hair fast.

The best way to slow down the graying of the hair is to nourish it regularly. The more nourishment your hair receives, the longer it will remain black. You can even cure baldness by adequately nourishing your hair. For starters, you can take multivitamins such as bee pollen, along with proteins and multiminerals.

1. How to darken your grey hair: Take ½ liter of water in a bowl and boil it hot. Then add two teaspoonfuls of sage (chia) to it. It is better if you also add a little rosemary in the mixture. After boiling the mixture, allow it to get cooled. Then use a colander to drain out the water. Apply the mixture to your hair. You will notice that slowly your hair is turning from grey to black. This is one of the easiest ways to eliminate grey hair.

2. How to make your hair shiny: If you also want to add a little shine to your hair, here is one little tip that I am sure you will like very much. You need to create a mixture similar as above. Just make sure you use petals of chamomile flowers instead of sage. You can apply that mixture to your hair to add shine to it.

3. To permanently get rid of grey hair: You need to provide it with adequate nourishment. If you are in the habit of shampooing your hair regularly, make sure that you message your hair with either natural coconut oil or aloe vera after shampooing. Both are really good in providing the necessary nutrients to your hair.

Henna doesn't cover gray: It's written on the product box, and it's part of hair-coloring culture. But times have changed. And it's no longer a choice between going gray or using commercial hair dye.

There are two ways to cover gray with henna.

1. Henna kits that are made specifically for gray hair.

2. Using pure, powdered henna in a whole new way.

Henna Kits for Gray

Most henna kits for gray are 2-step processes. Your hair is first coated with a natural, non-toxic preparatory mixture. This helps the gray hair become more receptive to the henna.

There are also pre-mixed cream hennas on the market which will cover gray. Most, however, take 2 or 3 applications before the gray is covered completely. Some products, like Surya Henna Cream, are easier, 1-step processes which claim to cover gray on the first application.

Henna, as you probably know, coats the hair. It doesn't open or rough up the hair shaft like most commercial dyes do. And because gray hair tends to be coarser and slicker than pigmented hair, henna has a tendency to slip off the gray. That's why henna is categorized as a semi-permanent hair color. Even the best henna application washes out a little with each shampoo. And that's why most boxes of 1-step, powdered henna will warn against using it on gray hair.

Pure Powdered Henna

Most henna users are already familiar with this green powder. It comes in a plastic bag (some buy in bulk), and it's made from leaves of the Lawsonia tree. To create different colors, other natural ingredients are added, like walnut or clove.

If you're gray and you want to use pure henna, you can. It's a long process, but it worked for me and I'll never go back to anything else. Light Mountain Henna is good as are many other brands.

Before Beginning

Do a strand test. If you have your hair cut, save a curl to use for the strand test. Otherwise, cut a small bit of hair from underneath or in the back so the cut doesn't show. Hold the hair swatch together with a rubber band, and go through the entire coloring process with this strand. This is important because it's the only way to calculate the leave-in time. Unlike commercial hair dyes, henna varies wildly in how long you'll want to leave it on to achieve your desired color. Timing for coloring gray hair can be from 2 to 6 hours.

Another reason for the strand test: to make sure that the final color is what you want. Henna on gray hair will come out lighter than henna on pigmented hair. Henna on blond hair is unpredictable. The strand test will let you know.

A note on purchasing henna. Read the ingredients carefully before you buy. Make sure there is nothing in the list you don't understand. Any hair color containing PPD (p-Phenylenediamine, sometimes labeled as Paradiaminobenzene, Para-aminoaniline, p-aminoaniline, Paradiaminobenzene or PPDA) is off-limits for health and safety reasons. However, most hennas you find in a reputable health food store will be pure and safe. Hennas purchased over the Internet usually list their ingredients, and I encourage you to read them.

Ready, Set, Go

• The first step is to apply a line of emollient on your forehead. This will prevent the henna from staining your face.
• Next, mix a brown-based powdered henna in a non-metallic bowl, with just-boiled water. Add a couple of pre-beaten eggs if you like, to help keep the mixture sticky. Slowly add more hot water until the mixture is a smooth, thick paste.
• Apply to dry, clean hair, free of styling products, conditioners, spray, or moisturizers. This is a key.
• Apply to roots first, as you would with commercial hair dye, but use more product - at least a golf-ball sized dollop of paste each time you part your hair and apply it. Every hair strand must be completely coated with the henna. Use the plastic gloves that are included in the package, and apply with your hands to get the most coverage. Continue to part your hair in 1/4-inch rows, rubbing the henna into the hair, until all the gray is covered.
• Yes, the henna will stain the scalp - but it's non-toxic, and will wash off the scalp itself (not the hair) in a shampoo or two.
• After the gray is covered with the paste, apply the remaining henna to the rest of your hair if desired.
• Cover your head with a plastic cap, and cover the cap with a towel.
• Once an hour (or less, if you have a short leave-in time), take off the towel and plastic cap and spritz the henna pack lightly with water. Put the cap back on and manually (but gently) rub the hair to coax the moisture all the way through to the scalp and to make sure each hair strand stays covered with henna. Reapply the towel.
• You may want to bake the color in even more, by using a heating cap or hooded hair dryer for 10 minutes each hour.
• When the time is up, rinse the henna from your hair in warm (not hot) water. Your hair may be very tangled: that's normal for now. So be gentle - don't rub or tug. Apply a small amount of mild conditioner, like Jason's or Aveda Color Conserve, and rinse it out after about 30 seconds. Do not use shampoo at this point.

How to Keep Your Henna from Fading

Wait at least 2 days before your first shampoo. After that, if you can shampoo every other day instead of every day, that will preserve your new color better. Be sure to use a color-safe shampoo. Some brands to try are Pureology, Aveda, Jason, Arbonne, and Aquage, among many others.

Note: I would not recommend too many styling products. So many of them strip color. But if you have a leave-in conditioner that you know won't take the henna out with it at your next shampoo, go ahead and use it to untangle your hair and protect it from styling heat.

Your new hair color should be gorgeous, shiny, and healthy. Because the henna coats the hair, it makes the hair look thicker. And best of all, you've colored your gray without harming yourself or the environment.

Just because you have Gray hair doesn’t mean you should use any old shampoo. When your hair goes Gray it’s a sign that it needs special treatment as the vital nutrients that produce the pigment for your hair color are now no longer as healthy as they use to be.

So what should you look for in a shampoo when deciding on the best treatment for your hair? Gray hair will usually be dry so you need a shampoo that will bring back the moisture in your hair as well as replace the vital nutrients that are lacking. There are many shampoos on the market that treat thinning, dry, brittle and oily hair; however there are not many that claim to treat gray hair.

If you are looking for a shampoo that is going to treat your Gray hair as well as return your hair to its natural color or at least darken it to some degree then you need to have a very specific shampoo. Do not go for a shampoo that promises to bring back your natural hair color in one or two washed as this means that the shampoo contains a lot of dye and will do nothing for the condition of your hair. Most people want a shampoo that will gradually change the color of their hair over time so that it is not too noticeable or immediately obvious.

When our hair goes gray it is because the cells in our hair follicles called “Melanocytes”, stop producing pigment and the result is a transparent hair. The transparent hair against your healthier darker hair gives the appearance of Gray hair. In reality the hair is not Gray but transparent. When we reach this stage its because our hair is no longer as healthy as it use to be so we need to treat it in such a way that we replace what it has lost. Although we have mentioned the main cause of the hair going Gray it is also important to remember that the lack of nutrients such as B12 and Omegas 3’s are major contributors of hair going Gray.

So to treat your Gray hair you need to replace these 2 ingredients. B12 can be taken in tablet form but the Omega 3’s can be found in some shampoos. The way it works is that the Omega 3 rich shampoo penetrates deep into the hair follicle to deliver unprecedented nutrition to keep the hair follicle in its original color. The oil contained in the shampoo is known as the follicle awakener and has been used by many to help prevent the onset of gray hair. Every hair must have omega 3's to grow properly.

There are products on the market that have these attributes so there is a solution to treating your Gray hair. Whether you want to get your hair color back or just look after your hair the way it is then you need the right shampoo. So make sure the shampoo you choose has these ingredients in them. Just because you have Gray hair doesn’t mean it shouldn’t look good.

None of us want to go Gray but we have to accept some of us will at some stage be affected by it. Your hair will go Gray for several reasons:

• Heredity: If there is a history of family members going Gray then you may find you will follow and go Gray as well.

• Smoking can cause your hair to go Gray.

• Lack of B12 and Omega 3’s in your diet.

So how do we go about finding a remedy to combat the onset of gray hair? There are a few options open to us. The first is diet. A lot of what we eat contributes to how our bodies produce healthy producing cells in our hair. As gray hair is usually dry and brittle it may be that you are not eating properly. As mentioned before the lack of B12 and Omega 3’s are major contributors to your hair going Gray.

Even if we are on a good diet it does not necessarily mean you will be immune to gray hair. As mentioned if it is heredity then your best bet is to use a very good shampoo that will treat the hair and keep it in good condition. Some Shampoos are designed specifically for the treatment of gray hair and contain things like Omega 3’s such as Emu oil. These oils actually treat the hair follicle and rejuvenate the pigment generating cells called Melanocytes. After repeated use you may find that your hair will revert back to its original color. If you are happy to stay Gray then make sure you treat your hair as no one said that gray hair can’t look good.

You can always dye your hair. This is the most common. You can use dyes that will gradually change you hair color over time or you can go for an immediate effect. This usually works better for women. As they do look great with different hair colors.

If you do want to prevent or reverse your gray hair then you can take a tablet called Melancor. This is a new product on the market and works in two ways. Firstly when you get gray hair you have a genetically based tendency to produce less melanin as body pigments. Melancor triggers Melanocytes which helps overcome this tendency by increasing you body’s ability to produce melanin pigments.

Secondly Melancor exerts a profound “Mleanocytes” action whereby it mobilizes stored melanin, moving it out of the hair cell and thereby increasing the number and size of the hair strands and pigments in your natural hair color.

Melancor also stops male pattern baldness by blocking increased levels of DHT. This is the hormone that is responsible for male development in the early stages, and is a major contributor in hair loss as men get older. DHT shrinks the hair follicle until it no longer produces visible hair.

Do your research, find out why you may have gray hair and find the best solution to remedy it.

When your hair goes grey it is due to the fact that the cells in the hair follicles called “Melanocytes” no longer generate pigment, the main one being melanin. The hair follicle loses all pigment over time and eventually goes white. The white hairs against your darker hair give the effect of grey hair. As your hair is no longer as healthy as it use to be you need to consider treating it to prevent it from going brittle and lifeless.

The vital vitamins that your hair would need in this case is B12, and Omega 3’s. You can take these supplements as tablets or you can use a shampoo that contains these types of nutrients. There are many products on the market that promise to treat Grey Hair or even take Gray Hair away. Beware as there are only a few that will actually be effective.

If you are looking for a shampoo that will replace the lost nutrients in your hair then you need to make sure that the ingredients of the shampoo will actually treat the problem. If the shampoo contains Emu oils then you know that the product will work. The Emu oil contained in the shampoo is known as the follicle awakener and has been used by many to help prevent the onset of gray hair. Every hair must have omega 3's to grow properly. And Emu oil is the only ingredient that we know that can moisturize the hair enough to get it back up to an 8% moisture rate as it is supposed to be.

Now although a shampoo with these types of ingredients will help with the lack of moisture in your hair you may find in some cases it will actually darken the hair and reverse the graying process to some degree. The Emu oil actually works at the root of the hair follicle by penetrating the hair strand rejuvenating the pigment.

Just because you have Grey Hair doesn’t mean you shouldn’t treat it with conditioner and shampoo. Grey Hair can look healthy if treated properly. If you use the correct products you will find your hair will be healthy, full of volume and in some cases you could even get your original hair color back.