Nutritional supplements such as Melancor and Reminex decrease grey hair by allegedly boosting melanin. But Chicago Tribune health writer Julie Deardorff says there is no evidence to back up these claims, nor is there reason to believe these substances would affect hair color.
Furthermore the Wellness Letter concludes that the products are a just a big, expensive, waste of time: [theyre] supposed to take six months or longer to work, by which time youve spent hundreds of dollars to find out that the product doesnt work.
Homemade Treatments
Nevertheless, there are still natural treatments that can be easily concocted at home to both promote shiny hair and reduce gray.
Natural Dyes: Instead of reaching for a packet of hair dye, try some natural applications.
According to Deardorff, Henna is excellent for shades of light brown and red; coffee or black tea may be used by brunettes, chamomile and lemon juice will color light hair.
Amla, an Indian gooseberry, has been heralded as a valuable hair tonic for enriching hair growth & hair pigmentation. Regular massage of amla paste into the scalp may reverse graying and prevent hair from falling out.
Traditional Chinese Medicine: In TCM, hair reflects the quality of blood and strength in the kidneys. He Shou Wu, or Fo-Ti, is a Chinese herb used to strengthen the kidneys, and thus is also thought to restore the hairs natural color. Fo-Ti is available at Asian pharmacies.
To learn more about Fo-Ti, click here.
Dietary Choices: Minerals like zinc, iron and copper, and protein promote shiny and healthy hair. Include foods such as green vegetables, chicken, whole grains, cereals and soy in your diet. Avoid eating excessive meat, diary, and salt (iodine has been shown to cause premature grey hair).
