Delaying the onset of graying hair is a common goal these days. Although hair graying is a regular occurrence, premature graying is sweeping the world. The key to controlling hair graying is managing melanin, the natural pigment found in your hair. The next question is how to improve melanin in hair.
Most of us worry about how our hair looks. Hair contributes to our whole personality. It improves our appearance. Your hair begins to gray as you age. Melanin graying hair affects your appearance. Even young people complain that their hair is grey. This is most likely related to pollution and the objects we use.
Thus, increased melanin in hair can contribute to premature graying as well as aging in general. In this section, we will explain how to boost melanin for hair via activities and diet that promote a healthy balance of melanin in hair.
What is melanin in hair?
Melanin is the pigment generated by melanocytes responsible for the color of your natural hair. Melanocytes become less active and stop generating melanin over time, resulting in gray hair. Several additional variables can, however, have an impact on the melanin concentration of your hair and therefore on its natural color. Melanin is classified into three types:
- Eumelanin (divided into black and brown forms)
- Pheomelanin
- Neuromelanin
Eumelanin and pheomelanin are found in the epidermis and are responsible for the natural color of your skin and hair. The functions of these two forms of melanin are discussed in the next section.
Is melanin responsible for hair growth?
No, melanin is responsible for determining hair color in an individual. Loss of melanin, a color-generating component responsible for the production of melanocyte cells, causes your hair turns gray or white. These are the pigments present in your hair and skin at birth. The lower the amount of melanin in your hair, the lighter it will be.
Does lack of melanin cause hair loss?
No, melanin is not linked to hair loss or hair growth. Melanin is responsible for determining hair color. Loss of melanin, a color-generating component responsible for the production of melanocyte cells, causes your hair to turn gray or white. These are the pigments present in your hair and skin at birth. The lower the amount of melanin in your hair, the lighter it will be. The amount of melanin in gray hair is rather low, while there is none in white hair.
Food to increase melanin in hair
It is important to understand that each person have white hair at some point in their life, and it cannot be avoided since it is normal and occurs with age. However, eating well-balanced meals like foods high in melanin that support excellent body and skin health is a safe and reliable strategy to help preserve the vigorous life of your hair and prevent premature greying.
- Foods Rich in Antioxidants such as dark chocolate, berries and leafy vegetables are very beneficial to include in your daily diet to protect your cells from free radical damage and improve melanin synthesis in your hair.
- Foods rich in coppersuch as almonds, mushrooms and beef liver, also stimulate follicular melanin production.
- Carrots, papaya, eggs, citrus fruits, sunflower seeds, almonds, peanuts and pistachios are rich in vitamins A, C and E and can help improve the health of your hair.
- Vitamins B6 and B12 have been proven to stimulate the development of enzymes in the hair follicles, which increase the metabolism of hair proteins (keratin and melanin). Vitamin B12, commonly known as cobalamin, promotes healthy hair growth by promoting the formation of red blood cells. So, eating beets, broccoli, sprouts, eggs, salmon, cheese, soy products, and starches helps increase melanin in hair.
melanin supplement for hair
Melanin production for hair can be increased by consuming certain vitamins and minerals.
Iron
Some of the foods high in melanin for hair include iron-rich meals, which can aid in the creation of melanin, which is beneficial for your hair. Dark green vegetables (spinach, broccoli), tomato, banana, dark chocolate, lentils, nuts (cashews, peanuts), seeds (flax seeds, pumpkin seeds), dark chocolate and fish are rich in this nutrient.
Anti-oxidants
Antioxidants fight free radicals, which attack healthy cells like melanin-producing cells. Antioxidants are abundant in foods high in melanin, such as blueberries, beans, leafy green vegetables, dark chocolate and artichokes.
Vitamins
A lack of vitamins such as A, C and B12 has also been linked to graying hair. If you want to know how to improve melanin in hair, you must include melanin-rich meals and vitamin-rich foods in your diet.
The copper
The consumption of copper is essential to promote the development of melanin, beneficial for the hair. Eat enough grains, chickpeas, nuts (almonds, cashews), seeds (sunflower and poppy seeds), sweet potato, avocado, dark chocolate, liver, and shellfish like oysters .
Take away
Maintaining a balanced diet is the best way to organically boost melanin in your hair. This involves consuming foods high in copper, iron, and catalase such as onions, broccoli, apples, and chickpeas.
FAQs
1. What increases melanin?
The sun’s UV-A rays penetrate the lower layers of the epidermis and stimulate melanocytes to create more melanin. The main source of increased melanin formation is sunlight.
2. Why is my hair losing melanin?
If you have a diet lacking in specific nutrients, it can impair the formation of melanin in your hair follicles. The most common cause is a lack of vitamin B-12, although folate, copper, and iron deficiencies all increase your risk.
3. How can I fix low melanin in my hair?
Including vitamin B6 and B12 supplements in your diet can correct low melanin content in your hair.
The references:
1. Daniel I. Schlessinger; McDamian Anoro; Joël Schlessinger., May 2022, Biochemistry, Melanin
