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The development of the first gray hair is never a good surprise. Especially when they just come of age and we know that the average age of their appearance is around 35 years. But this is only an average. The reality for each individual is quite different. Indeed, the arrival of white or gray hair changes from one individual to another and depends on DNA, but also on internal or external parameters. So, how to avoid gray hair at 18? We will see first, why you have white hair at 18. And in a second step we will see how to prevent and delay the development of gray hair at age 18.

Why do I have white hair at 18?

The phenomenon of hair bleaching cannot be avoided. This transformation is called the canities. It is a 100% natural process that occurs as soon as the melanocytes, the cells which have the role of giving color to the hair, decrease or stop their production of melanin. In other words, your hair is still growing, only it is no longer pigmented, and as a result it is no longer colored. This is when your hair turns gray or turns gray. At a certain age it is common for this change to appear, however at your age it may reveal other concerns.

One or more gray hair at 18?

First, analyze the arrival of white hair and ask yourself: is it a lot, sparse or is there only one hair that has turned white or is graying? Indeed, one or two gray hairs at 18 do not reveal any problem whatsoever : it can simply be a problem of melanin in one specific place. Sometimes the hair is even depigmented in some places, and in others it keeps its color. In the situation where there is only one white hair, there is no reason to be worried. This hair simply did not have enough time to load up with melanin. As a result, the next ones will grow back normal.

The different possible reasons for gray hair to come of age

If you have an entire salt and pepper strand or several gray hairs that are spread over your head, this can be the cause of various factors. Here is the possible origins of the arrival of gray hair at 18 years old.

1 - Genetics can lead to the appearance of gray hair at 18

Premature depigmentation of the hair is very often simply due to the genetic makeup and therefore to the way héréditaire. To confirm this, ask at what age did your parents' first white hair arrive? In case they had them around the same age as you, it's probably recorded in your DNA and so there's no other way but to assume your hair is white or do a color. However, do not panic, the arrival of gray and graying hair is generally gradual.

If your loved ones have had gray hair later than your age, other factors may explain your gray hair at 18.

2 - Gray hair at age 18 grows in most cases due to the body's natural aging

As we have described, gray hair at 18 grows quite simply because melanocytes no longer function properly and therefore no longer perform their role in coloring your hair. Of all the factors that you will find below that can explain a sudden onset of gray hair, note that the cause of the body's natural aging is the most likely cause at your age.

Indeed, melanocytes that no longer function very well are simply the result of their aging. As for the body or the skin, the disparities between people on aging are difficult to explain. 

3 - A lack of certain foods may cause gray hair to appear

Gray hair that appears prematurely and therefore at age 18 can also be a symptom of lack of certain nutrients and vitamin deficiencies.

To avoid this, we advise you to respect a varied diet and correctly dosed in minerals, nutrients and vitamins to fight against premature aging of the body and prevent the development of premature gray hair. 

4 - An emotional shock is likely to lead to the appearance of gray hair at 18 years old

A significant emotional shock can lead to the early appearance of gray hair when you are 18 years old. Indeed, in reaction to a traumatic psychological shock and following an important stress, the immune defense mechanism of the body would react, and would change the proper functioning of a certain number of cells. This would result in the arrival of white hair.

5 - A bad lifestyle can activate the appearance of gray hair at 18

A life a bit stressful, chronic stressful situations, unbalanced diet et smoking can be as many parameters that accelerate the appearance of white hair at 18.

• Stress activates the phenomenon ofoxidation of cells and therefore causes premature aging of the body. It can also cause inflammation which reduces the production of melanin. The hair suffers at the same time these inconveniences and turns white more prematurely than it should be.

• Modern food consumption has not only brought goodness to our plates. The current diet and fast food culture are likely to lead to maladies which are likely to interfere with the correct production of melanin. In addition, it contains too much fat, sugar and salt, and it is not rich enough in vitamins and minerals which will then generally lead to shortcomings.

• Cigarettes are well known for accelerate aging of the skin and hair follicles. By affecting the hair follicles, it causes premature graying of the hair. Be aware that scientific studies have shown the correlation between smoking and the development of hair bleaching before your thirties.

How to prevent the appearance of gray hair at 18?

Know that currently there is no curative treatment to fight against physiological canities although experiments are underway to slow or stop this phenomenon.

However, as we explained previously, the premature graying of hair and the stopping of certain melanocytes sometimes come from factors we can control. In the event that you deduce that your hair bleaching is not of hereditary origin, follow our recommendations to try to save time!

Make a diagnosis to understand the development of your gray hair

For starters, if you have any symptoms that appear other than bleaching your hair, see a doctor to be sure it's not a pathological or hormonal dysfunction.

Then a general diagnosis prescribed by a doctor or nutritionist can also be done to screen for possible deficiencies. A blood test can reveal, for example, iron deficiency or a dysfunction of the thyroid. Depending on the result, rebalance your diet or take food supplements accordingly to compensate for the lack.

Solutions to curb the appearance of gray hair at 18

1 - Eat a balanced diet to slow down the development of canities

Try to have a varied diet while respecting the saying "avoid foods that are too fatty, too sweet, too salty". The latter is also valid for delaying the appearance of gray hair!

Eat a diet rich in vitamins, antioxidants, minerals and trace elements. If you have an essential fatty acid imbalance, especially in omega 3, you will encourage the arrival of the first signs of aging, and therefore canities.

Minerals like copper, zinc and iron would have a positive impact on the hair. These would be able to keep the hair follicles in good health and therefore prevent the risk of having white hair at 18 years old. The copper is essential in creating hair pigmentation. Note that melanin is generated by melanocytes thanks to the enzyme tyrosinase. And it is copper that catalyzes this enzymatic reaction. Thus, a balanced diet providing the right daily dose of copper allowsavoid the appearance of gray hair at 18. Be careful though, copper is toxic if you take too much! Have a blood test to check your copper level before making any changes to your diet.

Finally, B vitamins (especially vitamin B12) are essential for preventing premature aging of the body and for providing energy to the body. As a result, eat foods rich in B vitamins to prevent the appearance of gray hair at 18. If you are following a vegetarian or vegan diet, fill in the potential nutritional deficiencies with dietary supplements, especially vitamin B12.

2 - Adopt a healthy lifestyle to fight against gray hair at 18 years old

Diet

As we have seen previously, avoid industrial consumption and fast food as much as possible. Prefer the consumption of fresh, unprepared foods such as fruits, vegetables, butcher's meats, whole grains, etc. Indeed, industrial products have many toxins. When the liver is saturated, the organ that has the function of cleaning the body is no longer able to eliminate toxins and this results in premature aging and the appearance of white hair at 18 years old. .

The stress 

Chronic stress also promotes aging of the body and consequently the appearance of gray hair at 18 years old. We realize that stress is difficult to control, nevertheless try to adopt techniques against stress or find activities that relax you.

Tobacco

Try to avoid the cigarette which accelerates the degradation of the body and therefore of the hair. Indeed, as we have seen previously, studies have shown the relationship between smoking and the onset of gray or white hair before your thirties. If you are in a smoking environment, make sure you stay as far away from the smoke as possible. If you are a smoker, try to reduce your consumption as much as possible.

3 - Grandmother's remedies for the development of gray hair at 18

These grandmother's remedies are aptly named: they have never been proven experimentally. However, they are good for the health of your hair and have very interesting properties against the premature aging of the body.

• Boost blood circulation to the skull and bulb with coconut, jojoba or almond oil rich in vitamin E which helps maintain healthy and resilient hair. Gently massage your scalp for a few minutes, as hairdressers do, so that the blood circulation is activated.

• Apply natural masks of antioxidant components : sage or curry leaves, avocado and onion have a reputation for their antioxidant properties and therefore act against premature graying of hair. For their use, nothing could be easier: concerning the leaves, boil them, filter the infusion and apply it to your hair when it is lukewarm. For the onion, crush it, squeeze the juice and mix it with oil. Leave it on your hair for about 30 minutes. Same process with the avocado, this time also using the flesh.

How to hide your white hair at 18?

At your age, note that if your hair has started to bleach and your hair turns gray or white, it probably won't return to its natural color. In the event that you don't like your gray hair at 18, the camouflage alternative is definitely the best.

Choose the coloring method (i.e. between temporary, semi-permanent, natural or permanent coloring), depending on the number of white hairs as well as your current hair color. Anyway, before doing your first color, we advise you to go to a professional who will be able to direct you on your needs and the color that is suitable for you.

• For dark hair or red. Permanent coloring to camouflage gray hair will be your best option. When you do not have too much gray hair, you can choose homemade hair colors, but be careful to follow the instructions and not to apply too often ... Even if you have trouble accepting the vision of your regrowth and your few white roots! Otherwise, you risk damaging your hair and drying out your hair, making it look dull. Sometimes you can even cause hair loss! It is better to wait at least 4 weeks, and the most recommended remains two months. The ideal again is to favor natural coloring when you do not have a large number of white hairs to prevent damage to your hair.

• Regarding blond hair. At first, the appearance of white hair is practically not seen. We suggest the balayage for more natural effect. This will allow you to avoid redoing a color monthly to camouflage the regrowth and catch up with the coloring. Subsequently, depending on the progress of your white hair on your head, opt for permanent or semi-permanent colors.

• The natural method. If it happens that you do not have a large number of gray hairs at the age of 18, we recommend natural herbal, ammonia-free dyes such as henna. These dyes are ideal for not damaging your hair, scalp and keeping a natural color.

Whatever happens, if you have more than 30% white hair, we advise you to do your color at a professional hairdresser because the maneuver is more delicate. This is because white hair has a different texture from pigmented hair, so you might not end up with the result you want.

Be aware that in no case, our advice replaces the advice of a specialist, such as a doctor, naturopath or nutritionist. If you want to take stock of your state of health, do not hesitate to call your doctor.

Thanks to natural processes and a healthy lifestyle, you have the possibility of slow down the process of premature canities and thus avoid the development of too much gray hair at 18 years old.