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The appearance of gray hair is rarely good news. The average age of their onset is 35 years and can differ by approximately ten years. Here we give you an average, the reality for each individual is quite different. The occurrence of white or gray hair varies from person to person and depends on genetic makeup, but also on internal or external parameters. We will see in the first part, why you have white hair at 19. Then in a second part we will explain to you how to prevent and slow down the onset of gray hair at 19.

Why do I have white hair at 19?

The phenomenon of hair bleaching cannot be avoided. This process has a name: canities. This is a natural process that will take place as soon as the melanocytes, the cells that are responsible for giving color to hair, decrease or stop their production of melanin. To explain it otherwise, your hair therefore continues to grow, only it is no longer pigmented, and consequently it is no longer colored. Your hair will then turn graying or white. At a certain age it is common for this change to appear, however at your age it may involve other problems.

One or more gray hairs at 19?

First, analyze the development of white hair and ask yourself: are they numerous, sparse or is there only one hair that has whitened or is graying? Indeed, 1 or 2 gray hairs are not indicative of a problem Commonly, it may be a problem with melanin in one specific location. At times the hair is also depigmented in some places, and in others it keeps its color. In the case of'only one white hair, there is no reason to be worried. He just didn't have time to load up on melanin. Therefore, the next ones will grow back in a normal way.

When multiple white hairs appear on your scalp, various factors can be responsible. Discover now the potential causes of gray hair at your age.

The different possible origins of the appearance of gray hair at 19 years old

1 - Genetics can lead to the appearance of gray hair at 19 years old

Early depigmentation of hair is usually simply related to genetic makeup and therefore to the way héréditaire. To authenticate this, you can check if your close family members have been through the same route as you. In another way, ask yourself, at what age did your parents' first white hair arrive? If they got them around the same age as you, it's probably written into your genetic code and therefore there's no other way but to assume your hair is gray or color it. However, do not panic, the development of gray and gray hair is in the majority of cases progressive.

If your loved ones have had gray hair later than your current age, various other factors can explain your gray hair at 19.

2 - Natural aging is the most likely cause of the appearance of gray hair at age 19

As we have seen, gray hair at 19 appears because melanocytes no longer play their role in hair pigmentation. Of the different factors that we are going to present to you which can explain a sudden appearance of gray hair, know 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 aging. Like the body or the skin, the differences between people on aging are difficult to explain. Some people will therefore start graying their hair at age 19, while others will start graying later. Therefore, even if the aging of your hair is early compared to the average age, this cause is the most plausible.

3 - Dietary deficiencies risk developing gray hair at 19 years old

The appearance of gray hair at age 19 can be a symptom that your body is lacking in certain nutrients and / or vitamins. Follow a varied diet rich 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 19 years old

In reaction to a traumatic psychological shock and following significant stress, the body's immune defense system would react, and would change the proper functioning of a certain number of cells. This would lead to the appearance of white hair.

5 - A bad lifestyle can accelerate the appearance of gray hair at 19 years old

A life a bit stressful, everyday cases that lead to chronic stress, unbalanced diet et smoking can be as many parameters that accelerate the arrival of white hair at 19.

• Stress activates the oxidation process of cells and therefore causes premature aging of the body. It can also cause inflammation which lowers the production of melanin. The hair also experiences this inconvenience and turns white younger than it should be.

• Modern food consumption has not only brought goodness to our plates. Industrial food and the culture of "fast food" can lead to pathologies which are likely to interfere with the normal production of melanin. In addition, it is too high in sugar, fat and salt, and it does not contain enough vitamins and minerals which can lead to deficiencies.

• Tobacco is well known to accelerate cellular and hair aging. It affects the hair follicles and as a result it causes premature graying of the hair. Know that scientific studies have demonstrated the relationship between smoking and the formation of hair bleaching before thirty years.

How to avoid the appearance of gray hair at 19 years old?

Unfortunately, we will immediately cut you off from your hopes ... To date, there is no curative treatment to fight against physiological canities although research is underway to delay or stop this process.

However, as we explained earlier, the premature graying of hair and the dysfunction of certain melanocytes in some cases comes from factors that we are able to control. If you deduce that your hair bleaching is not of genetic origin, follow our recommendations in order to slow down this process!

Make a diagnosis to understand the appearance of your gray hair

First and foremost, if you have symptoms other than bleaching your hair, see a doctor to make sure it is not a pathological or hormonal dysfunction.

Then a general diagnosis made by a doctor or a nutritionist can also be made to detect any deficiencies. The blood test can reveal, for example, iron deficiency or a thyroid problem. Depending on the result obtained, your doctor or nutritionist will inform you of what to modify or not in your diet.

Solutions to curb the appearance of gray hair at 19

1 - Eat a balanced diet to delay the development of canities

Try to have a varied diet but stick to the saying "avoid foods that are too fatty, too sweet, too salty". This also works to curb the appearance of gray hair! Eat foods rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and trace elements. Indeed, know that if you are lacking in essential fatty acids, especially in omega 3, you will promote the appearance of the first signs of aging, and therefore canities.

The minerals like copper, zinc and iron would positively affect the hair. They would keep hair follicles healthy and therefore prevent the premature appearance of gray hair at 19 years.

Le copper is fundamental in the transmission of pigmentation to the hair. Note that melanin is generated by melanocytes thanks to the enzyme tyrosinase. And it is the copper that catalyzes this enzymatic reaction. Therefore, a balanced diet providing the right daily dose of copper will helpprevent the development of gray hair early. However, be careful, copper is poisonous if you take too much of it! Have a blood test to see your copper level before making any changes to your diet.

Finally, B vitamins are essential to prevent premature aging of the body and to give energy to the body. Consequently, eat foods rich in B vitamins to prevent the development of gray hair at age 19. If you are following a vegetarian or vegan diet, fill in the potential nutritional deficiencies with food supplements, especially vitamin B12.

2 - Adopt a healthy lifestyle to avoid the appearance of gray hair at 19 years old

Chronic stress also promotes aging of the body and therefore the development of gray hair at 19 years. We are aware that stress is difficult to manage, nevertheless try to adopt techniques against stress or practice activities that relax you.

Try to run away from cigarettes which promotes the degradation of the condition of the skin and hair. Indeed, as we have seen above, scientists have shown the concordance between smoking and the development of gray or white hair before the age of thirty. If you are a non-smoker but come into regular contact with smoke, be sure to avoid inhaling it. If you are a smoker, try to reduce your consumption as much as possible.

As we mentioned earlier, avoid junk food as much as possible and fast food. Prefer the consumption of fresh, unprepared foods such as fruits, vegetables, butcher's meats, whole grains, etc. Be aware that industrial foods have many toxins. As soon as the liver is saturated, the organ which cleans the body is no longer able to eliminate toxins and this has the consequence of causing premature aging and the appearance of white hair.

3 - Grandmother's remedies for the appearance of gray hair at 19

These remedies have never been scientifically proven. However, they take care of the health of your hair and have very interesting characteristics to fight against the premature aging of the body.

• Boost blood circulation to the scalp and bulb with coconut, jojoba or almond oil rich in vitamin E which helps keep hair healthy and resilient. Make delicate circular movements on your head, like at the hairdresser, to activate the blood circulation.

• Apply natural masks of antioxidant components: sage or curry leaves, avocado, and onion have antioxidant properties and therefore act against premature hair aging. To apply them, nothing could be easier: for the leaves, put them to a boil, filter the infusion and apply it to your hair when it is warm. For the onion, crush it, collect 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 19?

At your age, note that hair that has turned white will probably not regain its natural pigmentation. In the event that you don't accept your gray or white hair, the camouflage alternative is probably the best. Decide on the coloring method (permanent, semi-permanent, temporary or natural), depending on the number of gray hairs as well as your hair color.

Anyway, before doing your first coloring, we recommend that you consult a hairstyling expert who will be able to guide you on your needs and the best coloring.

• For blond hair. At first, the first white hairs are barely visible. We recommend sweeping for more naturalness. This will allow you to avoid redoing a color monthly to camouflage the regrowth and catch up with the coloring. Then, depending on the progress of your white hair on your scalp, make permanent or semi-permanent colors.

• 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 apply homemade colorings, but be careful to follow the instructions and not to do too often… Even if your regrowth is annoying you! Otherwise, you risk damaging your hair and ending up with dry, dull hair and sometimes even significant hair loss! It is better to wait at least four weeks, and the best is 2 months. The best thing to do yet is to favor natural color in case you do not have a large number of gray or white hair to avoid damaging your hair.

• The natural method. In the event that you do not have a large amount of gray hair at age 19, we suggest natural herbal hair colors that do not contain ammonia such as henna. These colorings are perfect for not damaging your hair, your scalp and keeping a natural color.

Note 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 prevent the development of too much gray hair at 19 years old.