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Forties is a period when the vast majority of people will see white hair covering their heads. However, everyone's reaction to this phenomenon may be different. So, whether you are looking to camouflage your gray hair, slow down its spread or whether you take it into the open, we will see in this article the means that exist to satisfy the desires of each and everyone. For this, we will answer the question: what to do when gray hair grows at 40? First we will see the causes of hair bleaching. Then we will discuss the means that exist to approach in a more serene way the appearance of gray hair at 40 years old.

Why do I have white hair at 40?

White or gray hair, everyone ends up having some, it's inevitable. This process is called canities.. It is a 100% natural phenomenon which 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, but without pigmentation and therefore without coloring. Your hair will then turn gray or white.

The onset of the first gray hairs are found around the age of thirty-five and can vary from plus or minus 10 years. This is an average, the individual reality is quite different. The appearance of hair bleaching varies from person to person. It may therefore be normal to have white hair at 40 when people who are older or your age do not yet have it. There are also big differences in the amount of gray hair between people even at the age of 40.

Therefore, we can ask the question: what makes you have gray hair at 40 and not sooner or later?

As we have mentioned, gray hair at 40 develops because melanocytes tire at a certain age, but this age is not the same for everyone. Like the body or the skin, the differences between individuals on aging are difficult to explain. However, it is proven that different factors will promote premature graying and therefore the increase in gray hair sooner or later. These other factors may be related to:

• la genetic and in particular to heredity. That is to say that you will certainly have your first gray hair at the same age as one of your parents.
• a poor lifestyle. It is proven that a bad diet, deficiencies, smoking, alcohol or stress can accelerate the appearance of gray hair.
• un psychological trauma.

What should I do when I have gray hair at 40?

Whether you are just starting to develop a lot of white hairs or have had salt and pepper hair for some time at the age of 40, you are wondering: what options are available to me to be able to live more serenely? my white hair?

1- Assume her white hair

We know… Easy to say! However be aware that today white hair happens to be in fashion. They can quickly give you a classy and up-to-date look with the help of a suitable haircut. To give your white a beautiful silvery color, buy shampoos and products suitable for white or gray hair. In this way, they will be able to give you beautiful reflections and take care of their particular texture. Indeed, white hair is harder and duller. They therefore require special care and attention.

1- What is the best color for my gray hair at 40?

Once you are 40, you should know that if your hair has started to turn white and your hair turns gray or white it will not return to its natural color. If you don't like your white hair, the camouflage option is probably the best. Decide on the coloring method (permanent, semi-permanent, temporary or natural), depending on how many gray hairs you have, but also your basic natural pigmentation. In any case, for your first coloring, we suggest that you go to a professional hairdresser who will be able to guide you on your needs and your coloring.

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

• For dark hair or red. Whether there are many or not, to properly camouflage the white hair on your head, the best solution is to use the permanent coloring method. At first, you can use homemade hair colors, but be careful to follow the instructions and not to do 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 four weeks, and the wiser stays two months. The best thing to do yet is to make a natural coloring when you don't have a lot of white hair to avoid damaging your hair.

• The natural method. If you don't have a large amount of gray hair at age 40, we recommend natural herbal, ammonia-free hair dyes such as henna. These dyes are ideal for not damaging your hair, scalp and keeping a natural color.

In all cases, in the event that you have more than 30% of gray hair, we recommend that you do your color at a professional because the maneuver to color the hair is more technical. Indeed, the white hair does not have the same texture as a hair that is colored, you may not end up with the result you want.

Can we slow down the appearance of gray hair at 40?

Is it possible to delay the mechanism of hair depigmentation? The answer is yes and no. As we have seen, gray hair is very often the prerogative of genetics ou of the natural process aging of the body. Cellular aging cannot be stopped.

However, you will find thata good way of life can slow down the process of canities even if you are 40 years old. You will first discover that to maintain your hair, you need to take care of it. Then we will see the techniques to try to slow down the hair aging process and therefore the appearance of gray hair.

However, a little caveat: don't expect miracle effects. Once again, gray hair is inevitable, especially at the age of 40. Our tips are likely to slow down the oxidation of cells early on, but normal aging cannot unquestionably be stopped.

How to maintain your gray hair in your forties?

1 - Never pull out hair that has turned white or gray

The legend that says that when you pull out a white hair, ten white hairs grow back afterwards, is not true. However, you risk damaging your scalp and ending up with more serious inconveniences than white hair, which, whatever you do, will eventually grow back.

2 - Use products specific to gray hair

White hair is more fragile than pigmented hair. They are found to be drier, more brittle, duller and are likely to turn yellow.

If you want to keep your hair gray, you will be able to find many shampoos and treatments suitable for your gray or white hair that are able to prevent these problems. The treatments which make it possible to de-yellowing hair with iridescent violet are proving to be your best allies.

In the event that you opt for a dye, and in particular a perm, you will have to think about moisturizing your hair well with care or vegetable oils. Alternately use shampoo for colored hair (once a week) and shampoo specific to your hair type.

Adopt a healthy lifestyle against gray hair at 40

If the origins of your gray hair are hereditary or part of the natural aging process, no solution has yet been invented to stop this process. However, if it is external parameters that generate the acceleration of this phenomenon, you will be able to adopt a healthy lifestyle to slow down the appearance of gray hair.

Indeed, when you have gray hair at 40, there is absolutely nothing surprising, it is part of the normal aging of the body. However, if you don't have salt and pepper hair yet, there are some tips to help you slow down the process of canities. And know that as a bonus, they will allow you to take care of your hair and your body in general.

• White hair that grows suddenly can be a sign of a lack of various nutrients and a lack of vitamins, such as B vitamins, essential fatty acids, minerals such as copper, zinc and iron and trace elements. Avoid junk food and fast food and choose fresh foods. Indeed, be aware that industrial products are full of toxic components. As soon as the liver is saturated, the organ that cleans the body can no longer eliminate toxins and this results in premature aging and the appearance of white hair.
• Le copper is essential in the transmission of color to hair. Indeed, know that melanin is produced by melanocytes thanks to the enzyme tyrosinase. And it is copper that catalyzes this enzymatic reaction. Therefore, a balanced diet that provides a good daily dose of copper helps prevent the development of gray hair prematurely. Be careful, however, copper is toxic if you take too much! Before changing your habits, take a blood test to check your copper level.
• Finally, the B vitamins are essential for preventing premature aging of the body and for providing energy to the body. Therefore, eat foods rich in B vitamins. In the event that you are vegetarian or vegan, you should consider consuming food supplements for vitamin B12 in particular.

• Tobacco is well known to accelerate the aging of skin and hair. It damages the hair follicles and that is why it causes premature aging of the hair. If you are in a smoking environment, we advise you to stay as far away from smoke as possible. If you are a smoker, try to reduce your consumption as much as possible.

• Le stress has the harmful consequence of accelerating the phenomenon of oxidation of cells and therefore causing premature aging of the body. It is also likely to cause inflammation which decreases the production of melanin. The hair also experiences these problems and turns white earlier than it should. We know that it is very difficult to control your stress, however try to use techniques against stress or do activities that relax you.