EARLY SHADES

Free radicals are believed to be responsible for premature grey hair

‘‘There is no scientific connection between drinking coconut juice and preventing the hair from going grey,’’ Dr Supanee stressed.

And will plucking grey hair cause more to grow? Is it true if one grey hair is pulled out, two or more will grow at the very same place?

‘‘This is not possible,’’ he said. ‘‘Each hair on the head grows from its own follicle. And it is this hair follicle where the cell is programmed. If a hair is pulled out, the follicle can only hold one replacement. And if a grey hair is plucked, the new hair will also grow grey.’’

There are several techniques to conceal the grey hair and these include hair colouring. Permanent hair dying and semi-permanent hair dying are among the favourite options but such a use of chemical dye comes with some downsides too.

‘‘To colour the hair, it needs to be bleached first,’’ said Dr Supanee. ‘‘And bleaching causes damage to the hair coating resulting in the hair becoming dry, weakened and less shiny.’’

Therefore, one of the best ways to prevent grey hair is to prevent free radicals.

Avoid risk factors that lead to the production of free radicals including stress, cigarette smoking and exposure to strong sunlight.

‘‘Too much stress is likely to shrink the arteries and when the arteries become smaller in size, they cannot transport nutrients to the hair as much as they are supposed to do,’’ the doctor advised.

‘‘Also remember that physical health affects the health of the hair. So taking care of your general health also means you are taking care of the hair too. Take good care of your health by having regular exercise, having enough rest and drinking enough water.

‘‘It is also vital to eat a lot of fruit and vegetables as they are a good source of antioxidants — the body’s most important weapon in the fight against free radicals. By following these approaches, not only your hair but also your overall body will become in good health.’’