Got grey hair? Whether it’s your first greys or a major change in your hair health and color, you might be surprised to discover that vitamin deficiencies can cause grey hair. That’s because loss of hair pigment is only 30% determined by your genetic destiny, it’s also affected by aging, diet and lifestyle habits. That's why Arey’s core haircare product to treat grey hair is our dermatologist approved hair health duo, The System. Because we know optimal hair health starts with the right nutritional supplement and topical products.
The good news is that targeted nutrition from Not Today, Grey, combined with the powerful antioxidants in To The Root® serum, is clinically-proven to slow, delay and even reverse grey hair. In fact, Arey is trusted by dermatologists more than any other anti-aging haircare brand. Read more here about the results of Arey’s gold standard clinical testing.
How Vitamin Deficiencies Influence Hair Greying
Your hair color is determined by melanocytes – specialized cells located in the roots of your hair that produce melanin, the pigment responsible for your hair’s color. As we age, these melanocytes can become less active, leading to less richly colored hair and the start of hair greying.
Research has shown that you have more control over your greying process than you might think – around 70% of the reason you go grey is caused by factors including vitamin deficiencies, oxidative stress, environmental exposure, lifestyle choices and aging.
The right combination of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants is essential to cellular processes, including the production and maintenance of melanin. Vitamin deficiencies and low levels of other essential nutrients can impair the cells that produce melanin (the melanocytes), contributing to premature or rapid greying.
Here are some of the key nutrients linked to healthy hair pigmentation:
The Best Vitamins and Antioxidants to Treat Grey Hair
The right nutrients and antioxidants help support your hair health and color as you age, plus they can boost your hair’s growth, thickness, and shine. And, if, like Dr. Raskin’s wife, Laura, you’re trying to reduce your chemical exposure to hair dye, then slowing – and even reversing – grey hair growth can also mean fewer visits to the salon.
Here’s how Arey’s The System supplement and serum combination supports your hair health and reduces new grey hair growth:
1. Vitamin B12: The Vital Pigment Protector
Vitamin B12’s role in hair health:
Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is crucial for DNA synthesis, nerve function, and red blood cell production. Importantly, it also plays a role in maintaining healthy melanocytes by supporting cellular regeneration and DNA integrity.
Vitamin B12 deficiency and greying:
A deficiency in B12 is one of the most common causes of premature greying.1 People on plant-based diets are most vulnerable to this deficiency as vitamin B12 is not present in plants.2 Extreme B12 deficiency is unusual, but it can lead to megaloblastic anemia, which may be linked with early white hair. If you think you may be anaemic or experience sudden hair whitening, then make sure you speak with your doctor.
Vitamin B12 sources:
Healthy levels of B12 can be gained from a diet containing animal products, including meat, fish, dairy, and eggs. For plant-based diets, you can easily boost your B12 levels by adding in a supplement like Not Today, Grey, and vitamin-enriched products like fortified cereals and vitamin-enriched plant-based foods.
What to do:
Make sure that you are getting enough B12 through your diet or supplementation, especially if you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet. Regular blood tests can identify B12 deficiency early.
2. Biotin (Vitamin B7): The Hair Strengthener
Biotin’s role in hair health:
Biotin is vital for keratin production – the structural protein found in your hair, skin, and nails. Biotin deficiency is not directly linked to hair greying, but it can weaken your hair and result in slower growth and thinner hair. Many foods containing biotin are also rich in antioxidants, which help to protect your hair against greying and aging caused by oxidative stress – a process where an overproduction of unstable molecules called free radicals causes damage to your cells.
Biotin sources:
Biotin-rich foods include eggs, nuts, seeds, and legumes (including beans, peas, lentils, soy, and peanuts), and supplements like Not Today, Grey that include biotin as an ingredient.
What to do:
Incorporate biotin-rich foods into your diet, or boost your intake with a supplement if you suspect a deficiency or hair health issues. If you are experiencing serious hair loss or thinning, then we recommend consulting a Trichologist (hair and scalp health expert) or a dermatologist.
3. Copper: Your Hair’s Pigmentation Partner
Copper’s role in hair pigmentation:
Copper is a crucial trace mineral involved in the production of melanin (pigment), which is essential for hair color. The more pigment in your hair strands, the more your hair is protected from damage from the sun’s UV rays. Increased melanin also means softer, more supple hair. Lack of melanin in the hair shaft is one of the factors that makes grey hair more brittle and dry.
Copper deficiency and greying:
Low copper levels can impair melanin production and have been linked with increased grey hair growth.3 Iron and copper deficiencies have also been shown to affect the rate and health of hair growth. That’s why Not Today, Grey includes both these essential minerals for healthy hair growth and color.
Copper sources:
Copper-rich foods include shellfish, liver, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and dark chocolate.
What to do:
Maintain a balanced diet with adequate copper-rich foods and avoid excessive zinc supplementation, which can interfere with copper absorption.
4. Vitamin D: Boost Immunity and Cellular Renewal
Vitamin D’s role in hair health:
Vitamin D influences hair follicle and melanocyte activity, so adequate levels of vitamin D support overall hair follicle health and hair color.
Vitamin D deficiency and greying:
Emerging evidence suggests low vitamin D status may be linked with hair thinning and possibly greying, especially in autoimmune or inflammatory contexts.4
Vitamin D sources:
Everyday exposure to sunlight boosts your vitamin D levels naturally, but that doesn’t mean you should take up serious suntanning. Any outdoor activity will help boost your levels, and you should still wear sunscreen and hats to protect your skin and hair health. A diet rich in fatty fish, vitamin-enriched foods, and a supplement containing vitamin D like Not Today, Grey, helps keep your levels healthy.
What to do:
Regularly check your vitamin D levels and supplement if necessary, especially in low sunlight regions.
5. Antioxidants: Combat Oxidative Stress
Antioxidants’ role in hair health:
The antioxidants copper, selenium, PABA, Black Sesame Seed Extract, and Fo-Ti Root in a daily dose of Not Today, Grey help combat cellular damage caused by oxidative stress. Antioxidants reduce oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals (unstable molecules that damage cells) and protecting melanocytes. The System doubles down on the benefits of antioxidants with our topical scalp serum, To The Root®. To The Root® has a clinically effective peptide combined with powerful antioxidants that is clinically proven to preserve your hair’s natural color and help repigment greying strands.
Antioxidant deficiency and greying:
Oxidative stress from free radicals can damage melanocytes and affect their ability to produce the pigment that gives your hair its natural color.
Antioxidant sources:
Fresh fruits and leafy green veggies are rich in antioxidants, as are wild blueberries, red kidney beans, artichokes, dark chocolate, and olive oil.
What to do:
Eat a balanced Mediterranean-style diet with antioxidant-rich foods to protect your hair from environmental stressors like pollution and UV exposure. Adding in topical and nutritional support from The System can help make up for anything your diet is lacking. Plus, getting serious about getting enough sleep and quality relaxation won’t hurt either, as stress and bad-quality sleep are believed to contribute to hair greying.
Arey – Proactive Grey Hair Solutions
It’s easier to prevent grey hair than to reverse it, so the sooner you get proactive about supporting your hair health and color, the faster you’ll see results. Arey users who have less than 30% greys see the strongest results. If you have more than 30% grey, you will see less dramatic results in terms of grey hair reduction, but you will also see a major improvement in your hair’s health, growth, and resilience.
Your scalp and hair health are important to us. That's why we offer up to 25% off on all subscription orders to help keep you on track with your hair health goals. Because we believe that science + consistency = results.
We are Arey.
Have questions? Check out our FAQ page or say hey@areygrey.com.
Jay Small is a sought-after hair stylist and Trichologist in Los Angeles with over 22 years of experience. His clients consist of high-profile business and creative leaders. He trained as an apprentice to the owner of Paul Mitchell and worked in education and product development for Paul Mitchell Systems. Jay is incredibly passionate about the creative process both in terms of styling hair and developing effective products.
REFERENCES:
- https://www.medicinenet.com
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10030528/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6369637/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5527723/
