Do you know what’s worse than premature greying? Browning! Brown hair may be in vogue if you’ve coloured your hair on purpose, but it could the opposite if you didn’t. What I mean to say is, if your natural black hair has started to become brown in your early teens or 20’s, your locks may not be in the pink of health. There are several reasons for this, and today, we will get to the root of the problem.
This Is Why Your Natural Black Hair Is Suddenly Becoming Brown
Prepare to be mind-blown!
Blame It On The Sun
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Are you someone who spends most of their time outdoors? Whether it’s travelling to work, or playing badminton in the sun, you need to be careful while stepping out from 11 am – 4 pm. Avoid going out at that time as the sun’s rays are the strongest and harshest. UVB and UVA rays are the biggest reasons why black hair turns brown. If your locks are constantly exposed to sunlight, it will cause decolourization in the melanin elements and make the hair strands appear brown. Like you would apply sunscreen on your skin, do the same for your hair. Investing in hair sunscreen will keep the locks protected from the sun, and prevent the hair from drying out as well.
Avoid Washing Your Hair With Hard Water Minerals
Here in India, most cities have access to either hard water or soft water. While soft water contains more sodium, hard water contains magnesium and calcium. Since hard water has a high mineral content, washing your hair with it will cause deposition of minerals on the hair’s surface. When those deposits stay on your hair for a prolonged period of time, it causes discolouration and damage to the texture of the hair. If you don’t have access to soft or filtered water, boil the water first and then use it. Boiling helps to destroy some of the minerals in the water, making it safe to use on your skin and hair.
Blame It On Genetics
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Sometimes it could be more of an internal factor than an external factor. Made from special cells called melanocytes, the melanin pigment is located at the bottle of the hair follicle. In the case of Indian hair, if the cells produce more melanin, the hair strands appear darker. If there’s less melanin production, the hair becomes lighter and browner. Change in hormones is also responsible for hair to change its colour.
5 Tiny Tips To Keep In Mind To Prevent Hair From Premature Browning
While sun exposure is one of the main reasons for hair changing its colour, there are other factors too and here’s how to prevent it –
– Apply a hair mask once every week to strengthen the roots. Opt for nourishing hair mask ingredients such as egg yolk, banana pulp, avocado pulp, honey, olive oil, coconut milk and aloe vera gel. These ingredients will help you to retain moisture in your locks.
– Apply a leave-in conditioner or a suncare protective on damp hair every time you step out. If you don’t find these haircare products in the market, cover your hair with a scarf when you’re travelling during the day.
– Stay away from products that are loaded with chemicals. In place of commercial hair dyes, use henna instead. It’s more natural and gentle on the hair.
– Avoid taking hot head baths as they strip the hair from its natural oils and makes it rough and dry. Always bathe in lukewarm water.
– To retain your hair’s natural black colour, rinse it with white vinegar. Mix 1 cup of vinegar with 2 cups of water and then pour it on your hair. Wait for about 10-15 minutes and then wash it off with lukewarm water.
Note: None of these tips will make brown hair go black. However, it will slow the process and help to retain the hair’s current colour.
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