Premature grey hair is caused by insuffient UV exposure of the scalp for caucasians.

Hair color is actually skin pigment coated onto an essentially colorless (white) hair strand that grows out of the scalps hair follicles.

The pigment, called melanin, is produced by melanocytes (special cells) in the scalp (skin). The melanocytes are UV sensitive, the process is very similiar to getting a tan (on the skin). The main difference is the amount and duration of UV exposure on the scalp required to reactivate the pigmentation production in hair follicle melanocytes.

This will vary by ethnicity (i.e. genetics).

Cut the hair short (to allow more UV through) and get outside without a cap or hat during UV windows.

It's all about balance, and most people agree with that, until they actually have to change their behavior (avoiding UV to prevent cancer/skin damage) to achieve it.

Sigh.


I beg to differ. A better theory is mineral imbalance. Animal studies have found that the zinc to copper ratio must be optimal to prevent loss of hair color. I think I read somewhere that the optimal ratio is 5 to 1, zinc to copper.