Hair experts share the best methods to ‘delay the onset of greying’

Greying is a natural part of the ageing process and can begin to occur anywhere from your early twenties to your fifties.

Some people can maintain their natural hair colour well into their old age but this is highly unusual.

Rather than reaching for box dye or supplements, people can “delay” the onset of grey hair by making some simple changes, according to experts.

While there isn’t a magic pill, Dr Balwi, a hair transplant surgeon at Elithair, said there are ways to help delay the onset of greying hair.

He told Express.co.uk: “Leading a healthy lifestyle will prolong hair greying to some degree but ultimately this is a process that is down to genetics and ageing.

“Incorporating a healthy diet, managing stress and quitting smoking may help delay the onset of greying hair.”

Jane Martins, trichologist at the Philip Kingsley Trichological Clinic in Green St, Mayfair agreed that when you go grey is mainly down to genetics.

She explained that some people will turn grey when they are in their twenties while others may not get a single grey hair until they’re in their fifties.

However, there is a vitamin deficiency that may cause premature greying.

Dr Martins told Good Housekeeping: “If you have a vitamin B deficiency, adding foods rich in B vitamins, or a supplement containing them, may be useful in stopping premature greying.

“However, at present there is no way to delay when you are genetically programmed to turn grey.”

Ted Lain, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and the chief medical officer at Sanova Dermatology in Austin, Texas, agreed that certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies can contribute to premature greying.

Dr Lain told EatingWell: “Ensure you have an adequate level of vitamin D3 and vitamin B12, since deficiencies in either of these may accelerate greying.”

He also suggested that stress can trigger depigmentation and greying which means a healthy diet and lifestyle is essential for hair and skin health.