Antioxidants -  The Secret for Healthier Hair and Scalp

You don’t need a scientific study¹ to tell you that a bad hair day can make you feel less confident. Your hair is an important part of your self-image and it influences how other people see you.  

In our youth-obsessed culture, a full head of glossy hair means health and  confidence. When your first grey hairs appear, it can be a shock. 

You’re not the only one to feel anxious when your hair starts to turn grey. Many people see their first grey hair as early as their twenties. Most freak out and reach for the tweezers. Please don’t do that.

It’s natural to want your greys to disappear, but you could actually end up making them more noticeable. The myth is that when we pluck a grey hair two will grow back in it's place, but the reality is that the shorter, new hair growth will actually just stand out more against the rest of your hair. 

I’ve been a hairstylist for almost two decades, so I know that hair is so much more than hair. 

That’s why my client Allison Conrad and I founded Arey. We believe there are better ways to slow premature grey hair and improve the health of greying hair than just covering up the problem.

That’s why we’ve been digging into the science to find the best grey hair solutions for your healthiest hair and a healthier you.

 

Greying Hair Is Aging Hair and It Needs Specialized Care

Did you know that your scalp ages 6 times faster than your face?² Your scalp ages quickly because the skin on your head is thinner and more delicate than the skin on your face. 

As if worrying about your facial skin wasn’t enough – now you have to think about your scalp? 

You can’t totally avoid environmental and lifestyle stressors like sun, pollution, exposure to smoking and chemicals. They’re part of living a full and busy life. They're also the major cause of scalp aging and premature grey hair.

Here’s the science – environmental stressors lead to an overproduction of free radicals that attack your hair follicles.

Free radicals are unstable molecules that can cause damage to your cells, including those in your hair. When free radicals attack your hair, they can cause a variety of problems, including:

• Oxidative stress: this occurs when there is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body, leading to damage to cells and tissues. This appears to play a role in premature hair loss.³ 

• Hair loss: free radicals can damage your hair follicles, leading to excessive shedding or thinning.

• Dullness and dryness: free radicals can damage the outer layer of your hair, making it look dull and dry.

• Loss of hair health: you’ll notice more split ends, frizz, loss of elasticity and volume. Your hair may break or tangle more easily.

• Premature graying: free radicals can also damage the melanin in your hair, leading to premature grey hair.

When you start to see changes in your hair, it can be an emotional experience. “It's likely we are hardwired to feel emotionally connected to our hair,” says psychologist Vivian Diller, PhD.⁴ 

Signs of aging can also bring feelings of loss of control. I’ve worked with many clients through this stage in their life journey, and I know how challenging it can be. I also know there's a lot that you can do right now to slow and reverse the aging and greying process. 

At Arey, we are all about science, and the science is strong on this – only 30% of greys are the result of genetics. One way to reverse or slow the greying process is by making sure you have the antioxidants you need to reduce cell damage.

 

Why Your Scalp and Grey Hair Need Antioxidants

Free Radicals are at the root of many signs of aging in your hair and body. They are unstable molecules that can damage cells and hair follicles. 

Antioxidants are like an “off switch” to free radicals – antioxidants neutralize the free radicals to reduce cell damage, hair loss, hair thinning, and premature graying. 

Antioxidants work with your body⁵ to: 

✅ Prevent melanin loss: one of the main causes of grey hair is the depletion of melanin, which is the pigment that gives hair its color.

✅ Protect your hair from environmental damage: antioxidants neutralize free oxygen radicals, which develop as a result of exposure to UV rays and pollution.

✅ Counteract oxidative stress: By protecting hair from free radical damage, antioxidants can help to maintain healthy hair growth and prevent hair loss.

✅ Promote hair growth and improve hair texture: antioxidants increase blood circulation and nutrient supply to scalp cells, which promotes healthy hair growth.

Vibrant, healthy hair means that your body is getting enough of the best vitamins and nutrients to keep your body operating at its peak condition. 

Unhealthy, dry, and frizzy hair may be a sign that you may need to change or supplement your diet or haircare routine. That’s why we’re sharing which antioxidants are best to get your healthiest hair. 

 

The Best Antioxidants Can Also Slow Grey Hair Production

A good place to start is a diet rich in antioxidants. These superfoods⁶ all support healthy hair and slow grey hair production: 

✅ Leafy green vegetables: vegetables like kale and spinach are packed with hair health-boosting nutrients.

✅ Dark chocolate: aim for 70% cacao for a treat packed with antioxidants. Also a source of pigment-protecting copper. 

✅ Whole eggs: packed with protein and vitamin B12. Low levels of B12 are linked to premature greying. 

✅ Lentils: a great source of Folate which is linked to healthy hair growth.

✅ Mushrooms: another source of copper that aids melanin production. Melanin is a substance in your body that produces hair, eye, and skin color.

✅ Fermented foods: a powerhouse of nutritional support for premature greying. Kombucha, fermented soy, kimchi, pickles, and other probiotic foods support your digestion to improve biotin levels in your body. Biotin is vital for hair health.

A diet rich in antioxidants is good for your overall health, boosts your hair health, and can be an effective solution for grey hair. 

If you’re eating a healthy diet, you might assume you’re covered. But life happens. No one is perfect and most of us don’t get all the vitamins and minerals we need through diet alone. 

Luckily, there’s no need to get a degree in nutrition or give up all your fun habits – the right supplement can balance out what aging is taking away from you. 

The Antioxidant-Rich Supplement at the Heart of Arey’s Grey Hair Treatments

Meet Not Today, Grey. A daily supplement that treats the causes of grey hair by providing the optimal vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for your best hair health. 

Not Today, Grey makes it simple to help your hair live its best life so you can get on with living yours. It’s a natural treatment for grey hair that works with your body to slow and even re-pigment grey hair. 

 

 

Not Today, Grey boosts your vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant intake to deliver you the building blocks for healthier thicker hair:

• Selenium: an immune-system-boosting antioxidant that protects your body and hair from damage caused by oxidative stress. Selenium neutralizes dandruff-causing fungus and supports thyroid hormones that help regulate hair growth.

• Iron: the most common nutrient deficiency in the world. Low iron can lead to anemia and hair loss, especially in women.⁷ 

• Calcium: this essential bone-health mineral also helps the secretion of hormones that encourage new hair growth. Calcium deficiency causes dry hair.⁷ 

• Biotin: a B vitamin that turns food into energy. Your body also needs it to produce keratin – the type of protein that makes up hair, skin, and nails.⁸

• Vitamin D: this immune-system booster also stimulates hair growth. A deficiency may be linked to alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that causes hair loss.⁷ 

• Folate: also known as Folic Acid – Folic acid amps up the body’s cell production to promote hair growth, volume, and even reduce the rate of premature greying.⁹ 

• Vitamin B10: also known as PABA – helps to repigment grey hair. Studies have found that taking PABA at daily doses ranging from 200mg to 24 grams led to hair darkening and helped gray hair return to its original color.¹⁰ 

• Vitamin B5: also known as Pantothenic acid, nourishes and strengthens the hair follicle to encourage healthy hair growth and stop hair loss.¹¹ 

• Fo-Ti: In Asia, the herb Fo-Ti is famed for its overall anti-aging properties, including reversing grey hair. It is thought to do this through its ability to restore melanin – the pigment that gives hair and skin its color.¹²  

• Copper: supports your immune system and nerve health. It also boosts collagen, a key part of bones and connective tissue. Copper may also act as an antioxidant, reducing free radicals that can damage hair, cells, and DNA. Copper aids in iron absorption.

• Vitamin B6: Your body cannot produce vitamin B6, so you must obtain it from foods or supplements. Adequate levels help hair health and maintain melanin levels necessary for hair color.

• Black sesame: a nutrient-rich oilseed containing high levels of antioxidants. Sesame is an important source of phytonutrients and vitamins E, A, and B which promote melanocyte activity responsible for hair color.

At Arey, we care about your health so we only put the good stuff into our products. Not Today, Grey is free from fillers, gluten, and animal products and is always cruelty-free.

There’s a reason Not Today, Grey is at the heart of Arey’s haircare system: it works.

Double up on Inside-Out Antioxidant Protection With Our Bundle 

Arey is a holistic whole-body approach to hair health and grey hair solutions. We are always backed by science and always addressing the causes of aging and grey hair, not just the symptoms.

For optimum results, we recommend combining our Not Today, Grey supplement with our topical serum To The Root. To The Root is a serum that delivers a powerful cocktail of antioxidants right where your hair needs it the most – your hair follicles. 

The combination of Not Today, Grey, and To The Root combats your grey hair from the inside-out and the outside-in. 

It’s the Early Stages of Turning Grey When the Process Is Most Reversible

The earlier you start working with your body to slow and delay your grey hair, the more effective your efforts will be. It is in the early stages of turning grey that the process is most reversible.⁷ 

Arey works best on those who have 0-30% grey hair. If you are more than 30% grey or have white hair, you will see less powerful results. If your hair strands are completely white, our products can help improve the texture, smoothness, and elasticity of your hair, but you will be less likely to see repigmentation.

Because hair growth cycles take at least 1-4 months, it may take a while before you see results. Your hair health is important to us – that’s why we offer 25% off on all subscriptions to help keep you on track with your hair health goals. Because we believe that science + consistency = results.

 

Discover the Benefits of Science-Based Solutions for Grey Hair 

At Arey, we care about your hair health. That’s what motivates us to create innovative science-based products to slow the signs of aging hair and improve hair health. We want to make it easy for you to do the right thing for your hair. 

We are Arey.

Aging is beautiful – but if your greys are growing faster than you wish, we are here for you with science-based, effective solutions. We want you to feel happy and confident with your hair. Have questions? Say hey@areygrey.com.

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REFERENCES:

1. Psychology of Hair Loss Patients and Importance of Counseling - PMC 
2. https://www.instyle.com/hair/scalp-facts 
3. Trüeb RM, Henry JP, Davis MG, Schwartz JR. Scalp Condition Impacts Hair Growth and Retention via Oxidative Stress. Int J Trichology. 2018 Nov-Dec;10(6):262-270. doi: 10.4103/ijt.ijt_57_18. PMID: 30783333; PMCID: PMC6369642.
4. Here's Why Hair Is Such a Major Part of Our Identities 
5. Oxidative Stress in Ageing of Hair - PMC 
6. 8 Superfoods To Avoid Premature Greying
7. The Role of Vitamins and Minerals in Hair Loss
8. Bistas KG, Tadi P. Biotin. [Updated 2022 Jul 
9. folic acid deficiency might be the cause | Vogue India
10. Medication-Induced Repigmentation of Gray Hair: A Systematic Review
11. Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) Benefits for Hair | City Doctor 
12. Fo-Ti Benefits | Natural Health Guide