We associate grey hair with wisdom (literally all over the word), but there is one about it that we silently admit; it doesn’t always feel that poetic when it shows up early. Watching your hair lose its natural color can be frustrating, especially when you’re unsure why it’s happening or what you can do about it. However, now you can expect some good news here: you have more control over your hair's pigment than you think. Be it through lifestyle, nutrition, or targeted treatments, you can support and even increase melanin in your hair. Read this blog to understand how you can restore this natural pigment.
What is melanin? What role does melanin play in our hair?
Melanin is your hair’s inbuilt ‘aesthetic’ armor. It’s the natural pigment that gives your strands their color, from jet black to deep brown or golden auburn. This pigment is made by special cells called melanocytes, located in your hair follicles.
There are two major types of melanin in hair:
- Eumelanin: Responsible for dark shades—black and brown.
- Pheomelanin: Brings out lighter tones—blonde and red.
What’s fascinating is that melanin does more than paint your strands. It’s also your hair’s natural sunscreen, shielding it from the harsh effects of UV radiation and environmental wear.
But here’s where the problem starts, when these melanocytes slow down or stop producing melanin, your hair begins to lose pigment, leading to greying.
What Causes the Loss of Melanin in Hair?
Greying isn’t just about turning older. It’s more layered than that; often subtle, sometimes sudden, and occasionally emotional. Let’s break down the science behind it, without losing the human in it.
The Usual Suspects:
1. Genetics:
If your parents or grandparents started greying early, chances are…it might run in your blood too. It’s not your lifestyle. It’s not your shampoo. It’s simply your DNA doing what it’s programmed to do.
2. Aging:
As we age, our melanocytes - the cells responsible for producing melanin, just slow down. This slowdown means less melanin production, and eventually, strands lose their color.
3. Stress:
Long-term stress doesn’t just affect your mood, it affects your cells. Chronic stress can damage melanocytes, leading to early greying. Some researchers even link cortisol (the stress hormone) to pigment loss.
4. Nutritional Gaps:
Melanin needs fuel like vitamins and minerals in order to be produced efficiently. Deficiencies in:
- Biotin (Vitamin B7)
- Copper
- Iron
can slow down melanin production, making hair go grey sooner than expected.
5. Health Conditions:
Certain conditions can interrupt melanin activity:
- Thyroid Imbalances
- Vitiligo
- Autoimmune disorders
These can weaken melanocytes or halt pigment generation altogether.
If you have ever asked yourself, “how to increase melanin for grey hair”, now you know that it starts by understanding what’s causing the mess.
Types of Melanin in Hair
Every strand of hair on your head carries its own pigment blueprint and it all comes down to two key melanin types: eumelanin and pheomelanin.
Eumelanin: The Dominant Dark Pigment
If you have black or brown hair, eumelanin is doing most of the heavy lifting. The more you have of it, the darker your hair appears. There are actually two subtypes: black eumelanin and brown eumelanin and the balance between them determines whether your hair leans toward jet black or deep brown.
As you age or face oxidative stress, eumelanin levels drop. That’s when you start seeing light brown, grey, or even white strands creeping in.
Pheomelanin: The Warm Undertone Contributor
This one brings the spice. Pheomelanin is responsible for reddish, golden, or yellowish hues. If you’re a natural redhead or have strawberry blonde tones, you’ve got this pigment to thank. Even people with dark hair might have hidden pheomelanin that shows up when the hair is bleached or sun-exposed.
And when eumelanin declines faster than pheomelanin, that’s when you start noticing unexpected brassy or coppery tones as your hair loses its depth.
Why Knowing This Matters
Hair color isn’t just cosmetic, it’s a signal. A shift from dark to grey, or brown to yellowish, reflects what’s happening with your melanocytes (the cells producing melanin) and your melanin production cycle.
Knowing which melanin is fading helps you understand:
- Why your hair is greying the way it is
- How to select toners or shampoos (like blue or purple)
- Whether you might benefit from nutrient support or melanin tablets
In short: your hair’s color story is rooted in science and now, you’re fluent in it.
Advanced Treatments for Melanin Enhancement
If you are tired of searching ‘How to Increase Melanin in Hair’ and you’ve tried the oils, the foods, the serums and still, your hair feels dull or keeps greying. That’s when science steps in to help nature catch up. You can try the following advanced hair treatment for melanin enhancement:
1. PRP Therapy (Platelet-Rich Plasma)
PRP therapy involves extracting a small volume of your blood, isolating the platelet-rich plasma through centrifugation, and injecting it into the scalp. Platelets contain growth factors that help activate melanocytes in your hair (the melanin-producing cells) and improve blood supply to the hair follicles.
This treatment may support pigmentation and hair regeneration in cases where melanin production has reduced due to ageing or oxidative stress.
2. Nutrient Infusions
Melanin synthesis depends on the availability of key nutrients like copper, iron, and zinc. If the body is deficient in these elements, melanin production may decline, regardless of surface treatments.
IV infusions deliver these nutrients directly into the bloodstream, bypassing digestion and allowing for faster and more efficient absorption. These therapies are typically recommended after confirming mineral deficiencies via lab tests.
3. Melanin Tablets and Topical Boosters
Oral supplements designed to support melanin production often contain ingredients such as:
- Copper peptides – enhance tyrosinase activity, a key enzyme in melanin synthesis
- B-complex vitamins – support cellular regeneration and pigment retention
- Antioxidants and adaptogens – help counteract oxidative stress that may damage melanocytes
In parallel, certain topical solutions with peptides and bioavailable minerals claim to support scalp pigmentation, although their efficacy is still under clinical review.
These treatments are not cosmetic quick fixes, they aim to create favorable internal and cellular conditions for melanin production. Consulting an expert is essential before beginning any of these interventions to ensure suitability based on your scalp health, medical history, and lab reports.
Natural Ways to Increase Melanin in Hair: A Holistic Approach
Melanin, the pigment responsible for your hair’s natural color, is produced by specialized cells called melanocytes within your hair follicles. Over time, various internal and external factors can reduce its production, leading to premature greying.
Which means supporting your body through the right nutrition and lifestyle choices can help maintain and potentially stimulate melanin production in a more sustainable way.
Let’s break this into two smart angles: what you eat and how you live.
Dietary Solutions: Let Food Be Thy Pigment Builder
You don’t need exotic superfoods. Just good ol’ staples packed with melanin-rich nutrients! What you eat plays a fundamental role in how your body sustains melanin levels in hair follicles. Instead of chasing expensive superfoods, focus on these scientifically-backed
|
Nutrient |
Role in Melanin Production |
Food Sources |
|
Copper |
Supports tyrosinase, the enzyme needed for melanin synthesis |
Lentils, nuts, dark chocolate |
|
Iron |
Improves oxygen supply to hair follicles |
Spinach, red meat, legumes |
|
Biotin (B7) |
Encourages keratin production and follicle health |
Eggs, sunflower seeds, leafy greens |
|
Vitamin B12 |
Supports cell renewal and pigment retention |
Dairy products, fish, fortified cereals |
Melanin is not an isolated element; it depends on a matrix of nutrients. A deficiency in even one can interrupt your hair’s ability to retain natural pigment. Regular blood tests can help identify such gaps early.
Lifestyle Changes:
Beyond what’s on your plate, your day-to-day activities have long-term effects on melanin production. While the impact is gradual, the consistency of these habits can shift the trajectory of greying.
- Scalp Stimulation
Gentle scalp massages using fingertips or wooden combs can improve circulation and activate dormant melanocytes by enhancing blood flow to the roots.
- Mindful Living:
Stress-induced greying is a medically recognized phenomenon. Incorporating practices like yoga, deep breathing, or even evening walks can help regulate cortisol levels and delay melanin loss.
- Protection From UV & Pollution:
UV radiation and pollution generate free radicals, which accelerate follicle aging. Protect your scalp with:
- Hats or scarves during peak sunlight
- Hair serums with antioxidants (like Vitamin E or green tea extract)
- Regular cleansing after exposure to dust and pollutants
Greying can sometimes feel like a countdown. But with these small and preventive efforts, you give your hair a chance to slow that clock.
The Benefits of Restoring Melanin
Restoring melanin isn’t merely about reversing greys. You are trying to preserve the natural biology of your hair. When your melanocytes begin to regain activity, your hair doesn’t just look younger, it behaves healthier too.
Here’s what you gain:
1. Natural Colour Restoration
As melanin production improves, the natural tone of your hair can gradually return. This not only revives your original shade but also makes colour look more consistent from root to tip.
2. Improved UV & Environmental Protection
Melanin acts as a natural defence system. When restored, it helps shield your hair and scalp from UV rays, pollution, and oxidative stress; by reducing long-term damage and thinning.
3. Stronger, More Elastic Strands
Greying hair often becomes brittle and coarse due to reduced pigment and protein structure. Melanin restoration brings back softness, elasticity, and overall strand strength, lowering breakage and frizz.
4. Slower Greying Process
Boosting melanin doesn’t just target what’s already grey, it helps delay new greys from forming. By supporting the melanocytes (the cells that produce melanin), you prolong your hair’s natural ageing timeline.
5. Boosted Confidence and Control
Regaining pigment naturally often restores more than just appearance. It gives you a renewed sense of control: over ageing, over wellness, over your reflection. And for many, that’s the biggest benefit of all.
And most importantly: a sense of control. That’s the real win.
Conclusion
Losing melanin in your hair can be a sign that your body needs support. Sometimes it’s stress, sometimes it’s nutritional gaps, and sometimes it’s just how aging naturally unfolds. But in many cases, it’s possible to slow down or manage this process with the right understanding and care.
You don’t have to rush into treatments or supplements without clarity. Start by learning what your hair actually needs. At Leor Clinics, we look at the full picture: your health, your habits, and your hair goals; and guide you with solutions that make sense for your stage of life.
If you’re unsure where to begin, book a consultation today to get the answers you need.
FAQs
Q1: How to Increase Melanin in Hair?
To get melanin in your hair, nourish melanocytes with melanin-rich foods for hair like spinach and lentils. Add melanin tablets and reduce stress. These steps boost melanin production and help address early signs of melanin deficiency in hair follicles.
Q2: What foods increase melanin in hair?
Melanin-rich foods for hair include eggs, dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and seafood. These promote melanin production and energize melanocytes. Regular intake supports hair pigmentation and naturally counters melanin deficiency linked to premature greying or fading hair color.
Q3: What is the fastest way to increase melanin?
The fastest way to increase melanin in hair is combining melanin tablets, PRP therapy, and melanin-rich foods. This trio stimulates melanocytes effectively, improves melanin production, and helps reverse melanin deficiency by encouraging pigment regeneration at the follicular level.
Q4: Is it possible to regain melanin in hair?
Yes, you can regain melanin in hair by reactivating melanocytes through melanin tablets, dietary changes, and therapies. Though results vary, consistent melanin production support using melanin-rich foods for hair can help slow or reduce visible melanin deficiency signs.
Q5: Does milk increase melanin?
While milk isn’t a direct melanin booster, it supports melanin production due to its B12 and protein content. Combine it with melanin-rich foods for hair, melanin tablets, and copper sources to nourish melanocytes and combat melanin deficiency naturally.
