Cause of Premature Greying Explained: Ayurvedic Remedies That Work

What is the cause for premature greying? Why are more people greying in their 20s and 30s?

TikTok and Instagram has a surfeit of content from creators in the early 20s asking why despite having good hair genetics, and parents who didnt grey early, why they are greying so quickly.

We see the same issue at Krya. Unusually over the last few years , we are seeing greying even among school and college going teens.

What is the reason behind such quick hair greying. This article will explore information from the Classical Ayurvedic texts on the causes of premature greying, dietary imbalances, product and lifestyle triggers and what you can do to slow down premature greying. 

What Is the Main cause of Premature Greying? 

The International Journal of Trichology defines "premature greying" as greying that occurs before 20 years for Caucasians, and greying that occurs before 30 years for African / African Americans.

Data suggests that caucasians grey between 34-45 years , and African Americans between 44 - 54. So premature greyng occurs 15-20 years before normal onset.

Interestingly this age has not yet been defined for Asians as we dont have enough Cosmetic research on this. If we take a mid point , we could assume premature greyng for greying before 25 years.

However from an Ayurvedic perspective, the Acharyas expect us to have much higher hair standards, given the extensve Dincharya rituals they have devised. In Ayurveda, greying before 35 years is considered "premature greying" - let that sink in! Greying hair in your 20s is extremely premature by Ayurvedic standards

In Ayurveda, the primary cause of early hair greying is Pitta imbalance. This is triggered by unwholesome food, stress, anger, poor quality hair care products and other such factors. All of these combaine to either locally or systemically tip Pitta dosha into a state of imbalance leading to faster hair greying.

Ayurvedic Understanding: Root Cause of Premature Greying

Acharya Charaka says that when "Tejas" (the inner heat or fire element in the body) combines with aggravated Vata (air element), it scorches the hair from the roots. This leads first to a loss of pigmentation (premature greying), and then to deeper structural damage like thinning and hair loss. So greying, in Ayurveda, is a clear signal that Pitta and Vata are out of balance.

Let’s explore the most common triggers behind this imbalance. 

7 Hidden causes of Premature greying most People Miss

How Pitta dosha imbalance causes Premature Greying

When your body is constantly heated up (from within or outside) along with dryness and erratic movement (hallmarks of Vata), you develop early grey hair .

·        Living in a hot, dry climate or having high sun exposure can affect melanin production which causes grey hair

·        Cold wind, fog exposure – aggravates vata and dryness in scalp which can trigger the onset of grey hair quicker

·        High exposure to pollution and dust – pollutants block the pores and prevents nutrition to the hair follicles which affects healthy melanocyte production (giverned by Pitta dosha) leading to greying. Regular exposure can overtime also damage hair follicles slowing down hair growth.

·        Regular exposure to strong breeze —especially if you live on a high floor, drive with the windows down, or ride a two-wheeler to work. This severely aggravates Vata dosha in turn imbalancing Pitta dosha leading to early grey strands and hair dryness

·        Sitting for hours in an air-conditioned space—this dries out the scalp, aggravates Vata, and traps heat internally

Stress as a Cause of Premature Greying (Ayurvedic View)

In Ayurveda, mental states are deeply connected to hair health. High emotional disturbance can increase Vata and disturb the harmony in your body. This in turn affects the nourishment to your hair & also be responsible for premature greying     

• Chronic overwork or mental exhaustion

·        Constant anxiety or a restless mind

·        Intense grief or emotional overwhelm

·        Speaking loudly or excessively throughout the day (can easily trigger emotional exhaustion and overwhelm)

·        Poor anger control, which spikes internal heat and disturbs Pitta dosha

 All these unregulated mental states when expressed often can make your hair grey earlier

Erratic Sleep & Screen time as a Cause of Premature Greying (Ayurvedic View)

When your sleep is irregular, or you're overstimulated late into the night, it derails the body’s ability to repair and regulate itself. This increases both Pitta and Vata, so that your hair turns grey earlier.

·        Sleeping late, or at inconsistent hours

·        Daytime sleeping (which builds up heat and dullness)

·        Late-night screen exposure—especially on phones, laptops, or bright TVs

Nutritional Deficiencies: A Major Cause of Premature Greying

You are what you eat. Including the pigment in your hair. But food can also trigger doshic imbalance when chosen poorly , eaten in the wrong state or at the wrong time and can affect the health of hair and scalp. Here are some foods which when eaten in excess can adversely affect melanin production. 

·        Excessively salty or fermented foods—like packaged snacks, pickles, papads, and preserved foods—are sharp and Pitta-aggravating

·        Foods high in preservatives and citric acid can create internal inflammation and heat triggering early onset of greying

·        Stale, cold, or dry food increases Vata, drying out the tissues and reducing nourishment to the scalp. Such foods overtime also aggravate signs of ageing in skin and hair

·        Eating at the wrong times can over trigger Pitta as gut Agni has to work overtime to digest food. It can also lead to Ama (toxin buildup ) over time leading to vitamin and mineral deficiencies and depleting nutrients to your hair.

Incorrect hair products & routine: Root Cause of Premature Greying

According to Acharya Charaka, applying alkaline or harsh hair styling products disturbs the scalp's natural balance , affects healthy hair growth and accelerates greying.

·        Using soap bars on the hair (a trend that's gaining popularity for eco-reasons) can alter the scalp's pH and aggravate greying

·        Using hair shampoos too frequently especially sulphate-based or detergent-heavy shampoos, can dry out the scalp, aggravate Vata, and disrupt sebum balance. Excessive shampoong is often responsible for hair dryness, poor hair growth and premature greying. 

·        Using synthetic conditioners or styling products can clog the scalp’s pores, trap heat, and disrupt healthy heat exchange—leading to localised Pitta aggravation and higher greying

· Not oiling the scalp and hair regularly can also lead to localised Pitta aggravation and higher greying

Natural Solutions to Address the Cause of Premature Greying

Is there a cure for premature grey hair? Modern science is doubtful and says no. But Ayurveda explains that we can slow down or even prevent premature greying if we focus our efforts on the root grey hair causes: imbalanced Pitta and vata dosha 

From what we know about premature greying in Ayurveda, it is merely a symptom. It reflects an internal imbalance, particularly of Pitta (heat) and Vata (air, space) dosha. When these doshas remain unchecked over time, there is higher oxidative stress in the body leading to a decrease in melanin production. This triggers early greying process increasing white hair production. It also affects hair quality decreasing thickness and strength.

By addressing the root causes—through food, lifestyle, and daily hair rituals—Ayurveda believes we can positively affect melanin producton, thus slowing down early greying and growing high quality hair, while improving overall scalp and hair strand  health.

You don’t need an extreme lifestyle overhaul or a single magical remedy. But you do need to act on three aspects that can lead to premature greying :

·        Food: Reduce aggravating triggers. Bring in nourishing, dosha balancing meals.

·        Lifestyle: Create calm. Simplify routines to ensure you are managing stress. Make time for recovery of your system everyday. Add thoughtful routines that can bring down the symptoms caused by stress like sleep issues, hair greying , etc

·        Hair Ritual: Use the right products consistently—without chemicals or shortcuts.

 Many people ask us if we can reverse premature greying. Ayurveda explains that we can slow down premature greying and have an impact on the new hair that is yet to emerge. However we cannot reverse greying in the existing hair .

Simple Ayurvedic Lifestyle fixes for premature hair greying 

🥣 Food to improve nutrient to scalp & slow down  premature greying

Your food is medicine. It can either calm and act as grey hair treatment or aggravate Pitta and Vata. We are not talking baout expensive supplements, additional vitamin shots etc. Just high quality food chosen correctly for you. 

Avoid or reduce:

·        Packaged snacks, pickles, sauces, and overly salty or sour foods

·        Stale or refrigerated meals—even if reheated

·        Raw, cold, and drying foods (smoothies, excessive salads, baked millet snacks)

These changes help cut work on the lack of nutrition and toxin build up due to packaged and processed foods

Add more:

·        Freshly cooked traditional meals with native grains and vegetables

·        Seasonal rasayana-rich foods like Amla, gourds, curry leaves, and good quality cow’s ghee which are foods rich in vitamins and help build high quality dhatus

·        Warm, nourishing foods eaten in silence, distraction free and ideally seated on the floor

🧘🏽♀️ Routine & Balance to address lifestyle based deficiency

Small tweaks in your daily rhythm & lifestyle changes can do more than any product and can also work on your stress hormones

1. Cut Down your exposure to strong wind and cold air (be mindful of your a.c consumption)
2. Sleep at a fixed time and avoid screens post-sunset
3. Limit multitasking and caffeine—especially under stress
4. Include screen-free time daily for family, nature, or hobbies
5. Avoid excessive exposure to cold wind, and pollution

Ayurvedic practices to help manage the stress symptoms:

1. Add regular Abhyanga and Pada abhyanga to your weekly routine - we suggest a pada abhyanga every night, one full abhyanga per week and atleast 1-2 mini abhyangas
2. Pada abhyanga at night is excellent at controlling stress, reducing anxiety and improving sleep
3. Full and mini abhyangas help channelise and balance excess vata and pitta dosha in the body - they reduce overall stress, fatigue and anxiety, improve bone health and strength and improve overall hair health and the colour of your hair

Recommended Ayurvedic Hair Ritual for Premature greying

🌿 The Krya 3-Part Hair System for premature greying

If your current routine includes synthetic shampoos or conditioners, they could be aggravating heat and dryness—trapping Pitta, clogging the scalp, and worsening greying.

Instead, shift to a balanced Ayurvedic hair ritual:

1.     Oil: Krya Classic Hair Oil : Formulated to address the root cause of premature greying. Use 3–4x/week. Made with with Pitta-balancing herbs like Amla, Bhringraj, and Vetiver

2.     Wash: Krya Classic Hair Wash (2x/week) to cleanse without stripping natural oils

3.     Mask: Krya Classic Hair Mask . Helps control the cause of premature greying in oily scalp . Use 1x/week to cool, detoxify, and strengthen follicles

You can buy all 3 products as our 3 part Classic hair system. This system works with your body’s rhythms, not against them. It’s completely natural, chemical-free, and designed for long-term use. It improves melanin production, and improves hair growth.

💡 Bonus: Add a Pitta-calming body wash or face routine to reduce Bhrajaka Pitta overload and support whole-body balance.

FAQs on Causes of Premature Greying

 Can thyroid problems be the cause of premature greying. What should I do?

Yes thyroid and other medical issues can be a cause for premature greying. Most of the suggestions we have been given can be adopted as is. In addition we suggest consulting an ayurvedic vaidya for further medical treament and specific dietary inputs in case you are dealing with underactive thyroid or the reverse. 

Do you suggest taking supplements like Vitamin B-12, Hair Gummies etc to help with Hair greying?

Any dietary inputs are best suggested by your Vaidya. In Ayurveda, generally modern suppplementaion is not suggested, although most supplements work well with other Ayurvedic treatments. Internal medication suggested by your Vaidya in case of any health problem will cover any nutritional / gut deficiency that could be leading to the deficiency. 

Can stress be a cause of premature greying? What should I do?

If hair greying is due to a deficiency in nutrition or stress, then your greying treatment plan should focus on balancing the issues in these. We have shared general nutrition guidelines. However for more specifc advice you can consult an ayurvedic vaidya if you feel that your diet plan needs overhauling.

Similarly in the case of stress, simply managing it would not be enough. IF you can work on the root cause of stress and put in a specific time bound plan including steps you can take to reduce stress from building up, it would be ideal. 

Is genetics the only cause of premature greying??

Genetics indicates a propensity towards unbalanced pitta and vata dosha. However even here with right diet, lifestyle and hair routine we can slow down genetic hair greying ensuring it occurs later and not earlier. 

As we have discsused apart from genetics, Ayurevda identifies many otehr causes of premature greying like stress, food habits, lifestyle, hair routine etc. 

Final thoughts on the cause of grey hair & a suitable haircare routine

Premature greying is a major cause of dismay for many people today. There’s a lot of angst and dissatisfaction because greying is linked to ageing—and no one wants to be perceived as older than they are.

But we’re fortunate. India has a rich background of knowledge systems, and with Ayurveda, we have access to a deep, holistic approach to wellness. It helps us understand why certain things happen and gives us clear, specific action plans to address those concerns.

In western dermatology and cosmetic science, premature greying is often seen as irreversible, with vague causes like pollution and genetics—none of which we can control. But Ayurveda shows us a way forward. It gives us practical, everyday changes we can make—to our food, lifestyle, and product choices—that help bring the body back into balance.

I hope this gave you a clear understanding of the Ayurvedic view on premature greying—and a starting point for healing from within.

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 References:

1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6290285/
2. https://ayushdhara.in/index.php/ayushdhara/article/view/1081/863
3. https://ijrap.net/admin/php/uploads/2060_pdf.pdf
4. https://rjpn.org/jetnr/papers/JETNR2406017.pdf
5. https://www.jaims.in/jaims/article/view/3315