Scientists have uncovered a simple way to banish grey hairs

It's an issue that plagues many people from the age of around 30. But the days of having to reach for the dye to banish your grey hairs could finally be a thing of the past. Scientists from Nagoya University in Japan have uncovered a simple way to prevent greying - and it's great news if you love a salad. In their new study, the researchers found that an antioxidant called luteolin appears to stop the greying process in mice.

And while it's yet to be tested in humans, the researchers believe luteolin could have a similar effect. Best of all, the antioxidant can be found in several common vegetables, including celery, broccoli, carrots, onions, and peppers. 'This result was surprising,' said Professor Masashi Kato, lead autor of the study. 'This finding suggests that luteolin may have a unique medicinal effect that prevents graying.'.

It's an issue that plagues many people from the age of around 30. But the days of having to reach for the dye to banish your grey hairs could finally be a thing of the past (stock image). In their new study, the researchers found that an antioxidant called luteolin appears to stop the greying process in mice. Grey hair is a natural part of the ageing proces. According to WebMD, white people start going grey in their mid-30s, Asian people in their late-30s, and Black people in their mid-40s.

And by the time they turn 50, half of all people have a significant amount of grey hair. Hair follicles contain pigment cells that produce melanin - a chemical that gives your hair its colours. As you age, these cells start to die, and without pigment, new hair strands grow in grey. While people are increasingly embracing the 'silver fox' look, many continue to choose to cover up their greys with hair dye.

In their new study, the researchers set out to understand whether three antioxidants - luteolin, hesperetin, and diosmetin - could be the 'holy grail' for greying. Firstly, the team bred mice to go grey like humans. Mice given luteolin kept their black fur (right), even as their cage mates' fur turned grey (left) - regardless of whether the antioxidants was given externally or internally. Best of all, the antioxidant can be found in several common vegetables, including celery, broccoli, carrots, onions, and peppers.

Grey hair lacks pigment, and could be regarded as hair's 'natural state'. When we are young, our hair is coloured by the pigments produced by cells in the hair follicle known as melanocytes. As we grow older, the melanocytes gradually become less active, so less pigment is produced, the colour fades, and grey hair grows instead. The process can be accelerated by factors such as stress and genetics. Next, the mice were given one of the three antioxidants, either topically or orally.

The results were 'startling', according to the researchers. Mice given luteolin kept their black fur, even as their cage mates' fur turned grey - regardless of whether the antioxidants was given externally or internally. 'While we expected that antioxidants may also have anti-graying effects, only luteolin, not hesperetin or diosmetin, demonstrated significant effects,' said Professor Kato. While you might think that luteolin's anti-greying effect is down to how it affects the hair cycle, the researchers were surprised to find that this wasn't actually the case.

'Interestingly, luteolin had limited effects on hair cycles, indicating that its primary impact is on pigmentation rather than hair growth or shedding,' Professor Kato explained. 'This targeted action makes luteolin a particularly intriguing candidate for addressing age-related hair graying.'. So far, the antioxidant has only been tested in mice. However, the researchers say that the greying process is similar for humans - raising the possibility of an anti-greying treatment in the near future.

If you're not a fan of vegetables, don't worry - luteolin is also available as a supplement for topical or oral use. What's more, the researchers believe that it could also help to prevent age-related balding. 'It would be interesting to investigate whether luteolin's anti-aging effects could also be applicable to other age-related changes, including balding,' said Dr Takumi Kagawa, an author of the study.