Why is my Black Hair Turning Blonde? How to Prevent Hair turning from Black to Blonde?

Have you ever noticed flawless black hair transformed into blonde? The definite answer from most people will be yes. And it’s mainly due to dyeing, highlighting, or coloring the hair. But have you ever heard of the natural transformation of black hair to blonde?

It is unusual but not uncommon. While many of us are familiar with the external treatment of the lightening of hair, the science behind the natural transformation of black hair to blonde remains unknown.

This article includes everything about the natural blonding of hair: from its reasons to its remedies. So, if your hair is turning blonde unexpectedly, then this article serves best for you.

6 Reasons Why your Black hair turning Blonde

Black hair turning blonde is a sign of a decrease in melanin pigments in your hair. It is due to a decrease in the production of melanin from the melanocytes. And this results from the turning off of the pigment-producing genes or wear out of the melanocytes themselves.

Various factors lead the gene to turn off and the melanocytes to wear off. Here are them listed below:

1. Sunlight 

We all have heard about how the hair lightens during the summertime. Excessive exposure to sunlight breaks down the melanin pigment resulting in the lightening of hair.

It bleaches and decolorizes the melanin pigment. It is called photobleaching. But not every hair gets photobleached. The ability of the hair to turn blonde lies in their genes. 

2. Ageing 

With aging, melanin production becomes less which results in the whitening and lightening of the hair. The decrease in melanin production is due to the death of the melanocyte cells.

3. Hormonal imbalance

Hormones are substance present in the body that sends signals and messages to different body parts. For the production of melanin, various hormones send their signals. Any change to these hormone level will stop these signals and decreases melanin production.

It results in blonding and lightening of the black hair. So, many factors that imbalance the hormonal level might lead to this change. These are stress, puberty, menstruation, and pregnancy.

4. Heredity/genetics

Genes play a significant role in the blonding of hair. Unless you do not have it in your genes, your hair will not blonde out naturally. It is the reason why people with the same hair color end up having different results even after the same sunlight exposure, stress, or aging. 

5. Medical conditions and illness

Various medical conditions turn hair blonde. The cause may range from a change in the gene to the destruction or underproduction of melanocyte cells. Some of the diseases are Prader Willi syndrome, Albinism, and Vitamin B12 deficiency.

6. Diet and Nutrition

Extreme lack of nutrients like vitamin B12, vitamin D3, iron, copper, and calcium in the diet affects the production of melanin leading to gray hair. 

These are some factors that cause black hair to turn blonde. But, there is no evidence that everyone with them will have their black hair turn blonde. It is because black hair turning blonde is quite rare and depends on genetics above all.

Scientific reasons behind why black hair turns blonde

The genes of a person determine their hair color. This gene commands the formation of a pigment called melanin from melanocytes, which gives color to the hair.

Pheomelanin and Eumelanin are the two main types of melanin. Eumelanin gives a black and brown color to the hair, while pheomelanin gives a red and yellow color to the hair.

Different proportion of these pigment in the hair produces different hair colors and tones: the higher the melanin pigment in the hair, the darker the hair, and vice versa. 

But the catch point is that only the presence of a gene cannot confirm the color of a hair. As these genes are present in either turned-on or turned-off state, they will work accordingly.

In a turned-on state, melanin formation is maximum resulting in black hair, and in a turn-off state, the melanin production decreases, resulting in blonde hair. 

When this gene gets turned off in a person with previously black hair, the melanin count decreases and, their hair converts into blonde.

The extent of blonding ranges from small strands to entire hair and, the level to which the gene has turned off determines it. Also, there is no hard and fast rule when the genes get turned off.

Hence, any person’s hair can turn blonde at any time in their life. Blonding is not only limits hairs but also beards, eyebrows, skin hair, pubes, and eyelashes.

How can I Prevent my black hair from turning blonde?

Prevention of external damage and change of black hair to blonde is simple. But for a genetic cause, the only thing one can do is; to prevent the triggering factor that turns off the hair pigment-producing gene or maintain your already black hair.

Here are some preventive methods listed below:

1. Melanin supplements

Intake of Melanin supplements provides melanin directly. Although it has evidence of preventing and reversing the blonding, it is not FDA-approved. So, the decision to take a melanin supplement depends on the person.

2. Use herbal products

Many special herbs are rich in ingredients that promote melanin production. They also contain nutrients that promote the blackening of hair. These come either in the form of oil, serums, or powder. 

 Some of the best herbal products are listed below:

3. Protection from sunlight

You can protect your hair from harmful UV rays by covering it. Use a fancy hat or a scarf. Also, do not forget to take an umbrella with you before stepping out of the house.

Some of the best sunlight protection products are listed below:

Also, you can use sunscreens and sunblock. They block the Uv rays and prevent the hair from oxidizing.

Here are some of the best sunscreen and sunblock for hair:

4. Hair Nourishment

Nourishing your hair with hot oils will provide essential nutrients to your hair. Also, massaging the scalp with oils improves circulation and strengthens the hair. 

5. Protection during swimming

Wear a swimming cap. It protects the hair from chlorine and seawater. Protection from chlorine is a must as chlorine has a bleaching effect on the hair, which blondes out the hair.

Also, rinse your hair immediately after swimming.

6. Choose hair Products Wisely

Avoid harsh chemical hair products. Instead, use herbal shampoo and conditioner.

7. Proper diet and nutrition

There are various foods that increase melanin production. Here are some listed below:

• Iron-rich food: Green vegetables, dark chocolate, nuts, pumpkin seeds, cashew nuts
• Catalase-rich food: Onions, radishes, broccoli, cucumber, grapes, peaches, sprouts, lentils
• Copper-rich food: Green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, chickpeas, dark chocolate, avocado, sweet potatoes

What to do if my black hair turns blonde?

Blonding of the hair is all-natural. While applying the preventive measures, we can protect blonding to some extent but never fully. So the key is to embrace the newness. 

Here are some of the things that you can do if your hair turns blonde:

• Embrace it: Blonde hair is itself a rare hair color. So, style your naturally gifted hair color. 
• Dyeing: You can always go to your natural hair color by dyeing your hair.
• Care for your hair: Caring for your hair is equally important. Proper Maintainance will stop further blonding and promotes healthy growth of the hair.

Conclusion:

Black hair turning blonde naturally has its own reasons. The main remains to be the gene that a person constitutes. While chemical blonding is in fashion these days, getting naturally blonde hair is nature’s gift. So embrace the newness that mother nature gifted you.