INTRODUCTION
Greying of hair, also called canities or achromotrichia, is part of the natural aging process. It has been reported that worldwide, 74% of men and women between the ages of 45 and 65 have some grey hair.1 Greying typically begins in the mid-30s for Caucasians, the late 30s for Asians, and the mid-40s for Africans.2-3 The molecular mechanisms behind hair greying are complex and involve several factors, including dietary deficiencies, melanin production, oxidative stress, genetics, DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and hormonal changes.4-5 Unlike skin, where melanin production is constant, the production of pigment in hair halts in the catagen p,hase and it is completely absent in the telogen phase.5-6 studies have observed in both ex vivo and human models that reduction of oxidative stress in the hair follicle can result in repigmentation.7
Currently, there is no treatment that has been shown in a clinical trial to slow the development or repigment grey hair.8 Many people, especially women, dye their hair at home or at a salon to mask grey hair. Hair coloring remains the most popular cosmetic approach to manage grey hair.5 According to a survey conducted by the American Academy of Dermatology in 2022, 75% of women and 12% of men in the United States reported using hair dye products, with a significant portion opting for at-home application, and this hair color market is forecasted to grow to USD 12.7 billion by the year 2033.9 There have been concerns about the safety of hair dyes and some studies show that use of dyes is associated with a higher incidence of cancer.10-11 The hair care products investigated in this research study are marketed products: To The Root® serum and Not Today, Grey supplement. These marketed products are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and botanical extracts along with unique proprietary blends (proprietary blend in supplement and patented Mela-9® Complex in serum), carefully selected to deliver a multi-pronged approach to slow the progression of grey hair and aid in repigmentation of grey hair. Vitamins B6 (pyridoxine) and B9 (folate) are essential for maintaining a healthy body,12 vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) assists with healthy cell turnover and reduced inflammation,13 and selenium is an antioxidant beneficial for reducing free radicals in the body.14 The test products also contain vitamin B12 and Polygonum multiflorum (Fo-Ti) that protect melanocytes from oxidative stress and assist with melanin production.15-16 Other ingredients include vitamin D and copper, which have been reported to protect hair from premature greying.17
The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a combination of marketed hair care products (serum + topical) vs placebo on slowing the progression of grey hair and aiding its repigmentation. To our knowledge, this is the first randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial on the novel use of a combination of an oral supplement and a topical serum on grey hair.
Currently, there is no treatment that has been shown in a clinical trial to slow the development or repigment grey hair.8 Many people, especially women, dye their hair at home or at a salon to mask grey hair. Hair coloring remains the most popular cosmetic approach to manage grey hair.5 According to a survey conducted by the American Academy of Dermatology in 2022, 75% of women and 12% of men in the United States reported using hair dye products, with a significant portion opting for at-home application, and this hair color market is forecasted to grow to USD 12.7 billion by the year 2033.9 There have been concerns about the safety of hair dyes and some studies show that use of dyes is associated with a higher incidence of cancer.10-11 The hair care products investigated in this research study are marketed products: To The Root® serum and Not Today, Grey supplement. These marketed products are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and botanical extracts along with unique proprietary blends (proprietary blend in supplement and patented Mela-9® Complex in serum), carefully selected to deliver a multi-pronged approach to slow the progression of grey hair and aid in repigmentation of grey hair. Vitamins B6 (pyridoxine) and B9 (folate) are essential for maintaining a healthy body,12 vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) assists with healthy cell turnover and reduced inflammation,13 and selenium is an antioxidant beneficial for reducing free radicals in the body.14 The test products also contain vitamin B12 and Polygonum multiflorum (Fo-Ti) that protect melanocytes from oxidative stress and assist with melanin production.15-16 Other ingredients include vitamin D and copper, which have been reported to protect hair from premature greying.17
The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a combination of marketed hair care products (serum + topical) vs placebo on slowing the progression of grey hair and aiding its repigmentation. To our knowledge, this is the first randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial on the novel use of a combination of an oral supplement and a topical serum on grey hair.
