Desperate with that fast-turning-gray mop of hair on your head? Want to look younger, but are afraid of using all those chemicals on your precious hair? Don't be - there's a perfectly natural, herbal way out. Cure for hair loss; gray hair treatment or even dandruff cure is fast finding their solution in the ancient and traditional land that is India. Herbal products derived from various herbs are increasingly popular amongst the people to prevent gray hair.

Before going into details, it will be advantageous to understand as to how do hair turn gray in the first place.

Each hair on our head is made of two parts - a shaft which is the colored part growing out of the scalp; and the root, or the bottom portion of the hair which has the growth cells. The roots keep the hair intact and anchored to the scalp preventing hair loss. Under the scalp, the root of the hair is covered by a thick layer of tissue called the hair follicles. Hair follicles contain pigment cells called melanocytes, which continuously produce a chemical called melanin, which in turn is responsible for giving natural color to the hair. The dark or light color of hair of an individual depends upon the melanin content of his/her hair.

Hair follicles gradually die with age, or some other problems like genes or vitamin deficiencies, leading to reduction in number of hair follicles and melanin pigment. Fewer pigment cells in a hair follicle mean that a strand of hair will become a more transparent color - like gray, silver, or white. Continuous loss of hair follicles leads to complete graying of hair.

Though there are no concrete proofs to suggest any hair loss remedy or gray hair treatment, it is widely believed that herbal products are very effective in restricting graying of hair by increasing the life of hair follicles and promoting melanocytes to secrete melanin for a longer duration.

In India, herbal products are derived from plants which are found at specific places and have been used by the locals as home made hair products to prevent gray hair. Surprisingly, these products have proved to be far more beneficial in gray hair treatment than the numerous chemical related products crowding the market today. Also, they are more economical with absolutely no side effects. These herbal products are antifungal in nature and completely eliminate dandruff and even psoriasis. They penetrate the cuticle and fill it out so that the hair never gets frizzy.

Brahmi, a north Indian herb for hair grows in the Brahmi plateau some 14000 feet above sea level. It takes five years for the herb to mature and is known to promote hair growth and retain hair follicles and pigment cells. It also rejuvenates the scalp's natural oil production capabilities, thus preventing premature graying of hair.

Shikakai, another powerful herb for hair is found in south India and is also termed as the south Brahmi. It contains 100 times more vitamin C than a grapefruit. It detoxifies the blood in the scalp and stimulates hair growth while enriching the thickness of the hair. Also, it contains numerous anti-oxidants like Vitamin A, D, E and K that encourage healthy hair growth and prevent graying of hair.

The naturopathy doctors also advise a herb called Bringaraja or "the king of hair" to prevent gray hair. It is taken by mouth to strengthen the liver and kidneys and overall, to improve the blood circulation in the hair. It also forms part of the ayurvedic tonics which are applied to the scalp to help in increasing blood circulation in the scalp.

Opt for herbal products for gray hair treatment after seeking an advice from your hair loss doctor or dermatologist, and check graying of hair in a complete manner. The results may be slow and demand a lot of patience, but are long lasting with no side effects.