The Wellness Mama Podcast Addressing the Root Causes of Gray Hair Naturally With Faraz Khan
Nov 18, 2025
Faraz Khan, an entrepreneur and hair-health expert, dives into the fascinating world of gray hair. He explains how only 20-25% of graying is genetic, with lifestyle factors like stress and pollution playing significant roles. Hydrogen peroxide’s impact on pigmentation and the surprising links to education and height are revealed. Faraz shares effective interventions to slow or even reverse graying, emphasizing the importance of antioxidants and clean beauty products. His mission is fueled by personal experience, and he offers a discounted solution for those looking to maintain their natural hair color.
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Many Causes Beyond Genetics
- Premature graying has many controllable risk factors beyond genetics, including alcohol, smoking, pollution, chronic disease, stress, and certain lifestyle traits.
- Genetics control about 20–25% of graying, so interventions can meaningfully delay graying for many people.
Hydrogen Peroxide Is Central
- Hydrogen peroxide buildup in hair follicle cells damages pigment-producing cells and is the primary mechanism driving graying.
- Antioxidant systems like glutathione and catalase normally convert hydrogen peroxide into harmless water, but decline with age.
Stress Can Permanently Deplete Pigment Stem Cells
- Severe stress can trigger norepinephrine release that forces melanocyte stem cells to differentiate, depleting the stem cell pool.
- Losing that stem cell niche means future hair cycles produce no pigment and cause permanent graying.