L’Oreal claims it could turn grey hair back to it’s original colour

October 26, 2009 by Baby Chums
Filed under: News, Product News

going_grey L’Oreal, the world’s largest cosmetics and beauty company, claims it could halt and potentially reverse going grey.

Dye could become a denizen of the past as hair is restored to it’s natural and younger colour and, scientists believe, will be a product available as an oral pill backed up by haircare products.

According to the experts at Centre Charles Zviak, L’Oreal’s research and development HQ, it is science and by no means fiction. Scientists working there have identified a pair of genes that may play a key role in turning hair grey. If the company’s plans come good, going grey will one day be a thing of the past and available within a decade.

Patricia Pineau, L’Oreal’s Research Communications Director, said: “Hair is an enigma,

“It is a fibre, a material with physical properties. It is also a living organ that grows, greys and falls out. How can we fight this? Do we need a physical approach or a biological approach?”

L’Oreal has put it’s money where it’s mouth is, putting some £581 million last year into research.

Hair, like skin, contains melanocytes, pigment cells that give it colour.

When hair goes grey, there is a progressive disappearance of the melanocytes from the hair. Melanocytes, survive however, even when somebody’s hair has turned grey. While there are still melanocytes in the hair, there is still hope that it could be re-pigmented.

Dr Bruno Bernard said while much more work is needed the findings could lead to new treatments.

“If we can block this progressive decrease, we could block the whitening process,”