Viral Trend of Gray Hair Injection to Make Hair Black Again. Is It Safe?

JAKARTA - The appearance of gray hair at a young age can happen to some people. This condition often makes people feel insecure, so they try to dye their hair to return it to its natural black color.

However, in China, a new, rather extreme trend has emerged: gray hair injections, which claim to restore natural hair color with a drug injection.

As reported by Oddity Central, on Monday, November 10, 2025, this trend went viral on Chinese social media after artist Guo Tong shared her experience with gray hair injections on the Chinese social media platform Douyin.

In her video, Guo Tong said she began undergoing gray hair injections in June. She hoped her gray hair would return to its former blackness.

However, a month later, she admitted she hadn't seen significant results and said her doctor recommended continuing the injection therapy for three to six months.

"I felt a little sore after the first injection. Gray hair doesn't grow in a day, so the results aren't instant. The doctor said it takes three to six months," Guo Tong explained.

Guo Tong underwent the treatment at Shanghai Yueyang Hospital. The injections are inspired by traditional Chinese medicine and use a substance called adenosylcobalamin, an analogue of vitamin B12.

The injections are administered regularly once a week for several months. This is intended to stimulate the formation of melanin, the pigment that gives hair its color.

However, experts advise against this trend. Kong Yulong, a dermatologist at Nanjing Jiangbei Hospital, explained that while vitamin B12 is beneficial for nerves and blood circulation, there is no strong scientific evidence that these injections can restore hair color.

Kong Yulong also said that the injections may be effective if the body is deficient in vitamin B12. However, if the body is not deficient in vitamin B12, the injections are ineffective.

"If the body is deficient in vitamin B12, there may be an effect. But if there is no deficiency, these injections are almost useless," Kong Yulong emphasized.

Nevertheless, the gray hair injection trend continues to attract attention in China. Many are curious and hope that the injection method can provide a permanent solution to the problem of gray hair, without the hassle of dyeing it every time.