A scientist in Thailand believes he may have found the answer to premature balding, hair loss and those early grey locks.

Khun Somwongse Trakoonrung, the director of the National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology's (Biotec) DNA laboratory in Thailand, said he had developed a new shampoo and conditioner that could prevent hair loss and premature balding while at the same time darkening the hair.

The secret of the new shampoo and hair conditioner's "restorative'' powers is the presence of an active agent derived from the high-quality aromatic Thai rice strain named "Khao Hom Nil".

The scientist further said that he had come up with the idea of developing this new shampoo and hair conditioner, after discovering that "Khao Hom Nil", a purple colored aromatic Thai rice developed by a team of Thailand's Biotec scientists, contained a high volume of active anthocyanin pigments.

Somwongse Trakoonrung said that normally the pigments in this Thai rice were responsible for the natural blue, purple and red colours of the Khao Hom Nil rice plants.

Somwongse also said that the anthoocyanin pigments found in Thailand's Khao Hom Nil rice could turn white hair dark while the natural extract further stimulated the blood circulation at the roots of the hair, meaning it could prevent hair loss and premature balding.

"Along with the anthocyanin pigments, the Khao Hom Nil rice also contains plenty of iron, protein, vitamin B and many other active elements to combat hair loss, the Thai researcher said.

After testing the new shampoo and hair conditioner on local volunteers in Thailand, Somwongse said he was convinced it could be used as an alternative natural healthcare product to combat premature balding and hair loss.