The Reason Why Hair Turns Gray and Other Questions Answered

Unless you dye it, your hair will ultimately lose its color, probably in your 30s or 40s. Though graying is standard, many individuals fear it because of societal perceptions of aging. Here's what scientists know about how and why people's hair turn gray.

What causes the natural color of hair?

Melanin, the brown/black or yellow/red pigment that colors skin and eyes, determines your hair color. The amount and mixture of melanin, like paint, affects your final hair color as you age.

What causes gray hair?

Gray hair is really hair with less pigment, whereas white hair is devoid of it. This is partly due to a steady decrease in the number of stem cells that develop into melanin-producing cells. Scientists are baffled as to why. Cells can wear out, become injured, or lose the support systems that keep them running. Genes have a role as well, as they help influence melanin production.

What can be done to delay graying?

Keep your hair healthy by not exposing it to harsh chemicals or the sun, and eat a diet rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and nutrients.

Can gray hair be changed back to its original color?

Laser treatments and chemical processes such as dyeing and bleaching can temporarily darken gray hair, but it has its drawbacks. Dyeing requires time and repeated touch-ups. Bleaching can damage hair, and lasers also have risks.

Is hair color related to other physical traits?

Hairs that are white or gray are more sensitive to sunburn and are more likely to develop skin cancer. White hair also evolved to help mammals hide in snowy habitats. Because it reflects light, white hair makes it harder for predators to spot an animal when the hair is covered in snow.

Some think gray hair turns white partly because the follicles shrink, so fewer pigments reach the surface. It's also true that hair grows more slowly than when you were younger, so it takes longer for the follicles to replenish melanin.

Other traits linked to graying include baldness and tooth loss, but the evidence for these is less clear.

Does Stress Make Hair Gray Faster?

Several studies in the last decade have suggested that stress contributes to gray hair. One study of gray-haired people in 2009 found that a higher proportion of those who reported having "a great deal of stress" also reported having gray hair. Other studies have found the same results in women. Stress is also a common trigger for stress-related hair loss and hair loss in mice.

The researchers found that men with high levels of the stress hormone cortisol had 30 percent less hair pigmentation than men with low levels. The most marked differences occurred between those with high and low-stress hormone levels in women.

Conclusion

The best way to treat gray hair is to work with your body to restore balance. Rejuvenate the hair follicles with a combination of Biotin, MSM, and Zinc. These vitamins and minerals are essential for healthy hair.

Plant-based antioxidants like Green Tea, grape seed extract, and resveratrol will help stop the damage caused by free radicals. A little coconut oil or other natural oil will help restore suppleness to your hair, skin, and nails.

Natural anti-inflammatory herbs like turmeric and ginger will help maintain the integrity and health of your hair follicles and roots.

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