Contents
- Why does hair turn white?
- Are there anyone particularly prone to gray hair?
- Is there anything we can do to prevent gray hair?
- Is white hair caused by stress?
- Can white hair turn black?
- Is white hair unhealthy?
- Can white hair be dyed?
White hair and gray hair are not the same thing. Gray hair contains a small amount of melanin, while white hair has none. They also differ in texture, says hairstylist and colorist Lisa Shepherd: “Gray hair can be slick and shiny, while white hair tends to be fluffier and curlier.” But although we know what gray hair is, its cause and timing may be unclear.
Why does hair turn white?
Premature graying of hair is mostly due to genetic reasons that determine how many pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) we have. “At the end of each hair cycle, our melanocytes are replaced by a limited number of stem cells, and after many hair cycles these can become depleted, leaving the follicles depleted of pigment production,” explains MIT Eleanore Richardson, Consultant Trichologist at the Fulham Scalp and Hair Clinic.
However, our lifestyle and environment can also contribute to this change. Such external influences can cause dysfunction of our melanocytes, accelerating the inevitable graying process. In practice, this “means inflammatory changes in the body (high alcohol intake or smoking), psycho-emotional stress, exposure to UV light, pollution, and autoimmune diseases such as vitiligo or alopecia areata,” says Eleonore.
Another factor is the hormones in our body. Since estrogen and progesterone hormones in our body affect melanin, color differences may occur with changes in hormone ratios.
However, we must remember that white hair is completely normal. It is perfectly normal for our hair to become a part of the aging process, just like everything else in our body, over the years.
According to experts, people usually experience their first gray hair in their early 30s. By the age of 50, on average, more than half of our hair turns white (without pigment). Still, graying of hair can begin as early as 18 or much later.
“It takes an average of 11 hair cycles for hair to start turning gray, with each hair cycle taking about 3 years, so most people can expect to see some gray hair appearing by the time they reach the age of 33,” Eleonore says.
Are there anyone particularly prone to gray hair?
“Genetics will be the biggest determinant of whether you are more likely to go gray early or more likely to go grey,” says Eleonore. So you can pay attention to your immediate family. If your parents started graying at a young age, the same is likely true for you.
Is there anything we can do to prevent gray hair?
Unfortunately, there isn’t much we can do to directly prevent gray hair. However, as Eleonore points out, it is possible to “improve the health of our melanocytes so that they are less affected by oxidative stress”: “Less alcohol, cigarettes and high-sugar foods can help. Managing the emotional and psychological stress we encounter and endure on a daily basis is also important, but undoubtedly much more difficult.”
Is white hair caused by stress?
Eleonore “The three most common causes of gray hair at a young age are genetics, disease and stress. “Genetic hair conditions such as polio or vitiligo can cause hair to turn gray from birth, and periods of high emotional/psychological stress can also cause premature graying,” he says.
Additionally, pernicious anemia and thyroid disorders can also cause premature graying. Stress, illness and improper diet can deplete your body of vitamin B, and some studies show that vitamin B deficiency can cause premature graying of hair.
Can white hair turn black?
“It’s very rare for this to happen, it can happen if someone identifies a hormonal issue that could be causing gray hair, such as a B12 deficiency, and then corrects it, but generally it doesn’t happen,” says hairstylist Luke Benson.
Is white hair unhealthy?
Luke Benson emphasizes that this is not true: “The strength of the hair can still be good and remain strong, simply because of hormonal changes or lack of pigment in the follicles.”
Do not consider the change in tissue as a “sign of being unhealthy”. This may require a change in products, such as adding more moisturizing products to your regimen or buffing products to add shine.
Can white hair be dyed?
It’s definitely possible to dye gray hair, and you can even make it look even better by layering it with creamy tones and carefully applied highlights.
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