Why Does Hair Turn Gray or White As People Age?
As we age, our body loses mass, skin loses elasticity and hair loses its color. Whether or not your hair will go gray---and when and how gray it will get---has much to do with your genetic coding. Does this Spark an idea?
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Melanin
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Melanin is the chemical that produces color in the skin. Melanin cells are located in the hair follicle and produce brown, yellow or red pigments and many variations.
Aging
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Melanin cells begin to die as we get older. With less pigment in the follicle, the hair shaft begins to grow out with less and less color, in shades of gray, silver or white.
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Timing
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You will probably begin going gray around the same time your parents did, as hair color and much of aging in general depends on your genetics. Some people go gray in their teens and 20s.
Myths
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Stress has more influence on hair loss than on graying hair. According to KidsHealth.org, researchers don't believe that trauma or stress turn hair white within a short time span.
Hair products
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Anti-gray products cover gray roots, color over the gray, or enhance the silver and gray hues for more even and consistent tones.
Famous Silverbacks
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Celebrities have made gray look good on the silver screen. Meryl Streep played chic, white-haired Miranda Priestly in "The Devil Wears Prada," while comedian Steve Martin has sported white hair for much of his career.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Eric Jusino
