What Happens When One Plucks a Gray Hair?

Natural Gray Hair

Gray hair is something everyone experiences in life, but not all gray hair appears with old age. Some individuals as young as age 20 experience premature graying, while others may not experience their first gray hairs until their mid to late 40s.

Expert Insight

Natural Transparent Hair

Biologically speaking, the natural pigmentation procedure of hair is the same for every human being. Hair follicles contain melanocytes, which are cells responsible for generating melanin. Melanin categorizes the level and type of pigmentation or color of hair. Everyone's hair is naturally white or clear. The more melanin that's found within hair follicles, the darker the hair color. As we age, hair follicles produce fewer melanocytes, and hair returns to its natural transparent color.

Significance

Plucking Gray Hairs

The old wives' tale of plucking a single grey hair and growing two in its place is false. Plucking out a gray hair means that a hair has been removed and will grow back. The hair will grow back gray because the melanin of that particular hair follicle has already decreased.

Misconceptions

Gray Hair is Fashion

Because gray hair is related to decreased melanocytes and melanin production, dyeing it can be more difficult, in comparison with dyeing hair with higher levels of melanin. Gray hair is the new black in modern hair fashion--even Lady Gaga and other celebs have fashionably turned silver.

References

• Kids Health: Why Does Hair Turn Gray?
• Disabled World: What Causes Gray Hair?
• Hair Finder: Pulling Gray Hairs