How Does Hair Turn Grey?

Biology

To understand how hair turns grey, you have to understand how hair is formed. Cells in the hair follicle, called keratinocytes, build the hairs out of protein. Then other cells called melanocytes add melanin, or pigment, to the hair to give it its color. Hair turns grey due to a decrease in the amount of pigment in it.

Aging

As we age, melanocytes start making less pigment so there is less of it to use when forming your hair. As the melanine declines, the hair comes in grey. When your cells have run out of pigment altogether your hair will go white. At this point, it becomes very hard to dye your hair since there's nothing for the color to stick to. So you better learn to embrace it at least by this point.

Heredity

This is by far the biggest factor as far as grey hair goes. If your parents went grey early, it's likely you will, too. Some people have been known to go grey as early as their late teens, and there have even been cases of children getting grey hair. Though most won't go completely grey until well into adulthood, it's not always the case.

Nutrition Problems

A B12 deficiency, anemia or a thyroid problem can cause your hair to go grey before its time. If your body doesn't have the nutrients your hair needs to form properly, this will affect its strength and appearance. This is the only cause of greying that can be combated with vitamins or supplements.

Vitiligo

This is a skin condition that can cause you to lose melanocytes. Of course, fewer melanocytes available to produce melanin means there's less available to end up in your hair. The disease also presents itself in light patches on your skin, since it requires melanin, too.

Smoking

Since smoking can cause you to start aging prematurely due to the extra stress on your immune system, it can jump-start the biological process of grey hair production.

Resources

• Advice on dealing with going grey