At what age do beards turn grey?

Author: Juwan Lakin PhD  |  Last update: Sunday, July 20, 2025

Most guys start to sprout gray hairs in their 30's, though some won't start to go gray until their late 40's. It's a genetic crapshoot, so don't feel bad if you happen to notice your first gray hairs even earlier - like in your 20's. It's not just the hair on you head though. Your facial hair slowly turns gray too.

What age does a beard turn gray?

Men can start having a grey beard in their 20s but most start in their 30s or 40s. The most common reason why beards are turning grey is genetics. After a certain number of years, your genes give directions to your body to stop producing melanin in your hair follicles – the substance that gives skin and hair colour.

What age do most men start greying?

The average man begins to see grey hairs at the age of 35, and by 50 about half of men are mostly grey (the timing is usually dictated by genetics more than stress or diet).

Why do men's beards turn grey first?

The answer is simple, the beard hair grows faster. It seems strange, but going grey is the result of a depletion of pigments in your hair follicles. Since the hair on your face grows much faster than that on your head, the follicles that hold color are depleted much faster.

How can I stop my beard from going grey?

Start with those three essentials I stated earlier: wash, moisturize, and brush. Grey hairs tend to be more delicate and dryer, as older skin produces less oil, so keep that in mind when selecting products. Wash your beard with the most gentle option, like a PH balanced Beard shampoo or a gentle beard bar.

Why Our Beards Go Gray at an Early Age

Can vitamin B12 stop gray hair?

Premature graying may be reversed with vitamin B12 supplementation only if vitamin B12 deficiency is the cause. If you are graying due to other factors, such as genetics, zinc deficiency, and medications, your gray hair cannot be reversed.

Is a grey beard attractive?

There's undeniable allure in rocking a naturally gray beard. It exudes a sense of maturity, wisdom, and charisma that only comes with time. Sporting your gray can be a bold statement of confidence and authenticity, showing the world that you're comfortable in your skin — or in this case, your facial hair.

Do gray beards make men look older?

Plenty of other factors will affect the way your beard (and age) is perceived, here are a few for example… Beard Color: Noticeably, the man with grey in his beard looks far older than the same man with a fully-colored beard. This is obvious, as the connotations of a grey beard come with age.

Does stress cause grey hair?

Yes. Stress has been shown to speed up signs of aging — including gray hair. When you're stressed, your body has a fight-or-flight response and releases a hormone called norepinephrine. This causes the melanocytes — the cells that produce melanin — to move out of your hair follicles.

Should you shave a grey beard?

Because there are so many shades and phases of gray in a beard, they can be featured through regular cleaning, grooming, trimming and shaping. When in doubt, trimming and tightening your beard shorter may help more than developing its length. A neat gray beard may even help you appear younger.

What age do most men go bald?

Age: The chances of developing male pattern baldness increase with age. About 25% of men see the first signs of hair loss before age 21. By age 50, half experience hair loss, and about 70% will lose hair as they get older. Hormones: Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a type of androgen.

Can a 70 year old not have grey hair?

We have previously published findings that, after the age of 50, humans are seldom with- out gray hair. At this age, around 50% of men and 30% of women are moderately or totally gray haired.

What nationality does not get gray hair?

Melanin is what gives your hair (and skin) its natural color. People of African descent, Thai, and Chinese people, go grey more slowly.

Is grey beard normal at 35?

I saw my first grey beard hair around age 27 but the average age for men to go grey is between 30 and 40. Many of my clients worry about going grey because it makes them look older than they feel.

How to make a grey beard look good?

Keep Your Beard Hydrated: Never forget to follow your wash with a natural face moisturizer for men. Conditioning is very important for beards, especially for gray beards. This is because gray hair grows thicker and quicker than your natural-colored hair.

Does sugar cause grey hair?

The food you intake:

Those who consume processed foods, cold beverages, and a great deal of salt and sugar increase their risk of free radical production, which can cause their hair to become grey. Ensure you take a balanced diet to prevent grey hair and preserve the health of your hair.

What is the average age to go grey?

The average age of onset of hair graying appears to be mid- to late forties; however, this varies with race, with the average age for Caucasians being mid-thirties, that for Asians being late thirties, and that for Africans being mid-forties.

Can grey hair turn black again?

It has long been thought that reversal of gray hair on a large scale is rare. However, a recent study reported that individual gray hair darkening is a common phenomenon, suggesting the possibility of large-scale reversal of gray hair.

Can lack of sleep cause grey hair?

Oxidative Stress: Sleep deficiency can lead to increased oxidative stress in the body, which, in turn, can damage melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing melanin. This damage can expedite the greying process.

Does a long beard age you?

Long beards are epic, but in terms of aging, they tend to give the impression of someone who's much older than they really are. If you want your beard to look a little more youthful, keep it short. This doesn't mean you have to opt for a stubble beard, but you should aim to keep it in the short to medium range.

At what age do you look older?

Most people begin to notice a shift in the appearance of their face around their 40's and 50's, with some also noticing a change in their 30's. But with these physical changes brought on by aging also comes a change in the appearance of our face - Luckily, there is treatment available.

What age do men's beards go grey?

Most guys start to sprout gray hairs in their 30's, though some won't start to go gray until their late 40's. It's a genetic crapshoot, so don't feel bad if you happen to notice your first gray hairs even earlier - like in your 20's. It's not just the hair on you head though. Your facial hair slowly turns gray too.

What does a gray beard symbolize?

In the world of beards, gray is a sign of character, experience, and maturity. It's a testament to the journey of life. So, don't be discouraged when you spot those first gray hairs; embrace them with pride. With the right care and grooming routine, your gray beard can be as impressive as any other.

Do girls like grey hair on guys?

So do women like grey hair on a man? Most women admit that they love grey hair. Also, grey hair is trendy, and when worn right it can create sophistication that other colors cannot.

Is a grey beard aging?

Currently, there is no consensus on the issue whether aging is programmed or not. The hypothesis presented in this article indicates that aging (at least graying of male hairs) is programmed. This hypothesis is supported by the symmetry of the graying of male beard hairs.

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