Graying hair is a natural process that's influenced by aging, genetic factors, nutritional deficiencies, and medical conditions.
Often people think grey hair will inevitably make them look old, but, as Paul Falltrick, Matrix Global Design Team Member points out, this isn't necessarily the case. "Grey shades can be stereotyped as ageing, but a clean-looking grey is stunning" he says.
Many experts are wondering why: "Women can do so much to keep their faces and bodies looking young--there's no need to think gray hair will necessarily make you look older," says Rita Hazan, owner of the eponymous salon in New York City.
It's a genetic thing, rather than an age thing, but grey hair is ageing. It drains all the colour from your face, and softening that with creamy, honey tones is always going to be more flattering.”
Typically, white people start going gray in their mid-30s, Asians in their late 30s, and African-Americans in their mid-40s. Half of all people have a significant amount of gray hair by the time they turn 50.
Does going gray earlier mean I'm aging more quickly? Silvery strands are one of the more conspicuous signs of aging. That said, getting gray hair doesn't necessarily mean that you're closer to the end of your life span than anyone else your age.
Kraleti doesn't recommend plucking or pulling the hairs out. “If there is a gray hair you must get rid of, very carefully cut it off. Plucking can traumatize the hair follicle, and repeated trauma to any follicle can cause infection, scar formation or possibly lead to bald patches.”
As a general rule, Mike Liang, advanced colorist at Julien Farel Restore Salon & Spa in New York suggests going gray when you reach 80 percent non-pigmented or white hair. If your hair starts to feel increasingly dry, brittle, or damaged or you experience scalp irritation, it might be time to ditch the dye.
Sometimes, stress, nutritional deficiencies, and other lifestyle factors can halt melanin production. Once these issues are reversed, melanin may be restored. In most cases though, the age at which you start seeing grays — and the extent of them — are controlled by your genes.
Camouflage roots. To avoid a contrast between graying roots and dyed hair, add highlights and lowlights (no more than two shades darker, within your natural color family), which will blend gray. Or cover up roots with a temporary concealer, which lasts until you shampoo.
This is when you notice hair appearing to turn grey, when there is a mix of dark colored and grey or white hair. As the person grows older and the body's ability to produce melanin begins to slow down, all the hair in the body turns grey or white and this when you begin to see all white hair.
Grey hair is healthier than artificially colored hair, easier to manage, and not to mention more affordable (for more tips on how to manage your hair see "Hair's Dirty (Half) Dozen").
If your hair is too light—think platinum blonde—it can look white or silver at first glance. When in doubt, go a shade or two darker to avoid looking washed out. Overly orangey or reddish undertones in your hair color can be aging and may make your color look damaged.
One thing to watch out for, though: The texture of your gray hair is probably not the same as the texture of your former color, so you'll need to care for it in a different way. Many grays are wiry and dry, yet can look youthful, shiny and sleek if you give them the proper attention.
Looking years younger comes painlessly by choosing the most flattering hair color. First, it's time to leave monotone color at the salon door and embrace warm highlights. Because no matter your hair color—blonde, brown, red, or gray—you're going to look older if it lacks dimension.
2. And your hair might feel healthier. While hair dyes and techniques have come a long way since their follicle-frying beginnings, they do still leave some damage. Taking a hiatus from color will help your hair return to its previous state--especially as dyed ends get chopped off.
To keep it looking a vibrant and shiny gray, use a color depositing shampoo or gloss occasionally. Many of these products have a purple tint and should be used once every week or two. Protect your hair from the sun and avoid any shampoos or hair products that have a gold or yellow tint to them.
It is true that colouring your hair makes it dull and more vulnerable to breakage and loss but, it does not cause premature greying. It is also a myth that dyeing your hair will lead to an increase in the number of white hair.
Some people develop their first strands of gray or white hair in their 30s or 40s, whereas others develop white strands in their 20s or teenage years.
Genetics
If you notice white hair at an early age, it's likely that your parents or grandparents also had graying or white hair at an early age. You can't change genetics. But if you don't like the way your gray hair looks, you can always color your hair.
Drink six ounces of fresh amla juice every day or massage your hair with amla oil one time each week. Amla is also known as Indian gooseberry. Black sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum). Two to three times a week, eat a tablespoon of black sesame seeds to slow down and possibly reverse the graying process.
For men having white hair was a sign of distinction, hinted at nobility, and was even a sign of virility. It couldn't have been more different for women. It was a sign of their deterioration with age, and the end of their fertility.
"Your hair follicles have pigment cells that make melanin. Melanin is a chemical that gives your hair its color. As you age, these cells start to die. When there is a lack of pigment, new hair strands grow lighter and eventually turn to shades of gray, silver, and eventually white," Friese explains.
It can be a shock to find your first gray hairs on your head, especially if you're only in your 20s. But women's expert Dr. Kirtly Parker Jones says a few gray hairs is perfectly normal, even for women in their late 20s and early 30s. However, stress, genetics and other factors can play a role.