Its appearance — whether it looks, gray, white or silver — depends on how much natural color, or pigment, remains, experts say. Hair that has lost all its color typically appears white. Studies have identified a number of factors that also may speed up gray hair, including smoking, diet, stress and genetics.
When a human gets older, cells all around will die more quickly. This means that there will be less pigment cells to stain the hair. The result is that the hair becomes colorless, or grey/white.
"The three most common causes for white hair at a young age are genetics, illness and stress. Genetic hair conditions such as poliosis or vitiligo can result in hair growing white from birth, whilst periods of high emotional/psychological stress can also cause premature greying," says Eleonore.
The onset of gray hair is primarily determined by genetics, but several factors contribute to why some people may never experience it or do so much later in life: Genetics: The most significant factor. If your parents or grandparents had little to no gray hair as they aged, you might inherit that trait.
The color of greying hair depends on the amount of melanin and the structure of the hair. Grey hair results from a mix of pigmented and non-pigmented (white) hairs, while white hair occurs when there is no melanin at all. The variation can be influenced by genetics, age, and environmental factors.
Grey or white hair is not caused by a true grey or white pigment, but is due to a lack of pigmentation and melanin. The clear hairs appear as grey or white because of the way light is reflected from the hairs.
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.
Although this trend was sta- tistically significant, its impact on the population was lim- ited as the percentage of men 50 years and older with no gray hair was small: 50-59 yrs old: 6%, 60-69 yrs old: 2%, 70-79 yrs old: 1% (1,3).
Melanin is what gives your hair (and skin) its natural color. People of African descent, Thai, and Chinese people, go grey more slowly.
If the cause of greying is genetic, it is not possible to reverse the process, no matter what some marketers on the internet claim. In case of nutritional deficiencies and underlying medical conditions, you can gradually slow down or even reverse the process.
Although the primary cause of premature hair graying (PHG) is considered to be genetic, certain environmental factors also play a role. Trace element deficiencies such as Vitamin B12, Vitamin D3, and calcium may also be associated with PHG.
Genetic factors, stress, hair dyes, and other factors may contribute. The human body has millions of hair follicles or small sacs lining the skin. The follicles generate hair and color or pigment cells that contain melanin. Over time, hair follicles lose pigment cells, resulting in white hair color.
What Causes White Hair? "White hair is an abnormally light-colored strand of hair caused by a loss of pigment or melanin in the hair follicle," he said. "This condition is called leukotrichia and it usually happens when someone goes through extreme stress or illness that affects their production of melanin."
In some individuals, the change in color of pubic hair may occur around the age of fifty, but it can happen earlier or later, depending on individual genetic predispositions and lifestyle factors.
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.
The bottom line. When and how thoroughly your hair turns gray is influenced mostly by the genes you inherit from your parents. Though stress may play a role in the process, it would be more helpful to look to past generations rather than your current stress levels to help you predict when or if you'll go gray.
Nutrient Deficiencies: Excessive caffeine consumption may lead to an imbalance of essential nutrients, including vitamins and minerals. These deficiencies can impact hair health, potentially causing graying or other issues.
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.
Generally, people start seeing grey hairs appear around their forties and fifties, but some can experience greying as early as their twenties or thirties. Unfortunately, it is all down to genetics, so there's no way to predict when grey or white eyebrows will appear.
The study revealed that women found gray hair to be less attractive than snowy white hair. Many women appreciate white hair, but when asked about their own gray hair, they had extremely negative perceptions of it. The women also had very strict opinions on how older women should style their hair.
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.
That said, certain conditions may temporarily restore pigmentation. For example, if greying is caused by a vitamin deficiency, stress, or an underlying medical condition, addressing these issues may slow or even partially reverse greying. However, the complete reversal of naturally aged hair remains a challenge.
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.
No, most experts agree that pulling out gray hair is an impulse best avoided. Though plucking white hairs may seem like a quick and easy solution to your haircare woes, repeated plucking can damage the hair follicle and potentially cause the hair to thin.