Why is my hair turning grey at the ends?

Author: Mr. Braulio Ankunding Jr.  |  Last update: Sunday, May 18, 2025

Your hair follicles produce less color as they age, so when hair goes through its natural cycle of dying and being regenerated, it's more likely to grow in as gray beginning after age 35. Genetics can play a role in when this starts.

Why does hair turn gray at the ends?

Science of Grays

As you age, these cells start to die. Without pigment, new hair strands grow in lighter and take on various shades of gray, silver, and eventually white. Once a follicle stops making melanin, it won't make colored strands again.

Why is my hair grey at the tips?

Dryness: Dry hair can develop split ends or become brittle, which might give the appearance of white tips. Natural Aging: As hair ages, it may lose pigment and turn gray or white, often starting at the tips if the hair is older.

Why is my hair white at the tip but black at the root?

So, if you notice black hair roots, it's because your melanocytes have been producing melanin normally. Interestingly, melanin production can restart after a period of dormancy, which can lead to a strand of hair that's white or gray on the tip and black closer to the root.

What is the white tip at the end of my hair?

What is the White Bulb at End of Hair? The white bulb at the end of your hair is essentially a bundle of protein, known as keratin. The role of the white bulb is to help the hair follicle root to the scalp, which then allows the hair to grow until it is shed.

Can You Reverse Gray Hair? Dermatologist Explains | Dr. Sam Ellis

Why are the end tips of my hair white?

Conclusion. White hair tips can occur due to a variety of factors like chemical over-treatment, aging, oxidative stress, vitamin deficiencies, and smoking. By understanding these causes and maintaining proper hair care, you can manage and prevent the whitening of your hair tips.

How to get rid of white ends on hair?

Unfortunately you can't fix split ends once they appear - there's no way of encouraging the two parts of the split to reattach to each other. The only way you can 'fix' split ends is to ask your stylist for a trim, and they can cut off the damaged hair.

Can B12 reverse 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.

What is the average age to start going GREY?

Naturally occurring hydrogen peroxide can also build up in the hair, bleaching the color. Typically, White people start going gray in their mid-30s, Asian people in their late 30s, and Black people in their mid-40s. Half of all people have a significant amount of gray hair by the time they turn 50.

Which vitamin deficiency causes white hair?

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.

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.

What does baking soda do to gray hair?

Regarding using baking soda for gray hair, experts endorse its potential benefits such as controlling pigmentation loss, lightening the strands, and providing texture. It can be used on coarse grey locks to make them smoother too by eliminating product buildup from oils or soaps.

Which part of hair goes grey first?

Sometimes people are born with grey hair because they inherit the trait. The order in which greying happens is usually: nose hair, hair on the head, beard, body hair, eyebrows.

Why does my hair change color at the end?

Colour changes at the ends of your hair mainly occur because the ends of your hair are older. Older sections of hair will have had greater time for your natural colour pigments (eumelanin and pheomelanin) to degrade.

What is stress gray hair?

A new study shows that stress really can give you gray hair. Researchers found that the body's fight-or-flight response plays a key role in turning hair gray. Your hair color is determined by pigment-producing cells called melanocytes.

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.

Can you reverse gray hair?

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.

At what age do eyebrows turn grey?

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.

Can going grey make you look younger?

It also gives you some opportunity to play around with the gray hue for you—remember that gray doesn't have to age you (in fact, it shaves years off when done right). “Silver is the light, platinum version of this trend while gray is the “brunette” of the family, i.e. a deeper, smoky result.

Can vitamin D reverse grey hair?

A review of research suggests that proper supplementation may reverse premature graying in those who are deficient in certain nutrients, including iron, vitamin D, and vitamin B12. However, even though some supplements are specifically sold as “anti-graying,” there aren't any studies that prove they work.

What are the negatives to taking B12?

High doses of vitamin B-12, such as those used to treat a deficiency, might cause:
  • Headache.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Fatigue or weakness.
  • Tingling sensation in hands and feet.

How to get back melanin in hair?

Vitamin A, C and B12 are the most needed vitamins to increase the melanin production in your hair. Add citrus fruits like oranges, grapes, pineapple, and melon to your diet. Also eat vegetables like potatoes, carrots, beans, etc. Non vegetarians can try adding red meat, chicken liver, fish, and eggs to their diet.

Why are split ends bad?

And while a few split ends aren't generally cause for concern, a whole head of them usually means that your haircare routine could use a revamp. Though minuscule, split ends can cause hair to look dull and frizzy, make your strands harder to manage, and lead to breakage.

How often should you wash your hair?

Generally, he says, the range is somewhere between once a day and once a week. “If you have very fine or thin hair, you may need to wash more often, while those with thick or curly hair may need to wash less often,” says Dr Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand, a double board certified dermatologist and hair health expert.

What is club hair?

A club hair is a normal, fully formed strand that has stopped growing. It's named for the bulbous, club-like appearance at the end of the hair where keratin has built up. Club hairs appear in the catagen phase of the hair growth cycle, which is a transitional phase between growth and resting (Hoover, 2021).

Previous article
How to make full body white?
Next article
Can I use Nair on my 7 year old?