Gray hair affects almost everyone at some point in their lives. Both men and women get gray hair, and although it is purely a cosmetic issue and doesn't affect health in the least, some people find gray hair embarrassing or an irritating reminder of the passage of time. Several factors affect when gray hair develops.
The Basics
Hair development begins in the follicle, explains Scientificamerican.com. At the bottom of each hair follicle, cells work together to make each strand of hair. Cells called keratinocytes construct the strand of hair. At the same time, other cells called melanocytes make melanin, which is the substance that gives hair its color. Over time, melanin production slows down. The production of new hair can also slow down, but usually, new-hair production will last longer than full melanin production. This lack of melanin results in gray or white hair, depending on whether any melanin is still being produced.
Causes of Gray Hair
Age is often a factor in gray hair, although not always. Men tend to get their first gray hairs around age 30, and women about five years later. However, these are just averages. Teens can also develop gray hairs, while others don’t see their first gray strands until their 50s. Heredity also plays a role in the development of gray hair. Those whose parents went gray early are more likely to also notice gray hairs at a younger age. Evidence suggests stress may have an indirect link to developing gray hair.
Prevention
To help put off gray hair, avoid smoking, advises Health.learninginfo.org. Smokers are four times as likely to have gray hair than those who don’t smoke. Smokers may also lose hair at a faster rate.
Getting Rid of Gray Hair
For those who don’t like the appearance of gray hair, hair coloring is an option. Hair can be dyed to its original color or to another shade altogether. It’s possible to color hair at home, but you may get better results from having hair colored by a professional, as it’s easy to miss spots on your own head. Hair can be dyed using permanent or temporary colors. Some people pluck gray hairs out, but this only works if there are only a few gray strands.
Inevitable
Graying hair is a fact of life that people must accept. No surefire way exists to prevent it, especially in families that tend to go gray early.
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