About Gray Hair

As you age, your hair begins to lose its pigment, becoming progressively lighter as the years go by. On average, you will begin seeing your first gray or white hairs in your 30s or 40s. People of every hair color go gray. Dark-haired people tend to appear to go gray more quickly because white hairs are more evident among the rest of the hairs.

Identification

Melanin, the same substance that gives skin its color, is responsible for the color of a person’s hair. The amount of melanin in each hair shaft decreases with age. Hair that is gray has lost most of its melanin, while white hairs have no pigment at all. Graying is a gradual process, and usually many years elapse before a person develops a completely white head of hair. Some people retain some color in their hair even into advanced old age.

Process

Scientists have discovered that hair turns white because it bleaches itself. Hair cells always manufacture a small amount of hydrogen peroxide, but the amount increases as a person ages. The hydrogen peroxide prevents the cells from producing melanin, thus causing the hair to become progressively lighter and lighter, according to "Science Daily."

Stress as a Cause

Sometimes people are reputed to gray rapidly following emotional trauma or illness. Although stress can affect the body in many subtle ways, scientists have found no clear link between stress and graying hair, according to “Scientific American.” Although it is possible that stress hormones might somehow disrupt the production of melanin, there are still many other factors affecting the rate at which a person loses color in his hair.

Other Causes

Genetics is the most important factor in determining at what age you begin to turn gray. If one or both of your parents developed gray hair early in life, there is a good chance that you and your siblings will too. Sometimes premature graying can indicate a medical problem, such as a thyroid disorder, anemia or autoimmune disease. Smoking can also speed up the process of graying, according to Aetna InteliHealth.

Considerations

Both women and men may choose to dye their hair to cover gray. Depending on your degree of grayness, you may choose a semi-permanent rinse or a permanent hair dye. Most men and many women, however, accept and even celebrate their gray hair. Some decide to stop dying their hair as a way to gain freedom from expensive salon visits. Others have concerns about exposure to chemicals in hair dyes and bleaches, according to "The Salt Lake Tribune."