Have you ever wondered--Why hair turn grey?

Grey Hair - As we get older our hair turns grey
@mzbubblie (3839)
United States
February 7, 2007 9:50am CST
Today, I'm brushing my hair and I spotted a grey strain... The first thing I thought was Oh My Goodness, that's a sign of me getting old...lol.. Then I thought what makes our hair turn grey...I have friends that have had grey hair since they were in their teens, hereditary of course. But, someone like me who have natural dark brown hair to see a grey stain blew me away...There are so many hair dye products that change your haircolor and many many people use it. I think if I get more grey, I would just let it go natural. I have to ask, do anyone know what makes our hair change to grey? Furthermore, If you have grey, do you dye it? or ever become grey haired would you dye it or go natural?
15 people like this
55 responses
• United States
7 Feb 07
I'm a hairstylist and your hair just loses its color. Your hair grows in gray. I have never figured it out but I've had gray hair since I was a teen. I took after my Dad's side of the family. I have colored my hair and now I've decided to just let it go after this summer. I will highlight again for the summer. Blonde seems to blend in better with it then trying to cover it with my natural hair color which is dark brown and I really don't like regrowth. Makes it look really bad if you don't do it all the time. which I don't. Funny being a hairstylist you would think that I would color all the time. LOL.
@elisata (568)
• Netherlands
7 Feb 07
Why on earth would you use a dryer when you are colouring your hair?? Just let it dry naturally (much better for your hair too) and if you have long hair, do something else meanwhile. Just highlighting that one nasty grey hair and a few others as well for the symetry is an option as well... I got a few grey hairs when I was 18, lately it is going fast (almost 55). And I make it a bit blonder with a spray that works either by the warmth of a hair dryer, or the natural sunshine... And you don't even have to wash it first... LOL - I just do it when I feel like it, maybe once every 6 to 8 weeks. It gives a mixed colour which to me is fine, 'cause I don't want all my hairs to be one and the same colour, I had a mixed colour before the grey really became persistent... PS such a highlight spray only lightens up your hair one or two shades... and it is much more affordable than a one time package of colour, since you can maybe use the spray ten times!
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
7 Feb 07
I understand it is a process...I know when I want my hair colored, it's the color, under the dryer, wash, dryer again. That's why I don't get mine colored so much and hate when it grows out as well..lol... By the time you get to yours, I can imagine you are tired of doing hair...lol
@arvee17 (730)
• Philippines
7 Feb 07
lucky for me, my hair is all dark black... and my family doesn't have any history of having grey hair. so far... but if one day i'll have grey hair, i suppose i would dye it...
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
7 Feb 07
I'm so iffy on that the dye thing..I guess I would have to wait and see what happens if/when I get more...thank you for responding
• United States
8 Feb 07
WOw, you are lucky! You're genetics heredity doesn't have any grey hair, and I never have heard or known of any one who hasn't grown any grey hair by the time they are in their mid life. Wow!
@Decarus (146)
• Malaysia
8 Feb 07
if all grey would look just nice..because it looks like ur natural hair colour...I have a little dark brown hair and a few gray...I think it is cause by thinking too much...Stress also maybe.. :P Guess what..my friend got lots of them..about hundred.. =.=.. Anyway..as long as u are using ur brain enough everyday u will not suffer from brain disorder at older age.... :)Sometimes it just turn to colourless(when u can see right through it)
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Feb 07
lol...too cute...who knows..your friend it's probably hereditary...I know my mom still don't have alot of gray, I hope I take after her whereas my dad has alot more...
@sarah22 (3979)
• United States
26 Mar 07
yes, i have some and it will not dye .
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
26 Mar 07
Oh wow really, It won't, I always thought any light colored hair could die
@mbarryton (1872)
• United States
8 Feb 07
i myself started getting grey hair around my bangs when i was around 21. but i believe it was stress due to the fact of the relationship i was in. i honestly believe that stress sometimes has lots to do with it.once i left that relationship i havent gotten any more. im suppose to be a brunette but to cover the grey well i dye it black, which i have come to love lol
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Feb 07
I understand...I too believe stress can cause gray hair...I know right now I get my hair dyed just to change the color every now and then and it's a pain...I'm still leary, I probably go gray...lol
• United States
26 Mar 07
i have hereditary grey-i was 15 when it started turning. problem is,now it's turning white on me-yeek i've noticed stress will do it also sometimes. i cover it.it comes in in streaks.if it were all over,i'd leave it.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
26 Mar 07
I understand what you mean. This lady at my job, she has grey right down the middle of her head and nowhere else. Everywhere else is brown...
• Indonesia
8 Feb 07
I got a few grey hairs when I was 18, lately it is going fast (almost 55). And I make it a bit blonder with a spray that works either by the warmth of a hair dryer, or the natural sunshine... And you don't even have to wash it first...
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Feb 07
Oh wow that's cool, I like a spray..I know the process of dying and man it can take too long when I'm at the hairdresser..lol...thank you for responding...
@unisis (1673)
• Indonesia
8 Feb 07
I think is normal,this is the indication that we are getting old,we need to thank to God that God have give us alive until now ,then I also thought what makes our hair turn grey with yellowish last four years ago,I have friend that have had grey hair since he was in elementary school his age around seven to eight,it is hereditary. But mine has getting old,although someone ask me to change the haircolour to be black again,i let my hair as natural hair and a lot of people use hair dye. I think it is good if my hair get more grey
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Feb 07
Yes..I have a friend that is younger than I as long as I've known him around 21 he started to get grey...From that I know it's hereditary...
@mogg20 (172)
• Philippines
8 Feb 07
Some people say thinking too much can make hair turn grey. I'm 22 and I've already spotted a couple of grey hairs on my head... *sigh* Now I'm kinda afraid that my hair will be all grey by the time I'm 40. Lol! I sure hope not. According to medical science, grey hair is caused by the gradual decrease in pigmentation that happens when melanin production in the hair root stops, and new hair grows with very little or without pigment. I wouldn't mind using hair dye, but some products cause severe itching. So I guess I'll just go natutal once I'm old.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Feb 07
I hear that...I haven't decided, when I see some noticable gray who knows what I will do..For now I cut that strain wayyyy down...lol
@fabwisp (1327)
8 Feb 07
Well all my ideas have allready been mentioned. But I hope I end up white rather than grey! If I go white I will probably leave it natural, if I go grey I guess I will continue to dye it!
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Feb 07
I hear that...I never thought about the white hair..come to think of it, I believe my grandma's is white..and not gray just in the very very back...I have no idea what I would do yet...thank you for responding
@manoj131 (74)
• India
8 Feb 07
i tgink its due to free radicals in our body
@nishdan01 (3051)
• Singapore
8 Feb 07
If it is due to free radicals,take antioxidants.
@mr_nerd (129)
• India
8 Feb 07
The reason is because of losing or less number of melanin(its a kind of pigment which also gives the color to the skin). But now a days baldness and the grey hair are quite common and not necessary you should be old. May be because of the atmosphere pollution its haappenning in the young age.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Feb 07
Aww thank you for the information...Very informative..thank you for responding
• Australia
8 Feb 07
You look so good in your grey hair.But if ever you want to change color go for it just go parlor or barber shop and no problem..I think it's the genes in the family where we getour grey hair.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Feb 07
yes, I heard that too from the responses as well as other things probably play a factor...thank you for responding
@loousta (24)
8 Feb 07
i love grey hair. im 21 and think i will grow old with trendy grey hair. i think it can make people look very glamorous. hair goes grey because as we get older the pigment cells in our hair follicles gradually die. when there are fewer pigment cells in the hair follicles, that strand of hair will no longer contain as much melanin and will become a more transparent colour like grey or white or silver as it grows. hope that helps
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Feb 07
Some people actually look nice with gray hair...I thinks mostly it's mental, you use to seeing that person with colored hair...
@ahmar2 (682)
• Pakistan
8 Feb 07
Hmm Answer to your first question is that perhaps it is something related to genetics.You will be surprised to know that in tibet and northern areas of pakistan I have saw many people whose hair were blacker than me and they were above 80 years.It is amazing.However I am only a teenager and thank goodness so fatr my hair are shining black.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Feb 07
oh wow 80?? My mom don't have alot of gray and she's in her early 50's at least I hope mine is somewhat like hers..lol
@mcmomss (2601)
• United States
8 Feb 07
Your hair is using the color pigments in it when it turns grey. I'm not sure why or how. I'm starting to get some grey, I haven't thought about coloring it yet, but probably some day.
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Feb 07
Ahh...well only time will tell yanno
@babykay (2131)
• Ireland
8 Feb 07
I don't have that many grey hairs but I refuse to go grey gracefully. I hate grey hair! Sorry. I started to go grey early, about 23? So thats when I started dying it!
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Feb 07
There is nothing wrong with you not liking it..to each his/her own...You have to do what makes you feel comfortable and that's all that matters...thank you for responding
@pradesh13 (287)
• India
8 Feb 07
Greying of Hair is related to age, nutrition, & your lifestyle. I think you should dye your hair so that you look young and energetic, but its very personal question ofcourse!!
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Feb 07
Yes very true...I may end up going natural the rest of my life if i happen to get it...
@gemini1960 (1161)
• Philippines
8 Feb 07
yeah sometimes but in my opinion black hair turns grey due to some abnormalities in our scalp..wich usually occurs when we are getting older...i let my white hair taken or pull out from my scalp..
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Feb 07
Ahh I see...thank you for the information..and thank you for responding...
@IMHO_Dan (174)
• India
8 Feb 07
Uit turns when u bcum wiser.lol and some hormones n all that crap...i dont want to have my hair turning grey.lol
@mzbubblie (3839)
• United States
8 Feb 07
hahahaha@hormones and all that crap..lol Too funny....Well if your hair happens to turn grey, you know there are plenty of dyes that would work just fine :)