Grey Hair: All About It

How do you know you’re physically getting old? Is it an increase in backaches? Nah, we’ve been experiencing back-aches since we were 20. Is it the smile lines? Maybe, maybe not. Oh wait, here’s a good guess: grey hair?

Whether we admit it or not, there’s no better indication for aging than grey hair. Although we know full well that everyone experiences it, there’s something about seeing your first grey hair that feels strange. It makes us almost in denial, really. 

In this article, we’ll talk about grey hair: all about it and why we get grey hair in the first place!

Why do we get grey hair

Grey hair is one of the undeniable signs of aging. But why exactly do we get it? What is it with aging that causes our hair to completely change color, like a printer running out of ink?

First of all, many people all over the world experience natural color change, not just greying. Some people are born with a head of blond hair, only to grow brown hair when they’re older and vice versa. Greying, however, seems to be a phenomenon that is attributed mainly to aging.

The cause of this color change, including greying, is the pigment cells in your hair follicles called melanin. Melanin dictates what color your hair is. It’s also the same thing that gives your skin its color. The more melanin, the darker the color is. But as we get older, we eventually lose melanin in our hair. This causes the greying, and eventually whiting, of our hair strands.

Grey hair factors

But why do some people get grey hair earlier than others? There are many factors why we get grey hair when we do. Here are the most common ones.

Diet and Nutrition

The melanin production in your body is greatly affected by your nutrition. Those who get too little protein, vitamin B12, biotin, and phenylalanine in their diet may suffer from hair-related problems, including early greying.

Race and Ethnicity

We mentioned above that melanin affects skin color too, right? This means that melanin production actually differs depending on one’s race and ethnicity. For example, Caucasians have the least amount of melanin, which means they tend to experience grey hair much earlier than their African counterparts. On average, lighter-skinned people tend to get grey strands at around 35 years old, while darker-skinned people get them at around 40 years old. By age 50 though, people usually have an equal percentage of grey strands, regardless of race and ethnicity.

Genetics

Sadly, a lot of premature greying cases can also be attributed to genes. Simply put, if your grandfather and mother experienced their first white hair before the age of 35, there’s a good chance that you’ll experience that same too. The DNA that dictated your hair follicles are passed down from generation to generation, after all.

Disorders

There are some disorders that can also cause early greying. For example, some autoimmune diseases like alopecia and vitiligo can cause your strands to become grey earlier than they were supposed to. With these disorders, your body’s immune system will mistakenly attack its own cells, which includes the pigment cells melanin, causing you to lose your hair color.

Thyroid problems, like hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, can also cause early greying or whiting. These disorders can mess up with your hormones, which can, in turn, affect several bodily functions. It’s known to cause bodies to produce less melanin, for instance, which is why some people who have this disorder have early grey or white strands.

Did you learn about grey hair from this article? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!For more hair articles, don’t forget to check out our ZALA blog!