We all know that our hair turns gray as we age, but why does hair turn gray as we get older? What causes our natural hair color to turn gray as we age?
I’m going to share the background on the graying process, and let you know the causes, reasons and timeline for the hair graying process.
Why Does Hair Turn Gray As We Get Older?
As you age, your hair turns gray primarily because your hair follicles produce less melanin, the pigment that gives hair its color. This decrease in melanin production happens naturally as you get older.
Around age 35, you might start noticing gray hair, and by 50, about half of your hair may have lost its color. The hair follicles contain melanocytes, which are responsible for melanin production, but these cells diminish over time, leading to fewer colored strands.
While aging is a significant factor, genetic factors also play an important role in determining when you’ll notice those first gray hairs. Ethnicity can influence the onset as well, with some people graying earlier than others.
Although some might blame stress for their gray hair, it’s not a direct cause—rather, it’s the gradual loss of pigment that marks the natural aging process.
How Do Genetics Influence When And How We Go Gray?
Genetics greatly influences when and how you go gray, often revealing patterns that can trace back through family history. The timing and extent of graying depend largely on your genetic makeup, particularly the IRF4 gene, which affects melanin production and storage—key factors in your hair color.
Here are some insights into how genetics shape your graying process:
- Family history often indicates when you might start to gray.
- Caucasians typically begin graying in their mid-30s, Asians in their late-30s, and Africans in their mid-40s.
- Graying patterns observed in previous generations can predict your own experience.
- Genetics outweigh environmental factors in determining when you’ll experience graying.
- The IRF4 gene is specifically linked to variations in hair color and the graying process.
Can External Factors Like Stress, Diet, and Environment Speed Up Graying?
While aging is the primary factor behind graying hair, external influences like stress, diet, and environmental factors can also play a role.
Stress isn’t a direct cause of hair graying, but it can lead to conditions like telogen effluvium, resulting in hair shedding and possibly gray regrowth.
A 2020 study on mice hinted that stress might deplete melanocyte stem cells, affecting pigment regeneration, though it’s uncertain how this translates to humans.
Your diet plays an essential part too; a deficiency in Vitamin B12 has been linked to premature graying, but it’s reversible with proper nutrition.
Smoking has been associated with an increased risk of early graying due to oxidative stress on melanocytes, impacting melanin production.
While genetics largely dictate when you go gray, managing stress, maintaining a healthy diet, and avoiding smoking may help slow the process.
What Is The Typical Progression of Hair Graying?
The typical progression of hair graying often catches individuals by surprise, especially since it can start subtly in your mid-30s.
For many, the first signs of graying hair appear as a few scattered strands, which can be alarming. As you age, the process continues, leading to more noticeable changes.
Here’s what to expect:
- Caucasians may notice gray hair in their mid-30s, Asians in their late-30s, and Africans in their mid-40s.
- By age 50, about 50% of people have gray hair.
- Initially, gray strands are sparse but become more common as you reach your 50s and 60s.
- Graying results from a decrease in melanocytes, the cells responsible for melanin production.
- Eventually, hair follicles can run out of melanocytes, leading to mainly gray or white hair.