Is it possible to not get gray hair

Some women may begin going gray in their 30s or 40s. But for others, the process may begin as early as when they're 20 years old.

Your age when you first notice gray hair depends on a number of factors, some of which are out of your control. Here's why some women gray earlier — while others get to hold onto their colorful strands for longer. Whether you rock brown, black, red, or blonde hair naturally, your hair color comes from a substance called melanin, which is made by hair follicles tiny structures in your skin that produce and grow hair.

The color of your hair depends on the distribution, type, and amount of melanin — all of which lives in the middle layer of the hair shaft called the cortex. Sure, there is a wide range of shades out there from ash blonde to midnight black. But, fun fact: There are only two types of hair color pigments — dark and light. These two blend together to form these shades. Melanin doesn't produce at the same rate forever. As you get older, your hair follicles make less of it, which leads to less color and, eventually, graying hair.

Another reason your hair may turn gray is related to its chemical processes. The cells in your hair naturally produce a small amount of hydrogen peroxide.

Normally, an enzyme called catalase breaks down the hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. However, as you get older, you produce lower amounts of catalase, which allows the hydrogen peroxide to build up. This buildup can damage the pigment-producing cells, leading to gray or white hairs. From the time a person notices a few gray hairs, it may take more than 10 years for all of that person's hair to turn gray. Some people think that a big shock or trauma can turn a person's hair white or gray overnight, but scientists don't really believe that this happens.

Just in case, try not to freak out your parents too much. You don't want to be blamed for any of their gray hairs! Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. Each hair on our heads is made up of two parts: a shaft — the colored part we see growing out of our heads a root — the bottom part, which keeps the hair anchored under the scalp The root of every strand of hair is surrounded by a tube of tissue under the skin that is called the hair follicle say: FAHL-ih-kul.

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Increasingly, people are using baking soda to clean their hair. However, this is not always safe. Learn about risks and other natural hair remedies…. What you should know about white hair. Causes of white hair Prevention and reversing premature white hair Takeaway We include products we think are useful for our readers.

Causes of white hair. Share on Pinterest White and gray hairs may start to grow at any age, and may be caused by a range of different factors. Share on Pinterest It is commonly thought that stress may lead to hair becoming white prematurely. However, studies have not conclusively proved this. Prevention and reversing premature white hair. Share on Pinterest Eating a diet with lots of antioxidant-rich foods, including vegetables and fruits, may help to prevent hair from graying.

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When in doubt, consult a doctor or another healthcare provider. It may even contribute to premature graying, especially before the age of They can advise you on how best to go about this and connect you to helpful resources. If stress is indeed contributing to your gray hairs, better stress management could help. You may be able to manage your stress better and improve your overall health by using the following tips:.

If your parents dealt with premature grays, the chances are that you will too. Did you know that when you go gray, your hair structure also completely changes? But once you understand how gray hair works, it'll be easy to fix all…. Spend too much time under the blow dryer? Decide to go from deep black to dirty blonde without the help of your stylist? Here's how to repair damaged…. Despite what shampoo commercials lead you to believe, washing your hair can be a key contributor to a bad hair day.

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