Unsurprisingly, stress is bad for you. The impacts of stress are real, regardless of the source: your relationships, your job, the status of the world, life (need we go on?), or your lack thereof. We may notice changes in our hair when our bodies, thoughts, and souls get agitated and exhausted. Anxiety may contribute to Premature Gray Hair, which occurs before the age of twenty or thirty.
Although Premature Gray Hair is perfectly common and natural, it’s acceptable if you’re not ready to accept your grays. In order to find out more about what causes abrupt gray hair to appear and what you can do about it, such as investing in a new multifaceted color or starting a healthy gray hair routine, we consulted with leading dermatologists and a celebrity colorist.
Learn the reasons behind gray hair, how to take care of your lighter-colored hair, and maybe even how to stop gray hair before it starts by reading on.
Causes of Gray Hair
Lack of Pigment
For most people, growing gray hair is a natural part of aging. Hair follicles include pigment-producing cells called melanocytes, which are responsible for the color of hair, according to board-certified dermatologist and hair restoration specialist Robert Finney, M.D. “Hair naturally goes through phases of development and rest. The pigment-generating cells in our bodies produce less pigment as we age, usually around the age of 35, and eventually may stop producing pigment altogether, which causes gray hairs.”
Stress
Blair Murphy Rose, M.D., a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist with expertise in hair rejuvenation, points out that autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders, and physical and mental stress can all contribute to early graying of the hair.
Dermatologist Marisa Garshick, M.D., board-certified, concurs, but with a slight disclaimer. “While more research is needed, stress may contribute to graying hair as it leads to oxidative damage—which can lead to damage to the pigment-producing cells, leading to less melanin being produced.”
Genetics
According to Dr. Garshick, age and heredity have a major role in graying. For this reason, fewer gray hairs may not result from less stress. According to Dr. Garshick, “there is not enough evidence to suggest that reducing stress…will prevent gray hairs,” although it is always vital to be careful of lowering stress levels for all health concerns. This is especially true if premature graying runs in your family.
How to Care for Gray Hair
Celebrity colorist and Clairol Color Partner Jeremy Tardo reports seeing a rise in the number of clients with Premature Gray Hair, albeit not all of them want it hidden. “Some really want them covered, others want to have them blended with their hair color, and a couple even want to rock full-on gray,” according to him.
You should always have moisturizing products on hand since hair might become more prone to dryness and lose its color as it ages. Tardo prefers Sachajuan’s Silver Shampoo for cleaning. “This should be used once a week to keep your hair tone bright and icy,” he advises.
Regarding conditioning treatments, he vouchsafes for Olaplex. “Olaplex No. 3 is great to prevent split ends and keep your hair strong whether you choose to continue coloring your grays or even if you leave them natural,” Tardo explains. Before you make any changes to your at-home routine, feel free to schedule a consultation with your favorite stylist if you would rather have a more customized regimen.
How to Conceal Gray Hair
While Premature Gray Hair cannot be stopped, it can be concealed with a variety of high-quality colors, and a visit to the salon is not always necessary.
“My DIY color suggestion for gray coverage is Clairol Nice ‘N Easy,” Tardo states. It is a full-spectrum color range that is easy to use and kind to the hair of my clients. It means the world to me when my clients come back to me with healthy hair. Ask the colorist to incorporate the Bob & Shag Hair Vitamin Pack into your color mixture for your hair’s added nourishment and longer-lasting color.”
How to Prevent Gray Hairs
Pulling out any grays that you see may seem like a short-term solution, but it may end up doing more harm than good. “If you don’t want to embrace your grays, color them, don’t pluck them!” insists Dr. Finney before adding, “This can create inflammation of the follicle, increase risk of infected follicles and ingrown hairs, and ultimately over-plucking leads to scarring and permanent loss of the follicle.”
Although there isn’t a proven, scientifically supported way to stop gray hairs, changing one’s lifestyle may be helpful. For example, consuming an abundance of fruits and vegetables high in vitamins and reducing stress could perhaps assist.
“You [might] read that certain vitamins or supplements can delay Premature Gray Hair, but there is no good science to back these up,” claims Dr. Rose. “The best things to do are to try to reduce stress as much as possible, get adequate sleep, and eat a well-balanced diet.”
