If hair once served primarily as protection against the cold, nowadays it is an important indication for most to feel attractive. Well-groomed and naturally shiny hair is associated with the aspect of beauty in both men and women. Those who then discover their first gray hair are often shocked at first. After all, gray hair is generally associated with age and aging. But even at a very young age, hair can appear gray for mostly physical reasons. Why does hair turn gray?
Cause of gray hair
From the anatomical-physiological point of view, hair is pigmented horny filaments. This seems quite sober, because for the most part, the own hair on the head is given a lot of attention and care. With numerous shampoos, conditioners, cures and other cosmetics specifically for the hair, they are treated to get the predicate beautiful. Hair does not just grow on our own head, with our hairstyle we usually associate our personality. Gray hair usually does not fit into the ideal of beauty. If our hair turns gray, we often try a lot to turn the gray back into color. And to take it once directly in advance: Gray hair is not really gray, but actually colorless. To the human eye, however, colorless hair appears gray to white.
Gray hair: natural process
In terms of structure, our hair is divided into the hair root, which is not visible from the outside, and the visible hair stem. Directly in the hair roots are cells, so-called melanocytes, which are responsible for the coloring of the hair. This is because the color pigment melanin is produced in the melanocytes. However, an important prerequisite for the production of melanin is that our body produces sufficient amounts of tyrosine, an amino acid. If there is not enough tyrosine, no melanin is produced. Instead, air bubbles are deposited in the hair shaft. And these then appear simply gray. Over the years, it is a completely natural process that the production of melanin slows down and gradually our hair appears gray.
Gray hair at 20
By the way, at a certain point, melanin production stops completely and the result can then be a completely gray mop of hair. Usually, the graying of our hair begins at the temples, until eventually the entire head of hair turns gray. Gray hair need not be a cause for concern at first. They are already in our cradle, so to speak, because from which age the hair turns gray can also be traced back to a genetic predisposition. Between 25 and 30, the discovery of the first gray hairs can usually be attributed to the natural aging process. But gray hair can also be a sign of serious diseases and should definitely be examined by a medical professional when appearing in 20 and especially under 20.
Stress and diet as possible causes
A balanced diet, as well as avoiding stress, can possibly help hair retain its natural color longer. This is because nutrient deficiencies, which can result from an unbalanced diet, may cause insufficient melanin to be produced. Acidosis in the body could also be a possible cause of gray hair. Whole grain products, fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins as well as folic acid and therefore recommended for a balanced diet. Excessive drinking of coffee and alcohol, on the other hand, can lead to negative health consequences.
Visually bring new pigments into the hair with color
Even completely gray hair that is well-groomed can look attractive. But those who still feel more comfortable with color on the head at a certain age can optically store pigments in the hair by coloring or tinting. However, it should be noted that dyeing usually contains hydrogen peroxides in the dye. These can stress the hair and attack the hair structure. If you still decide to do this, professional dyeing by a specialist is recommended. An alternative to dyeing can also be the so-called renaturation. Here, results can be achieved that come very close to the original hair color and thus radiate naturalness. However, this method is controversial because it contains lead acetates. In addition, so far only the color results brown and black can be achieved.
