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. Chester County Hospital's Health e-Living Blog offers a regular serving of useful health and lifestyle information for the residents of Chester County, PA and the surrounding region. Health e-Living Blog. You're brushing through your hair when you see it — a little gray hair making its first appearance.
Whether you reach for the tweezers or decide to embrace the change, that first gray hair is often a memorable moment for many women. For some women, hair can be a form of self expression. Sign up now or Log in. Definitions Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English. Click on the arrows to change the translation direction.
Follow us. Choose a dictionary. Clear explanations of natural written and spoken English. Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English. Grammar Thesaurus. Word Lists. Choose your language. How early we get gray hair is determined by our genes. This means that most of us will start having gray hairs around the same age that our parents or grandparents first did.
Gray hair is more noticeable in people with darker hair because it stands out, but people with naturally lighter hair are just as likely to go gray. 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. However, such nuanced distinctions are not observed in popular usage today. So, when it comes to the tones between black and white, both grey and gray are acceptable spellings in the English language. If you do find yourself trying to remember which side of the pond uses which spelling more often, keep in mind this mnemonic trick: England begins with an E , while America begins with an A.
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