Thread: Degree of gray hair

The gray has started (well, realistically, it is about time). But, it seems to me that the gray is getting *less*, not more. Is that possible, or is it my imagination? I am not complaining - I have not hennaed my hair in a while, and even though it is winter, it seems to grow in more blonde than in the past. Again, am I imagining?

My grays seemed to do this at first. Just noticed a few at first and became concerned, then for a long time really not much more and sometimes less gray, then all of a sudden, EXPLOSION OF GRAYS! So yes I think what you are describing is possible, that went on for maybe 2 maybe 3 years for me.

we have a natural peroxide in our hair. the more we stress, the more is secreted or activated, and it "bleaches" or hair.
stop the stress.lol

I am almost completely grey, but I have previuosly found hairs that were grey at the tip and half way down, but brown at roots, alas no more!!

Advice for those whose hair if beginning to show grey at the roots - Cut off and save a lock of your natural color hair. When/if you decide to cover the grey, you'll have a sample for your colorist to match. I accidentally did that many years ago, so when I decided it was time to restore my blonde hair, I just handed over the saved lock of hair to my hair stylist and she matched it. It looks great! If anyone asks me if it's my natural color I say "Yes it is ... restored!" ..l;,

well when I look at the bit at the back that still isn't grey _ I don't think that colour would suit me now - it's a bit dark. Need something softer to blend in with wrinkles!!!

Originally Posted by jencUK

I am almost completely grey, but I have previuosly found hairs that were grey at the tip and half way down, but brown at roots, alas no more!!

That has happened to me, but I thought I was losing my mind!

there are various types and colors of "aging hair"... grey, silver, blondish... and white. You're not going crazy, your hair probably IS blondish the way it presents itself.

My stylist told me I'm about 20% grey; I'm only 34 yrs. old. I've always prided my self on not using hair products but now black hair dye is my best friend. I refuse to grey gracefully.

I was that grey in my teens, Michelle. Grey hair is not automatically anything to do with age. Or stress. It's genetic in my case.

I wear my silver with *pride*!

WRT "aging hair" and "natural peroxide", hair changes over your lifespan. Your hair is unlikely to be the same colour and texture when you are an adult as when you were seven, and it continues to change. Most people's hair lightens somewhat as they get older. Blondes darken up. The reflect can change a bit too.

ETA: Oh! The other thing is that your hair thins out a bit with age as well. So it is possible that current hormonal changes have caused some of your white-producing follicles to stop producing hair at all. Result = apparently less white for a bit.

Ah, DaVid's explanation makes a lot of sense, thanks!

I celebrated my 40th birthday without gray, I feel I am doing well overall. And, everybody knows that one only uses henna because it adds shine, not for the color ;-)

Well mine is silver and I can't imagine me dark again - although I'm tol I would look 10 years younger if I dyed

Originally Posted by Michelle75

My stylist told me I'm about 20% grey; I'm only 34 yrs. old. I've always prided my self on not using hair products but now black hair dye is my best friend. I refuse to grey gracefully.

Same here and I´m 32.
My mommy does only have a sprinkle of silver at 67 and blames it on my dad-
and he´s completely Kojak-bald!..g.:

I´ve gotten paler over the years,and black dye brought out veins and sun damage...so I´ve switched to dark brown instead.

If you believe your graying or, in my case, pure whiteness, is related to stress, are those strands permanently discolored?

I ask, because I have had a lot of stress this past winter and it's resulted in some strands turning pure white at the root (the rest of the strands are black, my natural hair color). I turn 24 this year, and I really don't want to have to start henna or dye this young. Also, the texture of the white parts feels much coarser

White hair is coarser than pigmented hair.

Very dark haired European people often go white young.

I'm 100% Asian (born in Korea, but I can't say much of my lineage beyond that), and I don't know if it's common for East Asians to go white earlier.

It's kind of weird, because I assumed that I'd see gray then white. The white parts were as white as paper, no sign of gray.

My Irish / Welsh Grandmother was pure white by the time she was 30. On my Grandfather's side - English, Scots & German - we either turn white early or not at all until we're in our 70's. I'm of the early variety. . .

{{{HUGS}}}

Originally Posted by jencUK

I am almost completely grey, but I have previuosly found hairs that were grey at the tip and half way down, but brown at roots, alas no more!!

It's true--I experience something similar. I have found greys that are silky and black at the ends, then as you go up the hair shaft, the dk. brown gets lighter, fades to red, fades to blond, and finally is wirey and white near the root. Basically, it they seem to lose pigment gradually, not all at once.

The ironic thing for me, re the texture, is that I started out with hair that is fine, but a lot of it, with a little wave but basically straight. In the late 80s when I was going through my spiral perm phase I used to wish I'd inherited my father's hair - black, thick, curly, and prematurely white. I always maintained I wouldn't have coloured my hair if it had been naturally black. (Of course he's also bald but I wasn't after that...)

Now that my hair is no longer chemically softened I'm aware that I now totally have a lock of my father's hair in front of my right ear. It's mostly white, curly and coarse, and it's SO annoying.

*starts the "Gray Pride" group*
*pickets around the thread with signs saying "Gray Pride, equal performance opportunities for gray dancers*
sorry, had a moment...

PS: Zum, oooh is THAT what that is on your pictures...:P :P :P.(its amazing what we notice about ourselves and are annoyed by - and nobody else sees or notices it even)

Originally Posted by aamel_MirahAmmal

It's true--I experience something similar. I have found greys that are silky and black at the ends, then as you go up the hair shaft, the dk. brown gets lighter, fades to red, fades to blond, and finally is wirey and white near the root. Basically, it they seem to lose pigment gradually, not all at once.

Actually what I tried to say is a few years back I found some hairs that were white at the ends gor 2" and then dark at roots!!

could be a thyroid thing. Prem grey comes with that then you get meds