Grey hair – natural stage in the life of every person. Hair bleaching usually starts after the age of 35, but in some cases it happens much earlier.
Oddly enough, the appearance of gray hair is surrounded by a mass of myths. Some of these prejudices are firmly entrenched in the minds of most people. You can read about the real causes and methods of treatment on estet-portal.com, but for now, let's try to figure out which of the most common statements about gray hair is true, and which – nothing confirmed by prejudice.
Statement 1: minus one, plus five
According to one of the theories, in place of one plucked gray hair, several new ones will surely appear. The number varies from myth to myth; some say about two new hairs, others say that there will be at least seven.
Of course, this is a myth. Removing a gray hair can in no way affect either the appearance of new ones or the discoloration of old ones. Pulling it out, you just lose one hair. After a while, exactly the same gray hair will appear in its place.
It is worth noting that it is not necessary to pull out gray hair. No, it will not speed up the graying process, but it can damage the hair follicle. In this case, nothing else will grow in place of the plucked hair.
Statement 2: Hair grows gray with age
This statement can only be called half correct. Gray hair is caused by a lack of melanin. The color of hair, skin and eyes depends on the amount of this hormone. One of the factors in reducing the production of melanin is indeed age-related changes.
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However, do not forget that there are many factors unrelated to age that reduce the amount of the hormone.
The most common violations among them are:
- hormonal failure;
- diseases of the endocrine gland;
- genetic diseases;
- vitamin deficiency;
- stress;
- ultraviolet deficiency.
Therefore, if the first gray hair appeared at a young age (up to 35), you should not think about old age, but visit a doctor and undergo a comprehensive examination. It is quite possible that the reason lies in the lack of vitamins or other substances that can be replenished, thus postponing the visit of gray hair for several years.
Statement 3: gray hair due to stress
It's difficult to call this statement true or false for one simple reason: in recent years, the word stress has almost lost its true meaning. Indeed, today most people call this term anything: both nervous tension and just excitement.
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Stress is actually a physiological response of the body to severe physical or psychological stress.
If we consider this definition of stress, then we can note that it can really cause gray hair. However, everything is not so simple here either.
As noted earlier, stress can cause a decrease in melanin production, which will lead to gray hair. However, this is a rather lengthy process that cannot happen in one or two days.
Besides, it all depends on a combination of factors. For example, a healthy body that is not deficient in vitamins and minerals is unlikely to drastically reduce melanin production due to stress.
Frequent stresses can affect the appearance of gray hair, but they should not be considered the root cause of problems. Also, do not think that ordinary excitement provokes this phenomenon. If this were true, then most of the students would be completely gray after the first session.
Statement 4: "...and woke up in the morning with a gray head"
Probably, there is no person who has not heard that someone turned gray overnight after an injury or experienced shock. A striking example is the legend that Marie Antoinette turned gray the night before her execution.
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In fact, it is almost impossible. In medical practice, there has never been a single case of such rapid graying.
However, the relationship of trauma (shock) and a decrease in the amount of melanin cannot be denied. As in the previous case, there is a possibility of gray hair appearing after a sufficiently long period of time (at least several months).
Statement 5: Gray hair is stronger than pigmented hair
The theory that gray hair is stronger than normal hair is difficult to unequivocally call a myth or truth. The fact is that the hairs that have changed their color have a slightly different structure: they are stiff and rough.
However, their strength is purely individual and depends on the general condition of the body, the quality of pigmented hair and many other factors.
The myth that gray hair is thicker than pigmented hair is most likely due to an optical illusion. Against the background of dark curls, light strands will always look more voluminous.
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Statement 6: gray or white hair
This statement is an unequivocal myth, which is again an optical illusion. In combination with dark pigmented strands, the color of gray hair can appear white or gray.
Actually, gray hair has a yellow tint. The saturation of the shade depends on the individual characteristics of the organism.
Hydrogen peroxide produced by the body gives yellow color to hair. This substance is the product of every biological reaction in the human body. Hydrogen peroxide has the ability to destroy melanin (which is why "peroxide" is often included in bleaching paints).
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In a young healthy body, catalase prevents the destruction of melanin. This enzyme significantly reduces its production due to age-related changes and other factors. It is at this moment that hydrogen peroxide destroys melanin almost unhindered and gives the curls a slight yellowness.
Statement 7: Gray hair can be caused by vitamin B deficiency
This statement – pure truth. The lack of B vitamins adversely affects the metabolic processes of the body and can cause disruption of hormone production.
In the case of hair, one of the most important vitamins of this group can be called pantothenic acid (B5). By normalizing the amount of this element, you can slightly delay the appearance of gray hair and improve the condition of the body. Where is pantothenic acid found?
Vitamin B5 can be found in:
- peas;
- yeast;
- hazelnuts;
- cereals;
- dairy products;
- fish caviar;
- chicken meat.
In addition, when gray hair appears, you should consult a doctor and choose a vitamin complex for yourself.
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Statement 8: Smokers turn gray earlier
Smoking – harmful, but it is still impossible to unequivocally state that nicotine contributes to the appearance of early gray hair. Naturally, smokers are at risk of disruption of metabolic processes and the production of hormones, which will entail a lot of problems, including early graying.
Scientific studies cannot confirm that every smoker will turn gray prematurely. There are many external factors (for example, genetic predisposition) that affect the purity of the experiment and do not allow answering the question unequivocally.
Proposition 9: only permanent hair color can cope with gray hair
This statement – myth. Yes, pigmented hair is really difficult to dye, but this applies not only to natural products, but also to professional dyes.
The fact is that gray hair has a coarser texture, and therefore, the dye falls on them unevenly and does not last long. Permanent dyes may last longer than natural products, but they significantly worsen their condition.
Herbal infusions and natural dyes perfectly color gray hair. In addition, many natural-based products improve the condition of curls and scalp, making curls soft and silky.
Proposition 10: You can get rid of gray hair
Despite the fact that on the Internet every now and then there is an advertisement for products that restore gray hair to its previous color, this is just a myth. To date, there is no reliable evidence that gray hair can be restored to its previous shade.
On the contrary, doctors say: graying – irreversible process. Without staining, it is impossible to return the natural color to the curls.
However, it's not so bad. Today, there are many methods for the treatment of gray hair. They imply the strengthening and nutrition of pigmented hair and significantly slow down the process of the appearance of new gray strands.
Statement 11: Gray hair from the sun
Stories that a person can turn gray due to ultraviolet radiation – nothing more than a myth with no scientific basis. Long exposure to the sun can make the strands a little lighter, however, as the hair grows back, the hair will return to its natural color.
It is worth recalling that not an overabundance, but a lack of sunlight can affect the appearance of gray hair. How does ultraviolet light affect the appearance of gray hair?
The fact is that UV radiation provokes the production of vitamin D, which is involved in the metabolic processes of the body. The lack of this substance negatively affects the immune system and the functioning of organs, which can subsequently cause gray hair. Of course, a sufficiently large amount of time must pass for this to happen.
Proposition 12: Genes are to blame
The age at which gray hair appears is predetermined by genes – this is the absolute truth. In the vast majority of cases, gray hair appears at the same age as the parents.
It is important to remember that there are many factors that negatively affect the body and provoke the appearance of gray hair at an early age.
According to recent studies, heredity determines the age at which gray hair appears only by 30%. That is why relying solely on genes is not worth it. A healthy lifestyle, a balanced diet and taking care of your health will help delay graying hair.
At whatever age gray hair appears, remember: this is an absolutely normal stage in the life of any person. You will find more answers to questions about health on our website estet-portal.com
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