Kids Health accurately explains that graying of the hair is a natural process of ageing. Without getting super nerdy about it, the roots of the hairs are surrounded by this tissue that releases the pigments that keep up our hair color. But as we grow older, these pigment cells die and so does our hair color.
As to the question of when that happens, it depends on your genes. Some grow gray starting at the end of high school, while others might never have to experience it. Though, on average, graying starts happening somewhere between early and late thirties. With varying results.
But graying isn't just a bodily phenomenon. Bored Panda has reached out to Kayleigh, hairdresser and hair extension specialist, owner of Diehard Stylist and co-owner of The Hair Shack based in Middlesbrough, UK, who elaborated that graying has a psychological aspect to it as well:
"There has always been a stigma attached to going gray, especially for women. We're brought up in a world so heavily opinionated on a woman's appearance. The thought of being 'old and gray' (as the saying goes) is something a lot of women fear as gray hair is associated with ageing, but in more recent years there has been a good movement on how women should see them selves," elaborated Kayleigh.
To top it all off, there are different shades of gray (no, not that kind), and depending on how much your body likes to give you a hard time, you might end up with anything but what qualifies you as a silver fox or vixen.
Instead of something like silver or ash, there is a non-zero chance of developing yellowish gray hair, which is a complete bummer if you were looking forward to graying like Diane Keaton or Ted Danson. In fact, this is why there are discussions on the topic of why people hate graying.
But, at the end of the day, the best thing you can do is embrace it. Or dye it. But embracing seems like the healthier option.
So, OK, we understand why we take care of our young and beautiful hair, but once it grays, does that make it easier to care for it, or is it the other way around? Kayleigh explains:
"Yes and No. Colored hair will always need regular maintenance and upkeep, from root touch ups to refreshing faded colors, so depending on the person, this could feel like a lot of maintenance. Gray hair has a coarser texture when you compare it to non-gray, due to less sebum being created from the scalp. This could make hair a little more unruly to take care of from day to day. There are many brilliant products that are able to help with that."
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"Going gray shouldn't be seen as a bad thing—it happens to everyone and it doesn't always happen at an older age. There are a lot more women going gray 'gracefully' and I'm totally for it! I think it looks cool," added Kayleigh.
"There are some characters in movies, etc. that have been going gray or had what's called the mallen streak: Sweeney Todd, Cruella DeVille, Bellatrix Lestrange, to name a few!"
The mallen streak is a streak/chunk of hair that has lost its melatonin and gone gray. It's been used in pop culture symbolism as 'evil' as it's taken from the Latin word 'malignus' meaning wicked. It's been used to signal female villains in some movies and has progressed into a popular style in witchy/alt girl culture."