Why Do We Go Gray?
One of the many questions my clients ask me at the salon is: Why do we go gray or what are the causes of gray hair?
Sometimes, my quick response to the question is: we are getting old, which truly could be one reason.
In fact, there are other reasons why we all go gray. Some may experience graying at a very early age, others at a later age, while the lucky ones may never go gray.
Some other causes of graying could be:
Reduction or lack of melanin has been known to be one of the contributing factors for hair to become gray. Melanin is the one responsible for giving hair its true color and as we age, melanin-producing cells will decline.
Stress could cause gradual long-term graying in some people to an extend. Chemicals released by stress moments can stop or destroy the production of melanin-producing cells. This hasn’t been proved completely but it could be a cause for graying in many people.
Genes could play a role in graying. The University College of London found that gene IRF4 accounted for 30% of hair graying.
Smoking it has been said that smoking could cause chemical changes in melanin-producing cells. Some studies have shown a significant relationship between going gray before 30 years old and smoking. Smokers will go gray 3 years earlier than nonsmokers, but further research needs to be done on this subject.
How to Embrace Going Gray Then?
Image Credit: Francis Helminsky | Wikimedia
Well, many of our clients prefer to cover them up with some of our translucent colors, such as Dialight or Diarichesse colors, we offer at the salon. These colors are ammonia-free offering great shine and more natural hair colors for those who are not ready to transition into permanent colors. Another option available for gray blending is to add some lowlights and highlights to your hair. The combination of the two adds multi-dimension and great movement helping you to embrace gray in a more stylish way!
Highlights and Lowlights are techniques that required professional expertise. Therefore, it is best to look for a professional colorist if this is what you really prefer doing in order to blend your gray with some color, so it looks more natural.
