Gray hair and age

The melanocytes in the hair follicles produce less and less melanin, and the result is a loss Gray hair is caused by the gradual reduction of melanin production over time within the affected hair follicle. Gray hair development in the beard and mustache may also start quite early, while gray hair on the chest and pubic region generally only occurs some years after onset of gray hair on the scalp. This first gray hair may spread around the sides and to the crown with time.

The most common areas on the scalp in which to first see gray hair development are above the ears and/or at the temples. As a rough guide, 50% of the population in the US and Europe have 50% gray hair by age 50. Typical gray hair first develops at age 34.2 +/- 9.6 years in Caucasians while for Black people the average age of onset is 43.9 +/-10.3 years (Keogh 1965). Very occasionally, a few gray hairs can develop in children as young as 8 years and yet it indicates nothing other than an early onset of the gray hair that we all develop with increasing age.

Premature graying is defined as gray hair onset before late teens for Caucasians and before age 30 in Africans and Asians, or alternatively 50% or more gray scalp hair before age 50. Most people actually start going gray in their late 20s but they don't notice it immediately. The first onset of gray hair and the speed at which people go gray varies considerably from person to person.

New Nutrition and hair color

Affected individuals have a variety of symptoms affecting the skin, Menkes' kinky hair syndrome is a genetic disorder in which individuals are not able to properly absorb copper in the gut. Treatment involves taking tyrosine supplements and this can return hair color to normal in a short space of time. Tyrosine is fundamentally required for pigment formation. This genetic disorder is caused by a deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase in the liver and this results in an inability to metabolize phenylalanine to tyrosine.

Lack of pigment in the hair is a minor concern with this condition as phenylketonuria typically involves significant mental retardation. There may be a loss of hair (as well as skin and eye) color in individuals who have phenylketonuria. Presumably normal hair color is produced when protein intake is adequate and reduced hair color occurs during times when there is a lack of protein intake. The flag sign is associated with intermittent protein malnutrition.

The flag sign sometimes seen in kwashiorkor involves alternating light and dark bands of color along individual hair fibers. Light colored hair becomes blonde. Normally dark brown hair becomes a rusty red. This disease involves multiple symptoms including the reduction of pigment production and incorporation into hair fiber. Prolonged protein deficiency in the diet results in Kwashiorkor.

Any hair color changes due to nutritional deficiencies are typically only seen in people who have genetic defects, in diseases that block metabolism, or in severely malnourished individuals of the developing world. It is very rare to find nutritional factors as a cause of hair color changes.

Hair Styles and Colors

The People make assumptions about redheads that may or may not be true, but what is true is that if you go red, you may feel a burst of power. Try streaking your brown hair with coppery red, or even a combination of red and gold highlights. For bored brunettes, streaking or foiling is a great option, being dramatic and playful without going over the edge.

Blonds can have more fun with reverse highlighting; adding deeper shades in wide or narrow streaks to their natural color. If you used it too frequently, the harsher chemicals in the permanent hair colors can turn your hair to straw, and may even turn it a scary and unexpected color if you try to set more color on top of a recent dye job. If you're going to play with your hair color on the weekends, never use the permanent variety and then try to reverse it in less than several weeks. Funky, chunky highlights can be rectified nearly overnight with another color, as long as you use the wash-in-wash-out type that aren't made to last.

If you want to try a new color look but can’t make up your mind, get one of the temporary hair colors that will wash out in six or eight shampoos. It takes a little time, a little money plus a little risk. You can never imagine the hair color for you if you don’t try it on you for real. Just don't be afraid to experiment on yourself until find the best color that works on you.