Gray Hair 101

Let's face it, gray hair sucks. In fact, it's a multibillion dollar industry...the anti-gray hair industry. Only few people can pull it off. Like Meryl Streep. But let's be honest...she could probably pull off purple hair. Or no hair.

So what causes it?

Something called apoptosis. Basically, the cells located at the base of the hair follicles slow, thus stopping the production of color pigment. It is the lack of pigment that makes the hair appear gray or white. So it's not really your hair turning gray, it's your hair losing its color.

Things that cause hair to turn gray are:

1. Obviously aging. More than 60% of Americans have some gray hair by the time their forty, but can start getting it as early as childhood.
2. Stress
3. Medical conditions. Albinism, malnutrition, Werner Syndrome.
4. Other factors. Like smoking. Some studies have found a link between smoking and gray hair. Just another reason not to do it.

Do you have gray hair? Do you cover it up, or let if grow free?