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by AB-Joel on March 7th, 2004

AB-Joel

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Why does our hair turn gray?

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Answers. 20 helpful answers below.

  • by wickedwillie on March 7th, 2004

    wickedwillie

    Pigment-producing cells add colour to our hair as it grows. Darker hair has more pigment than lighter hair. As we age, the pigment-producing cells slowly die off. Hair’s base colour shows through, and individual hairs appear white. When mixed in with strands of hair that still have their original colour, hair looks grey.

    Individual hairs each have an outer layer (the cuticle) of overlapping flat cells, underneath which is the thick cortex which consists of horn-like keratin. The inside of the hair is made of softer, rectangular cells. Hair colour is determined by the concentration and depth of melanin pigment in the cortex - this produces the whole spectrum of hair colour from blond through to black, with very fair people or albinos having almost no melanin. When these melanocytes die, then the hair turns grey then white as the pigment is broken down.

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  • by NormaJean on December 7th, 2006

    NormaJean

    because as we get older our bodies stop producing eumelanin an pheomelanin

    pheomelanin is produced by people with the light shades of blonde and red hair

    eumelanin is produced by people with dark hair

    anyhow its all melanin and melanin its what gives hair its pigment...or color once your body stops producing it ...it's white and gray from then out but you never have to show it if you visit your stylist every 4-6 weeks and have it colored or if you color it at home ....

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  • by kellypb on December 7th, 2006

    kellypb

    Because of your spouse.

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  • by Da Azian Boi on June 21st, 2007

    Da Azian Boi

    Our hair turns gray because our hair loses its pigment.

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  • by royal77 says hello friend on March 1st, 2009

    royal77 says hello friend

    We are getting old.

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  • by Anonymous on December 20th, 2006

    Anonymous

    stress

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  • by JUSTNORMAL on December 17th, 2006

    JUSTNORMAL

    KIDS!!! LOL

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  • by -NUNYA-- on March 1st, 2009

    -NUNYA--

    The hair gets tired of working to keep the color! LOL So it stops and lack of color causes white hairs. LOL Thanks for the fun question. I will check in on it and see if someone knows the real answer. I would be intrested to know that as well. +5

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  • by HappyGoLucky on June 21st, 2007

    HappyGoLucky

    stress,family,children,child bearing,child birth,moveing,crying children,negitive people,arguments,disagrements,money,making desisions,Death of a family member, Death of a close friend,Death of your unborn child and the Dr. Says you will die because you are bleeding inside if we dont deliver and the baby will not survive because he is not fully developed and he is too young for ICU.Marrage, life, bills, gass prices,war,worring,

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  • by -ashley- on December 28th, 2006

    -ashley-

    because over time you can loose the pigment in your hair

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  • by GARY MARSHALL on December 16th, 2006

    GARY MARSHALL

    Bad nerves or it could run in your family.

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  • by timetogetserious on December 11th, 2006

    timetogetserious

    Stress !!!!

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  • by Mirage V2.0 AWOL on December 11th, 2006

    Mirage V2.0 AWOL

    Great answers.
    But for fun, actually your hair STOPS turning red, brown, black, blonde and becomes without pigment/virtually clear.
    It doesn't turn white as such.

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  • by Lauty1111 on March 1st, 2009

    Lauty1111

    Not exactly positive but I know it has something to do with the pigments, they just stop allowing the color to form!

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  • by Yahoo Answers Is A Fraud on March 1st, 2009

    Yahoo Answers Is A Fraud

    We're getting old.

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  • by CousinVinny on June 21st, 2007

    CousinVinny

    You get old.
    Hey that is a good thing. You are still alive.

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  • by Sandra havent been here since forever on June 21st, 2007

    Sandra havent been here since forever

    my mom says its us but probably its just the stress we cause
    so stress?

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  • by The King of Awesome on June 21st, 2007

    The King of Awesome

    assholes like me

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  • by ChelseaMark on June 21st, 2007

    ChelseaMark

    So our mates can take the p*** out of us.

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  • by hellokitty3 on February 19th, 2007

    hellokitty3

    Simple Answer: our hair looses its color over time

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