Gaby
For many women, the appearance of the first gray hair can be a real shock. However, according to new research, this is likely to happen sooner than most expect.
A team of hair health experts conducted a large-scale survey involving 1,000 women. It turns out that 17 percent of the participants noticed their first gray strands before turning 25. However, this unwelcome event most commonly occurred between the ages of 31 and 35.
What Did the Researchers Discover?
While many blame their graying hair on work-related stress or issues with children, scientists believe it is simply a normal part of aging.
Meanwhile, more than half of the participants who found gray strands expressed concern about their aging. Two out of five admitted they feel embarrassed about how others perceive their gray hair. Thirty-six percent reported feeling less confident about themselves and their appearance due to gray hair. A third of the participants even considered themselves less attractive because of it, according to the Daily Mail.
The survey revealed that one in five women believes the myth that plucking a gray hair will lead to seven more. Almost one in ten is convinced that the more frequently you dye your hair, the faster it will turn gray.
About 80 percent of women think that stress accelerates the graying process, while 71 percent attribute it to genetic inheritance.
The lead author of the study, Eva Proudman, explained: “The malfunction of melanocytes—cells responsible for the color of our hair—is the main reason hair turns gray.”
According to the researcher, prolonged emotional stress can indeed trigger graying. However, it is not the primary factor; rather, it is the aging process itself.
To feel more confident, the expert recommends dyeing hair a shade lighter than your natural color.
