• Categorized under Health | Difference Between Grey and White Hair

Grey vs White Hair

The hair is one of the most visible and easy to notice parts of a man’s body. Women are especially conscious about their hair but men also always want their hair to be healthy and in good condition.

Depending on the person’s ethnic group, hair can be black, brown, blond, or red.

The reason for hair’s difference in color is the pigments eumelanin and pheomelanin. They are types of melanin, a pigment that can be found in animals. It determines a person’s skin and hair color; more melanin gives a person darker skin and hair, while less of it gives a person lighter colored skin and hair.

As we grow older, we also notice that our hair slowly turns grey. There are even young men and women who acquire grey hair even in their teens. The hair is actually clear, not grey or white. This is due to the lack of melanin and pigmentation in the hair follicles. It only appears grey or white by the way light is reflected on them.

Thyroid or vitamin B12 deficiencies can also cause hair to turn white or grey. Albinism, a genetic abnormality, gives a person white or pale blond hair. Auto immune disease, malnutrition, anemia, among other medical conditions can also cause hair to become prematurely grey. Tobacco smoking can also turn hair grey.

When hair is just beginning to turn white or grey, not all of the hair is affected. Grey hair happens when there is still black or natural colored hair left. White hair is when all color is gone leaving only white hair.

Every single hair on our body has its own cycle. Each one grows, absorbs nutrients for health and growth, falls out, and then grows back again. Each one of the hairs gets its own dose of melanin and while some get enough if it, there are some that don’t, so they become light colored, while others are dark. This is when you notice hair appearing to turn grey, when there is a mix of dark colored and grey or white hair.

As the person grows older and the body’s ability to produce melanin begins to slow down, all the hair in the body turns grey or white and this when you begin to see all white hair.

For young people who are affected by melanin deficiency, grey or white hair can be concealed through the use of hair dyes. They can use conventional, permanent or semi permanent hair dyes or colorants.

There are some who are hoping for a way to reverse grey hair but then the biggest factor that affects the color of hair is genetics. Some cosmetic and pharmaceutical companies are actually gearing towards some promising genetic research that they hope would produce a product that can reverse grey or white hair.

Summary

1. You get grey hair when not all of your hair has turned white, meaning that there is still dark colored hair mixed with the white hair, while you get white hair when all of your hair has turned white.

2. With grey hair, not all of the hair lacks melanin, while with white hair; all of them no longer get enough melanin.