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Why am I going gray?


Lately my friends have been pointing out white hairs on my head. Most of my hair is brown but it is still really embarrassing. Why is this happening?


No need to be embarrassed, sweetie. Gray or white hairs can pop up at any age, depending on a couple factors. See, our hair follicles have melanin, a chemical that produces pigment and gives hair its color. It’s the reason why you may have dark brown hair, while your friend is a strawberry-blonde. The more melanin you have in your hair follicles, the darker your hair color, and vice versa. When the melanin stops producing pigment, you get white or gray hair. 


Interesting fact: Our hair is actually white to begin with, but the pigment is what gives it color! So, this just means that those white hairs on your head have lost their pigment and reverted back to their natural color.


The timing of gray or white hair mostly depends on those good ol’ genes of ours. If your parents or grandparents started getting a few white hairs as a teen, chances are that’s the reason you’re getting them now. It could also be because you’re not getting enough B Vitamins, so be sure to fit some leafy green veggies, whole grains, potatoes and bananas into your diet. Another common cause? Stress.


If the white hairs are really starting to bother you, ask mom and dad if you can use an at-home hair touch-up kit—nothing to drastically change your hair color, just to cover those pesky hairs.


Good Luck!

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by Casey Lieberman | 2/1/2016
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