What Does Gray Hair Come From?

Gray hair comes from the same hair follicles that your other hair comes from, but, unlike your hair of origin, which may be brown, red or blond, it is without color.

No Pigmentation

• Gray hair is actually transparent, or colorless, hair. It only appears to be gray, or white, when it pops up next to your darker or pigmented hair of origin. Gray hair occurs when you lose your hair pigmentation.

Melanin

• Hair color, whether your hair is black or blond, is created by melanin, which produces pigment. The more pigment an individual has, the darker his hair will be. Melanin is located in the cells of your hair follicles.

Aging

• As you get older, you stop producing adequate amounts of melanin. When your new hair grows in, it is gray or white (or transparent). Hair does not actually turn gray. The pigmented (darker) hair falls out and is replaced by new hair, which is gray.

Hydrogen Peroxide

• Msnbc.com explains that we all produce an enzyme called catalese. It breaks down hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen. We all produce hydrogen peroxide, but it can interfere with melanin production. As you get older, the catalese production wanes. There is nothing left to turn the hydrogen peroxide into the chemicals that are needed and the body then releases. As the hydrogen peroxide builds up in your system, you begin to turn gray.

Genetic Destiny

• Some people turn gray early in life because it is their genetic destinies. However, if an individual has a thyroid disorder or vitamin B12 deficiency, this can cause hair to turn gray, according to Disabled-world.com