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Why isn't my hair turning gray as I get older?

By streamline13 on 31 Aug 2008

At my age, few people believe me that my natural red hair is, well, natural. I'm almost looking forward to getting some grey and leaving it alone just to prove a point of perhaps reverse vanity--that I've never added a single touch of color to my hair. (Red hair is a hallmark of my Irish family. My mother was a red-head, as were two of my father's sisters; and of the 24 kids within my sibling and first-cousin cohort, 6 of us--including my sister and me--were born with red hair.) How common is it for a 57-year-old woman's red hair not to have yet turned grey?

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accesskb 25 Mar 2013

thanks to all who commented.. If its genetics, it must be only me in my family. xD My brother who is only 2 years younger than me has not a strand of grey hair but instead hair so black, it makes my relatives wonder if he dyed his hair black. :) I think it won't be too long until I'll have the same amount of grey hair as my father who's in his early 60's. I'm really tired of dying my hair as it is expensive, frustrating and I wonder about the negative impact in my body from all the chemicals. I've been dying my hair since I was 15 or so. :/ However, lately I've been thinking maybe I should just leave it as it is. For some reason, I thought it didn't look too bad with all that silver/peppery hair. It would probably only come as a shock to all the people around me who usually see me with a whole head of black hair .

DFF 26 Mar 2013

Aging gracefully might be a good thing. Your hair might be more attractive than you think...with silvery/peppery hair. You know there are some wigs designed to be just that color, so someone thinks it must look good. I would give it a chance, if that's what you want to do. Follow your instincts!

accesskb 24 Mar 2013

Would you older people with no grey hair please describe your diet, lifestyle, etc? I'd love to know what you eat or how you live your life. I keep hearing grey hair is a lot to do with diet and lifestyle. I'm 31 and have 85% grey hair, its embarassing as much as I keep hearing from people to just live your life the way you are. thanks

Quasimodem 25 Mar 2013

Still think it's genetics but sure I will share. Used to teach swimming, took up yoga (don't keep up with it but very flexible), play tennis more than five times a week. I do consider myself healthy and don't get sick often. I have been told when I have gotten massages that I don't keep much stress in my body and it is suggested that I might be vocal and immediate...which is true. I do not have a sweet tooth, and really do like vegetables and eat a hell of a lot of salads and maybe red meat once a week or so. I eat a lot of eggs. I have had two kids and have gone through a divorce over 15 years ago, (my ex has grey hair and is balding though 8-)). I do drink copious amounts of wine and have a couple of glasses with dinner practically every night. I do get a good amount of sleep, have great friends and don't deny myself much in life....constantly taking up new challenges and learning things new every day...laugh a hell of a lot. I don't take any vitamins or supplements. I did though, develop very late in life and didn't stop growing till I was 24....gained two inches after 21. I had a friend who I still see that went grey prematurely, totally grey in her 20's. I'm going to have to say she looks stunning...so you never know how people are viewing you. My mom was virtually a non drinker, worked very hard, didn't have the best diet...she did have a sweet tooth...however she did have a real zest for life and she too was always doing new things. She was far from athletic, I got that from my dad. Hope this helps...

Flydog 25 Mar 2013

I believe it's all in the genes perhaps through some happy mutation. My late mother and I are the only ones in both sides of the family who did not go grey. I can't attribute my still blonde at 70 hair to my diet or lifestyle.

DFF 25 Mar 2013

I agree it's probably genetic, but here is my diet and lifestyle if it will help. I like to eat healthy foods that make me feel good, although I am not fanatical about adhering to any one diet. I like whole grains, fruits, some dairy, a little chicken, turkey, or fish occasionally, salads during the spring, not much red meat, no alcohol, fresh vegetables, soy milk, herbs and some spices. I have always had a sweet tooth and have some mostly during the holidays. I believe moderation is the key here, if that is do-able. I have never married or born children, preferring to take care of animals instead (I know my limitations). I am pretty much a recluse, because I am highly sensitive. I try to treat people with as much kindness and respect as I would want to be treated. I am creative, artistic and not much of a conformist. So there you have it.

Joan McDermott 25 Mar 2013

Dear Flydog: Lucky you, still blonde at age 70! That's awesome. My hair is light brown now but I'm not complaining!

Flydog 25 Mar 2013

Thank you - it seduces me into thinking I look younger than I am!

manchackpat 24 Mar 2013

I have no gray hair at 77. Why?

Quasimodem 24 Mar 2013

My mother didn't have grey hair into her eighties. My hairdresser says it's just plain genetics and that it is most probably a reflection of my heritage... I do have some north American Indian in me, albeit small. When I found out how much it cost to keep hair colour up at the salon, THAT is when I felt really lucky!

Joan McDermott 24 Mar 2013

See my reply to Accesskb regarding grey hair. It's GENETIC. Nothing more. You picked the right parents and grandparents! Lucky you! We are a minority!! Our friends don't believe us but it doesn't really matter. Besides us, only our hairdresser knows for sure!!!

accesskb 16 Jan 2013

i'm 31 with 80% grey in my hair.. you're so lucky

Andrea.D 28 Oct 2012

I am 38 and have never had a single grey hair. I have medium brown hair with auburn highlights. I tan fairly well if I get enough exposure and come from a mostly Italian family. My mother is 65 and claims to have plucked a grey hair or two upon occasion. She otherwise remains a brunette and has never dyed her hair. I have been told that my great grandmother died with her natural hair color. Not sure how far the gene goes back. Yes, I consider myself lucky - - but I inherited my fair share of bad genes too.

Quasimodem 21 Sep 2012

Nice to see the comments of the colorists here. I never thought that not dying ones hair was a tremendous perk until I found out how much effort and cost is involved in upkeep of dying one's hair. I was kinda shocked. Personally I pay a lot for my haircuts, love my hair guy but found out that everyone who dyes their hair pays a pretty penny for the whole shebang. I feel lucky. My stylist says it's very rare to not go grey and that many pretend they aren't. I'm pretty tall and a half inch of growth really shows on the women I tower over. I'd be like a skunk, I don't think I could keep up the maintenance. Really happy now!

Flydog 5 Aug 2012

I'm 70, hazel-eyed and my hair is still a medium blonde with natural highlights. My Mom didn't get any grey hair until well into her 70s, yet both my grandmothers were white-haired in their 30s. Strange genetics.............

Debby49 16 May 2012

I am 62. My red hair is now more of a strawberry blonde with a very small number of white hairs at the temples. No, I do not tan much so that cannot an association for me. I had 2 aunts with red hair. One went white at a young age; the other went blonder and blonder at a much later age until her hair finally began turning white. ( My aunts were not related to each other.) The blonde aunt's mother was still a brunette with very little gray when she died in her 80s.

daria68 15 Mar 2012

I'm only 26 and I all ready have a few greys. I love that there are this many women on this one forum with no grey. :) I am also a hair stylist also and it is not hugely uncommon for someone to be a little older and not have grey. Genetics has, I think, all of the influence on our hair. You can almost always look into the past and see the future. I would tell all of your haters that you have good genes and to not be so jelous. :)

chill1953 7 Jan 2012

I'm 58 with naturally auburn hair and no gray. Oddly enough I have 3 gray hairs at age 15. Most don't believe I don't color my hair

Quasimodem 24 Mar 2013

I too had a few grey hairs when I was a teenager, but it never increased. Funny, same situation.

DFF 21 Apr 2011

I am age 59 with natural blonde hair with no grey. I have very fair skin and do not tan. People think I am younger than I am and are usually telling me things I am already aware of (as if they think I don't know.) sigh. I have heard it before that I should value looking youthful, but I would like to be credited with a certain amount of intelligence and given respect for the understanding I do have. I am saying: Don't judge a book by it's cover. You never really know what is written in those pages.

Rosamay (unregistered guest) 13 Mar 2009

How do I get "irish setter" red hair, my hair is medium brown.

Quasimodem1231 (unregistered guest) 31 Dec 2008

I'm 52 and everyone thinks I am dying my hair as well. Like I've read from many, my mother had few grays when she died at 84. My hair is very dark and even though my skin in average/fair in colour, I also tan very, very, easily despite the usage of sunscreens and cover-ups. I do believe that the melanin that is oft mentioned when speaking of graying might be the all over genetic factor and would be interested hearing from all non graying people if they also tan as quickly and as easily as myself. I used to do all sorts of colour to enhance my hair colour, streaks and the like. Funny, now that I've totally stopped doing so I get more compliments on my hair than I ever had. Something to be said for the natural colours we are born with actually being right for us.

twister 21 Sep 2012

I burn very easily, but I'm 61 and have very little gray.

mary black 24 Oct 2008

I can understand your frustration-- at age 82 I only have a few gray hairs at my temples. My hair is dark brown, and of course eeryone thinks I dye it. I highlighted (bleached) it for many years, finally decided to stop and was surprised that there was no gray, as was my stylist and everyone else who worked in the salon. I sked my dermatologist and internist if they had an explanation and both said it had to be genetics.

David Stanko 26 Sep 2008

As a colorist, my daily duties include masking, hiding or enhancing women's haircolor. Although a few clients, in my 22 year career, have asked your same question. Truth is -- to date, there are a few theories about gray hair & graying, but still no real firm answers for the how, what, and when one will gray. Old wives tales indicate a "good scare" "trauma" or just genetics. Lately, some scientists believe the lack of certain enzymes account for the graying process. My dear late grandmother passed at age 77 with only a few strands of gray on her whole head. A brunette from cradle to grave! Consider yourself lucky, especially as a natural red head. Ginger, copper of Irish setter -- which ever shade of red you are...there are loads of women who'd just "dye" (get it) for what you have naturally.

Why isn't my hair turning gray as I get older?

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