Question
Why isn't my hair turning gray as I get older?
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?
Answers (1)
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September 26, 2008
My grandmother never grayed but for a few strands
Answer by David Stanko
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.
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10/25/08
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.