How old is your hair

Though the biological processes that govern graying hair remain unclear, a person's hair will ultimately turn gray when melanin—the pigment that gives your hair and skin color—stops being produced. Generally, the lighter your skin is, the sooner your hair will turn gray. Caucasians typically start to gray in their early 30s, around 10 years earlier than people with darker skin.

One theory suggests that graying is the result of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress occurs when free radicals chip away at DNA in the melanin-producing cells in hair follicles, called melanocytes, until they finally shut down. This could explain why hair tends to become coarser as it grays. Melanocytes are closely connected to the cells that build keratin in the hair shaft, called keratinocytes.

Both reside in the basal layer of the epidermis and are subject to the same exposure to free radicals. Outside of letting your hair go naturally gray, there are a variety of coloring options you can choose from:.

By the age of 60, two-thirds of men will experience androgenetic alopecia, also known as male-pattern baldness. Typically, hair loss occurs on the top of the head or at the temples and can progress in some men but not in others.

It is believed that men who lose their hair have follicles that are predisposed to produce smaller and less visible vellus hair "peach fuzz". This is usually the result of hormonal changes that occur with age, although smoking can also contribute.

Women, meanwhile, can experience "female-pattern" baldness, resulting in thinning hair and a visible scalp. Genetics, shifting levels in male hormones androgens during menopause or premenopause, and vitamin deficiencies are all believed to contribute. Currently, there is no cure for baldness. Some treatments are able to stimulate the growth of new, more visible hairs, including topical Rogaine minoxidil and oral Propecia finasteride.

The results of these treatments can vary from one person to the next. For women, the only treatment approved by the FDA is minoxidil, sold under the brand name Women's Rogaine. Hair transplants are another option. This involves the grafting of tiny plugs of healthy scalp from thicker patches of hair to areas of balding.

It is an expensive solution that requires many treatments, but the results are permanent. On the other end of the spectrum, having too much hair is a problem that many women face. The condition, referred to as hirsutism, is characterized by the abnormal growth of hair on parts of the body where male body hair typically grows, such as the face, neck, chest, thighs, and back.

Hirsutism may be caused by genetics, aging, certain medications, and conditions like polycystic ovary disease PCOS. In rare cases, it may be a sign of ovarian cancer or adrenal cancer.

Though hirsutism is typically harmless, it can be embarrassing for many women, affecting their self-esteem and body image. If temporary solutions like tweezing, waxing, and depilatories aren't able to control excessive hair growth, you can explore more permanent methods of hair removal, including:.

If these interventions are inadequate, speak with an endocrinologist who may be able to diagnose and treat the underlying hormonal condition. If the cause is unknown, speak with your healthcare provider about further investigations. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life.

Epidermal stem cells and skin tissue engineering in hair follicle regeneration. World J Stem Cells. The structure of people's hair. A comment on the science of hair aging. Int J Trichology. Promotion of anagen, increased hair density and reduction of hair fall in a clinical setting following identification of FGF5-inhibiting compounds via a novel 2-stage process.

Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. If hair loss is permanent, a possible solution is a hair transplant, says Halaas.

It can be performed at any age, as well as anywhere on the head and eyebrows. Halaas uses the a micro-grafting technology known as Smart Graft on her patients. This means follicles are harvested one at a time and placed in the balding areas individually to replicate the natural contour of the hairline. Halaas says you should only pursue this treatment with a board-certified surgeon to ensure that the results are legit. There are also other options available, such as laser treatments, platelet-rich plasma treatments PRP , and prescription medications.

Talk to your dermatologist for recommendations on what type of procedure is right for you. Weight Loss.

United States. Exactly How Your Hair Transforms. Type keyword s to search. Getty Images. In Your 20's Who doesn't experiment with their hair in their teens and twenties? Here's how to blow-dry fine, thinning hair:. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below. Our bodies keep changing as we grow older and our hair is one of the first places to show this change with greys appearing, textural changes, and thinning hair. You can also take steps to stop accidentally damaging your hair without realising. The texture of our hair does naturally change as we age. But generally speaking, hair will slowly become thinner, drier, grey in colour and sometimes coarser and more brittle.

As we age these oils decrease, resulting in drier, frizzier hair. Along with a change in oil production, when our hair turns grey the reduction in melanocytes the substance that gives our hair colour also causes hair to become dry. This drop in pigment changes the structure of the hair follicle, leaving it feeling brittle and frizzy. Stay away from heat Similarly, if you constantly heat style your hair, the high temperatures can zap your strands of their moisture, leading to more frizz so try and air-dry your hair as much as possible.

The formula is enriched with the oils that dry hair needs so straw-like, frizzy hair feels smoother and shinier. Nourish from the inside-out You can also try taking a supplement in order to moisturise your hair from the inside.

During menopause, numerous hormonal changes occur in your body that starts to show on the outside, and this includes hair becoming dry and wiry as you get older.