The Science Behind Hair Color
The human body has millions of hair follicles that generate hair and pigment cells that contain melanin. Melanin comes in two types: eumelanin (responsible for brown and black hair) and pheomelanin (responsible for blonde and red hair). The specific mix and concentration of these pigments give us our unique hair colors.
As we age, melanocyte activity gradually slows and may eventually stop, reducing the amount of pigment deposited into new hair strands and causing hair to turn gray or gray.
While aging is the most common reason, other factors can also influence how early or quickly this change occurs.