White/grey hair explosion! - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

abaya · 10-11-2005, 09:57 PM

Alright, dunno which forum would be best, but I'll go with this one for now...

So I'm curious about when TFP'ers started getting white/grey hairs. I noticed mine when I was about 20, in my senior year of college... had about 10-20 of them, mostly in one area of my scalp. I also have very dark brown hair, so they stood out pretty clearly. Mind you, I didn't sleep much in college at all, and was fairly stressed most of the time... so I always wondered whether my health/stress had anything to do with it, or if it was just a natural occurance.

Now I'm 26 and have TONS of white hairs... easily in the hundreds. In the last 6 years they have just gone crazy. Of course, my stress levels haven't decreased much, so that could still be a factor, but I'm wondering how long it will be before I go completely grey and if there's any way of preventing this from happening? (Or at least slowing it down.) I'm not a fan of dying my hair, at least not until I get really desperate. Any tips on diet, hair treatment, etc? Or is this just inevitable...

cyrnel · 10-11-2005, 10:13 PM

My greying pattern matched yours fairly well. It seemed to slow in my mid-30's, but my beard continues a slow greying to this day. No idea if stress contributed but my brother has always worked in less anxiety-ridden jobs, and he's kept more of his hair in its original color.

I have determined grey hair is heavier than dark. I'm certain of this because while less of it grows at the top of my head, more has begun to grow from my ears, nose, and other regions which can only be explained by the effects of gravity. I expect eventually, my toe-nails will be quite cozy if somewhat unfashionable. Altogether now, "Eeeeewww!"

Uncle Pony · 10-11-2005, 10:27 PM

I'd be happy to get grey hair. I'm going fuckin' bald. At least you can work with grey hair. You're pretty limited without it. I want to do a comb-over with a handlebar mustache and monacle but the wife isn't going for it.

Rodney · 10-11-2005, 10:39 PM

I'm a chronic worrier, always have been. That said, I'm nearly fifty and I've got maybe 15-20 grey hairs, low down on the temples. My hair is dark brown; if there were any more grey hairs, I'd see them clearly.

My facial hair began to go gray in my mid-thirties, on the other hand. If I grew a beard, it'd be seriously salt-and-pepper.

I personally believe grey hair is genetic. My mom -- a nervous person like myself -- also has dark brown hair, and began to grey seriously only in her late '50s. Even in her '80s, her hair is iron grey, not white.

I remember reading that Caucasians go gray earlier on the average than some other ethnicities. Dad was a chesnut-haired Celt, but Mom's people are a lot darker of skin and hair.

All that said -- if you don't like gray hair, dye it. If you're afraid of your hair thinning or receding further, go with Propecia (or get the doc to prescribe the blood pressure medication that Propecia contains and which is its active ingredient, at 1/4 the price). Better living through chemistry. And why not? Grey hair or receding hair doesn't really say anything about how vigorous or healthy you are; it's just the luck of the draw. If it bothers you, and you can change that luck, do it.

Sometimes people ask me if I dye my hair, and I always say, "Not yet." Because I will dye it if I start to go seriously gray and I don't like how it looks. As for Propecia, I'm going to skip it, because I know about what my balding/receding/thinning pattern is going to be, and I'm okay with it.

ryfo · 10-12-2005, 01:27 AM

Late twenties early thirties But they seem to be most at the front and they are thicker than my normal hair so I think they stick out, but others dont seem to notice or maybe are too afraid to say anything. Now I have hit 40 they dont seem to be getting worse and I dont notice them much anymore.

Cynthetiq · 10-12-2005, 01:29 AM

i have long dark brown hair... when it's all bunched up in a ponytail it's black.

I want it to be white like Sephiroth.

My reason...long white hair on Asians is a sign of wisdom.

Martian · 10-12-2005, 03:30 AM

That whole idea about stress causing grey hair is an old wives tale; grey hair has genetic causes and is therefore likely an inherited trait. My grandfather and two of my uncles, for example, all had a full head of grey hair before they were 40. At 22 I have more than my fair share and will likely carry on the family tradition; the good news is that my grandfather in his 70's still has a full head of hair, so here's hoping I inherit that gene too.

The bad news is that there's not really anything you can do short of dying it. O the bright side, grey hair can look very distinguished and dye jobs can be indistinguishable from the real deal if properly applied.

abaya · 10-12-2005, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cynthetiq

My reason...long white hair on Asians is a sign of wisdom.

Nice, I can work with that (I'm half-Asian).

Yeah, I'm not necessarily afraid of aging gracefully

but I just worried that maybe I was doing something to increase my loss of coloring. I do like my natural dark-brown hair and every time I see another hair gone bad (you know, the ones that are "molting," half-white when you pull them out), I wince a little. But I guess when I have a full head of hair like that, I will feel cool and wise like my grandma.

Secretly I love searching through my hair to find and tweeze out long white ones... it's something I do when I'm really bored... anyone one else like that?

ngdawg · 10-12-2005, 06:17 PM

My mom was going grey in her early to mid-40's, my dad a bit later. All my younger siblings have at least some grey hair, I have none. Not sure where genetics plays a part there as all my grandparents were grey by my age as well. The nice thing is-both my dad and his mother, who was a redhead, went more 'blonde' than white, so I'm preparing to be blonde by acting dumber

thingstodo · 10-13-2005, 05:50 PM

Mid-40s for me. I heard someplace that, besides genetics, a copper deficiency can contribute to the situation, especially when you are younger.

Gilda · 10-13-2005, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodney

All that said -- if you don't like gray hair, dye it. If you're afraid of your hair thinning or receding further, go with Propecia (or get the doc to prescribe the blood pressure medication that Propecia contains and which is its active ingredient, at 1/4 the price). Better living through chemistry. And why not? Grey hair or receding hair doesn't really say anything about how vigorous or healthy you are; it's just the luck of the draw. If it bothers you, and you can change that luck, do it.

You're thinking of spironolactone, which works in the same way as Propecia but isn't the same. It has a raft of other anti-androgenic effects, is a diuretic, and can cause impotence and reduction of body hair, which result in its being used as the primary anti-androgen in male-to-female transsexuals in the US. Not a good choice if your goal is not to go bald.

---------------

I have no white hair that I know of at 29. My sister is already salt and pepper and is not even 20 yet. She doesn't hesitate to dye, and with nearly black hair already, it isn't difficult to dye it in a way that looks natural.

Gilda

ratbastid · 10-13-2005, 07:37 PM

I have a handful of grey hairs, right on the top of my head. I suppose it might be stress related, but my dad's got a gorgeous, full head of completely white hair that I someday hope to attain myself. So far I'm not showing any signs of baldness.

hrandani · 10-13-2005, 09:55 PM

I'm 19 and rapidly losing hair all over the map.

Like those above, I would really prefer grey : )

jRuntlets · 10-14-2005, 03:43 PM

I'm 20. Started to get grey at 16ish. My great grandfather was totally grey by the time he was 21. I want long hot grey hair in my 30's. I think it's a hereditary thing.

Grasshopper Green · 10-14-2005, 07:14 PM

I think it's hereditary too. Both my parents went salt and pepper at an early age and at 27, I have quite a bit of grey hair. My brother started going grey at 16 and at the time he died, had about as much grey as he did dark brown. I have started to dye my hair...and when my roots come in the grey is really noticable.

Rodney · 10-15-2005, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gilda

You're thinking of spironolactone, which works in the same way as Propecia but isn't the same. It has a raft of other anti-androgenic effects, is a diuretic, and can cause impotence and reduction of body hair, which result in its being used as the primary anti-androgen in male-to-female transsexuals in the US. Not a good choice if your goal is not to go bald.

Actually, no. But I apologize for misleading you with bad information. I backed up and did a quick Google. The drug in question is called Proscar (finasteride), and it is used to fight benign prostate enlargement. Both Proscar and Propecia are finasteride, but Propecia is a 1 mg dose while Proscar comes in 5 mg tabs and is cheaper (no advertising campaign to pay for, I guess). You buy a pill-cutter and cut each Proscar into four pieces, then take one piece a day.

You do want to keep your finasteride to a low-dosage. No studies have detected any harmful side effects from long-term use of finasteride in Propecia (1 mg/day), but long-term use of finasteride at 5 mg a day (Proscar daily dosage) has been implicated -- inconclusively, but implicated -- in a slight increase in cancer risk. So if you do Proscar as a cheap propecia substitute, always cut up the pill. More isn't better. Here's a link that tells the tale:

http://www.ishrs.org/articles/finast...ate-cancer.htm

maleficent · 10-15-2005, 07:40 AM

At 16 or so I had one part of my hair that was solid white/gray... just kind ofhappened overnight... my natural hair color is dark auburn... and from root to tip, this one section (about an inch square) went white. No head injury or anything preceded it.

Now at 40... my colorist says I'm about 60 percent gray... (note to self, find good colorist in NH... cause I'm way too gray right now)

I don't mind the gray so much, but my skin is so fair, that the light colored hair makes me look more tired and drained than I feel. My mother, who at 72 is a blonde, but in her 50s and 60s kept her short hair it's natural gray -- mom was a natural blonde but has a very natural looking tan, and the gray hair looked great on her (and made her look younger than the blonde does)

shakran · 10-15-2005, 07:49 AM

I got my first grey hair at age 8. I pretty much figured I was screwed at that point, but for some reason I still only have a few several decades later.

Unless you color your hair (thank GOD I'm behind the camera in my job and not in front of it so I don't have to mess with that crap) you're not gonna stop the greying process.

Gilda · 10-15-2005, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodney

Actually, no. But I apologize for misleading you with bad information. I backed up and did a quick Google. The drug in question is called Proscar (finasteride), and it is used to fight benign prostate enlargement. Both Proscar and Propecia are finasteride, but Propecia is a 1 mg dose while Proscar comes in 5 mg tabs and is cheaper (no advertising campaign to pay for, I guess). You buy a pill-cutter and cut each Proscar into four pieces, then take one piece a day.

Ah, ok. The blood pressure medicine bit threw me off. Spironolactone is primarily a high blood pressure medicine that works at least partly in the same manner.

What you're describing isn't a different drug, it's the same drug, but with a different brand name and dosage, and is only for men. Otherwise, you're probably right about this being a good strategy for men who want to keep their hair.

----------------

Back on topic--Grace has jet black hair like her father and his parents (not unexpected, being Japanese and all) and not a single gray one yet. I think it's unlikely she'll ever go gray, as her parents are both solid black in their mid forties, and both grandmothers are still black in their 60's or 70's.

Gilda

snowy · 10-15-2005, 10:21 AM

I got my first gray hair at 15. Since then, I've sprouted about six or so gray hairs a year. The only really noticeable ones are around my part. Seeing as my mom was almost entirely gray by 30 (she dyes her hair, always has) I expect to have similar hair. I don't dye mine any longer; I think the gray looks cool and with my coarse hair, constant coloring treatment proved harsh. Besides, my hair is a kaleidoscope of colors if you look at it closely, and I don't want to change that.

frogza · 10-17-2005, 05:10 PM

No grey for me at 31, my brother started at 17 and is about half grey now.

Leto · 11-02-2005, 08:12 AM

minor grey at the the temples, but that's ok. The pattern baldness is damned annoying. Started gradually about 15 yrs ago (when I was 30 -ish) just when I was getting over adolescence. damn.

But I've come to terms with it, and try to stay in shape, and keep the hair short. No comb-overs for me.

Dragonknight · 11-02-2005, 08:54 AM

I'm 22 now, and have a hand full of gray. I'm going with the genetics thing though. My grand father (dads side) was completely gray by 31. My father and brother were working on a lot of gray by there thirties, so i'm either looking at being gray by my thirties or darn close. We'll see though because my mothers family all has dark hair with little to no gray.

10-11-2005, 09:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
abaya Location: Iceland	White/grey hair explosion! Alright, dunno which forum would be best, but I'll go with this one for now... So I'm curious about when TFP'ers started getting white/grey hairs. I noticed mine when I was about 20, in my senior year of college... had about 10-20 of them, mostly in one area of my scalp. I also have very dark brown hair, so they stood out pretty clearly. Mind you, I didn't sleep much in college at all, and was fairly stressed most of the time... so I always wondered whether my health/stress had anything to do with it, or if it was just a natural occurance. Now I'm 26 and have TONS of white hairs... easily in the hundreds. In the last 6 years they have just gone crazy. Of course, my stress levels haven't decreased much, so that could still be a factor, but I'm wondering how long it will be before I go completely grey and if there's any way of preventing this from happening? (Or at least slowing it down.) I'm not a fan of dying my hair, at least not until I get really desperate. Any tips on diet, hair treatment, etc? Or is this just inevitable... __________________ And think not you can direct the course of Love; for Love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course. --Khalil Gibran

10-11-2005, 10:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
cyrnel Adequate Location: In my angry-dome.	My greying pattern matched yours fairly well. It seemed to slow in my mid-30's, but my beard continues a slow greying to this day. No idea if stress contributed but my brother has always worked in less anxiety-ridden jobs, and he's kept more of his hair in its original color. I have determined grey hair is heavier than dark. I'm certain of this because while less of it grows at the top of my head, more has begun to grow from my ears, nose, and other regions which can only be explained by the effects of gravity. I expect eventually, my toe-nails will be quite cozy if somewhat unfashionable. Altogether now, "Eeeeewww!" __________________ There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

10-11-2005, 10:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
Rodney Observant Ruminant Location: Rich Wannabe Hippie Town	I'm a chronic worrier, always have been. That said, I'm nearly fifty and I've got maybe 15-20 grey hairs, low down on the temples. My hair is dark brown; if there were any more grey hairs, I'd see them clearly. My facial hair began to go gray in my mid-thirties, on the other hand. If I grew a beard, it'd be seriously salt-and-pepper. I personally believe grey hair is genetic. My mom -- a nervous person like myself -- also has dark brown hair, and began to grey seriously only in her late '50s. Even in her '80s, her hair is iron grey, not white. I remember reading that Caucasians go gray earlier on the average than some other ethnicities. Dad was a chesnut-haired Celt, but Mom's people are a lot darker of skin and hair. All that said -- if you don't like gray hair, dye it. If you're afraid of your hair thinning or receding further, go with Propecia (or get the doc to prescribe the blood pressure medication that Propecia contains and which is its active ingredient, at 1/4 the price). Better living through chemistry. And why not? Grey hair or receding hair doesn't really say anything about how vigorous or healthy you are; it's just the luck of the draw. If it bothers you, and you can change that luck, do it. Sometimes people ask me if I dye my hair, and I always say, "Not yet." Because I will dye it if I start to go seriously gray and I don't like how it looks. As for Propecia, I'm going to skip it, because I know about what my balding/receding/thinning pattern is going to be, and I'm okay with it. Last edited by Rodney; 10-11-2005 at 10:46 PM..

10-12-2005, 01:29 AM	#6 (permalink)
Cynthetiq Tilted Cat Head Administrator Location: Manhattan, NY	i have long dark brown hair... when it's all bunched up in a ponytail it's black. I want it to be white like Sephiroth. My reason...long white hair on Asians is a sign of wisdom. __________________ I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not. What's the best nation in the world? DO-NATION!

10-12-2005, 03:30 AM	#7 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	That whole idea about stress causing grey hair is an old wives tale; grey hair has genetic causes and is therefore likely an inherited trait. My grandfather and two of my uncles, for example, all had a full head of grey hair before they were 40. At 22 I have more than my fair share and will likely carry on the family tradition; the good news is that my grandfather in his 70's still has a full head of hair, so here's hoping I inherit that gene too. The bad news is that there's not really anything you can do short of dying it. O the bright side, grey hair can look very distinguished and dye jobs can be indistinguishable from the real deal if properly applied. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

10-11-2005, 10:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
Uncle Pony Crazy	I'd be happy to get grey hair. I'm going fuckin' bald. At least you can work with grey hair. You're pretty limited without it. I want to do a comb-over with a handlebar mustache and monacle but the wife isn't going for it.

10-12-2005, 01:27 AM	#5 (permalink)
ryfo Psycho Location: melbourne australia	Late twenties early thirties But they seem to be most at the front and they are thicker than my normal hair so I think they stick out, but others dont seem to notice or maybe are too afraid to say anything. Now I have hit 40 they dont seem to be getting worse and I dont notice them much anymore.

10-12-2005, 06:17 PM	#9 (permalink)
ngdawg peekaboo Location: on the back, bitch	My mom was going grey in her early to mid-40's, my dad a bit later. All my younger siblings have at least some grey hair, I have none. Not sure where genetics plays a part there as all my grandparents were grey by my age as well. The nice thing is-both my dad and his mother, who was a redhead, went more 'blonde' than white, so I'm preparing to be blonde by acting dumber __________________ Don't blame me. I didn't vote for either of'em.

10-13-2005, 05:50 PM	#10 (permalink)
thingstodo A Storm Is Coming Location: The Great White North	Mid-40s for me. I heard someplace that, besides genetics, a copper deficiency can contribute to the situation, especially when you are younger. __________________ If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves. Stangers have the best candy.

10-13-2005, 07:37 PM	#12 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	I have a handful of grey hairs, right on the top of my head. I suppose it might be stress related, but my dad's got a gorgeous, full head of completely white hair that I someday hope to attain myself. So far I'm not showing any signs of baldness.

10-13-2005, 09:55 PM	#13 (permalink)
hrandani Insane	I'm 19 and rapidly losing hair all over the map. Like those above, I would really prefer grey : )

10-14-2005, 03:43 PM	#14 (permalink)
jRuntlets Crazy	I'm 20. Started to get grey at 16ish. My great grandfather was totally grey by the time he was 21. I want long hot grey hair in my 30's. I think it's a hereditary thing. __________________ Horses come and go, but some leave permanent hoof prints on your life.

10-14-2005, 07:14 PM	#15 (permalink)
Grasshopper Green ...is a comical chap Location: Where morons reign supreme	I think it's hereditary too. Both my parents went salt and pepper at an early age and at 27, I have quite a bit of grey hair. My brother started going grey at 16 and at the time he died, had about as much grey as he did dark brown. I have started to dye my hair...and when my roots come in the grey is really noticable. __________________ "They say that patriotism is the last refuge to which a scoundrel clings; steal a little and they throw you in jail, steal a lot and they make you king" Formerly Medusa

10-15-2005, 07:40 AM	#17 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	At 16 or so I had one part of my hair that was solid white/gray... just kind ofhappened overnight... my natural hair color is dark auburn... and from root to tip, this one section (about an inch square) went white. No head injury or anything preceded it. Now at 40... my colorist says I'm about 60 percent gray... (note to self, find good colorist in NH... cause I'm way too gray right now) I don't mind the gray so much, but my skin is so fair, that the light colored hair makes me look more tired and drained than I feel. My mother, who at 72 is a blonde, but in her 50s and 60s kept her short hair it's natural gray -- mom was a natural blonde but has a very natural looking tan, and the gray hair looked great on her (and made her look younger than the blonde does) __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

10-15-2005, 07:49 AM	#18 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	I got my first grey hair at age 8. I pretty much figured I was screwed at that point, but for some reason I still only have a few several decades later. Unless you color your hair (thank GOD I'm behind the camera in my job and not in front of it so I don't have to mess with that crap) you're not gonna stop the greying process.

10-15-2005, 10:21 AM	#20 (permalink)
snowy Kick Ass Kunoichi Location: Oregon	I got my first gray hair at 15. Since then, I've sprouted about six or so gray hairs a year. The only really noticeable ones are around my part. Seeing as my mom was almost entirely gray by 30 (she dyes her hair, always has) I expect to have similar hair. I don't dye mine any longer; I think the gray looks cool and with my coarse hair, constant coloring treatment proved harsh. Besides, my hair is a kaleidoscope of colors if you look at it closely, and I don't want to change that. __________________ If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

10-17-2005, 05:10 PM	#21 (permalink)
frogza Registered User Location: Right Here	No grey for me at 31, my brother started at 17 and is about half grey now.

11-02-2005, 08:12 AM	#22 (permalink)
Leto Junkie Location: The Danforth	minor grey at the the temples, but that's ok. The pattern baldness is damned annoying. Started gradually about 15 yrs ago (when I was 30 -ish) just when I was getting over adolescence. damn. But I've come to terms with it, and try to stay in shape, and keep the hair short. No comb-overs for me.

11-02-2005, 08:54 AM	#23 (permalink)
Dragonknight Insane Location: Hawaii	I'm 22 now, and have a hand full of gray. I'm going with the genetics thing though. My grand father (dads side) was completely gray by 31. My father and brother were working on a lot of gray by there thirties, so i'm either looking at being gray by my thirties or darn close. We'll see though because my mothers family all has dark hair with little to no gray.