At the tender age of twenty-something, spotting a cheeky silver hair (or three) creeping into your locks can be a real annoyance. No need to worry about it – or pluck ‘em out – there are a number of reasons for their unexpected arrival. Here’s what to do when you start spotting rogue grey hairs – aside from moaning.
By Rachel Spedding
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1 What's causing it?
It’s entirely ‘normal’ to notice greys in your hair from your 30s, any earlier isn’t that unusual either (especially if ma and pa turned silver fox early doors). If your locks are losing pigment prematurely, there are other factors at play aside from genetics. There’s research that suggests stress as a causing factor, smoking too.
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2 What about my diet?
Yep, that could also be a grey-causing culprit. Low vitamin B12 levels (often found in a vegan diet), as well as copper and iron deficiency can affect hair pigment. Get to know your vitamins, to see if they could fend off greys – green leafy veg, and nuts come recommended too. Juicy salads on the daily.
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3 When should I start colouring them?
FYI, not necessarily ever. There’s no reason to feel like you should colour your hair at all – you do you, white streaks and all. But, if you are keen to colour, wait until you’re around 20-30% grey (that’s when it’ll prove a little less manageable to do ‘spot’ cover ups).
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4 What if my greys are clustered together?
If you’d like to hide a patch before your next salon trip, invest in a spray-in root concealer – it should stay put until you wash your hair. Otherwise, ask your hair stylist to apply semi-permanent dye right on the spot. If your greys are pretty coarse (thick and wiry in texture), a permanent dye to cover the patch may be a better idea.
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5 What colour should I go for?
Highlights is a seamless way to cover your greys, ladies. Colour sprinkled atop your hair, and around your face will blend the grey in perfectly. As for colour, lighter shades will obviously be easier to maintain – platinum (toned with an ash blonde) isn’t too far from grey, and if you care for it properly, it won’t damage your hair. Consider lifting your colour to mask greys, as brunette’s will need more frequent top ups.
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6 Can I just pull them out?
Absolutely not. The best way to hide grey strands is through camoflauge (the higlights or all-over colour discussed above). Plucking is a no-go. Doing so can ‘traumatise’ the hair follicle, meaning new hairs might not grow back. Plus, that’s hard work to keep up.
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FAQs
Why do you start getting grey hairs in your twenties?
Greys can appear in your twenties due to factors like genetics, stress, or smoking. If family members went grey early, you may notice silver hairs sooner, but other factors like lifestyle or environmental stress can play a role too.
Can your diet cause you to get grey hair?
Yes, a diet low in vitamin B12, copper or iron can contribute to premature greying. Vegan diets often lack B12, so including green leafy vegetables and nuts may help maintain hair pigment.
When should you start colouring grey hairs?
Consider colouring when you reach around 20-30% grey. At that stage, covering up with spot treatments becomes less manageable, but there is no obligation to colour your hair at all if you prefer your natural look.
What is the best way to cover up clustered grey hairs?
Use a spray-in root concealer for a quick fix before your next salon visit. For thicker or more stubborn greys, a semi-permanent or permanent dye applied by your stylist may work better.
Is plucking out grey hairs a good idea?
Plucking out grey hairs is not recommended because it can traumatise the hair follicle. This may prevent new hair from growing back and makes managing grey strands harder in the long run.
Which hair colour is easiest to maintain for grey coverage?
Lighter shades like platinum or ash blonde are easier to maintain for covering greys. They blend better with grey hairs, while brunettes may need more frequent touch-ups to keep the colour looking fresh.