• Question: Why do we get grey hair when we grow old?

    Asked by whgraceandaim to Anil, Blanka, Cees, Emma, Mike on 2 Jul 2012.
    • Photo: Michael Cook

      Michael Cook answered on 2 Jul 2012:

      I believe that our hair colour comes from pigments that our body creates, a bit like a coloured dye that is part of our hair. Over time, our body stops producing it! So what you’re seeing in grey/white hair is the natural colour of the materials that make up hair.

    • Photo: Emma Trantham

      Emma Trantham answered on 3 Jul 2012:

      Yup Mike is right. We get grey or white hair because our body has stopped producing the pigments that make our hair different colours in our hair cells. They look grey/white because the hairs are reflecting the light.

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