ALL ABOUT GRAY

ALL ABOUT GRAY
MAKING SENSE OF SILVER
Why is that gray showing up in your hair?
Hair gets its color from melanin, a pigment found in the hair shaft. There are two types of melanin pigments -- those that are dark and those that are lighter, which mix together to give you your hair color.
Scientists aren't sure what happens to trigger gray hair, but they theorize that hair follicles have a "melanogentic" clock that slows down over years until the melanin is replaced by colorless air bubbles.
Genetics plays a part in when this happens.
It is estimated that people gray 10 percent to 20 percent every decade after age 30.
Source: American Academy of Dermatology; ebeautydaily.com.
CARING FOR GRAY HAIR?
It can be tricky because gray hair has a stiffer texture than hair with color, and hair shafts thin out, so your usual routine may not work as well. Some tips:
Gray hair is usually more unruly, so use hair-care products that will tame those locks. A good conditioner is a must, as are gels that will give it style.
A good haircut is essential -- one that will highlight your natural tones, whether they are white or pewter or silver.
When you wash your hair, give your scalp a good massage. It not only feels heavenly, it stimulates blood vessels that feed the hair follicles.
Do as Mom told you: Eat your vegetables. A good diet with essential vitamins and protein can give hair a healthful look.
Source: J. Gregory Salon; womenrepublic.com.