New research on silver strands suggests they may not be inevitable after all.

We all have different feelings about gray hair. Some of us—this writer included—are okay with a strand or two (I affectionately refer to it as my “sparkle”). Others want to pluck them straight from the root at first sight (PSA: please don’t do that). Some wait until they have enough of them to dye. And then some wear them like a stripe of honor or a rock a full head of stunning silver.

Regardless of where you fall on that spectrum, what if we told you that there are simple ways to delay going gray and possibly even re-pigment your strands? If you think it’s too good to be true, we’re here to tell you that’s where the science is headed. Here’s where we really stand when it comes to hitting the pause button on this age-old hair issue.

We tend to associate gray hair with age because, yes, your chronological age is a big factor. “Fifty percent of people have gray hair by the time they reach 50 years old,” says Karan Lal, DO, FAAD, a dermatologist in Hackensack, New Jersey. As we get older, pigment-producing cells in hair, called melanocytes, die, and your strands gradually lose their color. First they’ll turn gray, then fully white. But other factors determine how quickly—or how slowly—you go gray (think of that high school friend who had a few silver strands at 18 while you didn’t sprout one until your mid-40s).

One such factor is genetics. Researchers have recently found a gene responsible for gray hair. In a study published in Nature Communications, scientists identified the gene IRF4 as the culprit for grays. Still, scientists say genes account for only about 30 percent of graying.

So what makes up that other 70 percent? Environmental and lifestyle factors, like oxidative stress from free radical damage. Free radicals are unstable molecules created by various environmental aggressors that damage healthy cells. When hair follicles are oxidatively stressed, melanocyte production takes a hit. A small 2020 study in the International Journal of Trichology showed increased oxidative stress markers in those who went prematurely gray (defined as before age 30). What causes oxidative stress? Smoking, sun exposure, pollution, and certain chemicals, like those found in some hair dyes (ironic, right?).

Vitamin deficiencies may also be to blame. Specific vitamins have been linked to premature graying, including B vitamins such as vitamin B12, folic acid, and B6. Lower vitamin D levels are also thought to affect melanin production in hair. And lastly, physical and mental stress may also play a role: Harvard researchers recently found that when rodents were exposed to stressful situations and psychological stress, there was a loss of melanocyte stems cells, and graying occurred.

We can’t escape the aging process, but preventing free radical damage, correcting vitamin deficiencies, and managing stress levels? Sounds somewhat doable, right? Here are some ways to combat the factors that contribute to graying strands.

Bottom line: The science behind your silver strands is hardly black and white. And we expect to see more promising gray hair solutions coming down the pipeline.

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