At first, I noticed just a few gray hairs peeking through at my hairline, but now there are ten — and I know more are on their way. Honestly, I mistook those early grays for lint and spent far too long trying to brush them away before realizing the truth: my once-dark brown hair is beginning its transformation to gray.
For many, gray hair is a marker of aging, a reminder of time passing, and often a source of anxiety. As we grow older, our likelihood of going gray increases significantly. After turning 30, the chances of developing gray hair rise by 10%-20% every decade, and by age 50, about 50% of people will have gray hair. Yet, some individuals in their 20s and 30s are already experiencing this change.
Take 36-year-old Sarah from New Jersey, for example. “I’ve been going gray since high school,” she shares. “My mom said it runs in the family. I started coloring my hair around the same time and got caught up in the cycle of costly salon visits to hide it all. By early 2020, I was tired of the effort. When the pandemic hit, I decided to embrace my natural color. With fewer people around, it felt like the perfect opportunity.”
Photo credit: @AJGoesGray
There are various reasons why our hair turns gray, including genetics, health, environmental factors, and even stress. According to Penn Medicine, our hair produces a small amount of hydrogen peroxide, which is usually broken down by an enzyme called catalase. As we age, catalase production decreases, leading to a buildup of hydrogen peroxide that can damage pigment cells, resulting in gray or white hair. For women, graying typically starts at the temples and spreads across the scalp, eventually turning white. Interestingly, body and facial hair may gray later than scalp hair.
As time marches on, we all face the inevitability of gray hair. The real question is whether to fight it with dyes or accept it as a part of life. Personally, I find myself leaning into my gray hair more each day. The pandemic has made many reconsider the time and energy spent covering grays.
Sarah recalls, “During the pandemic, getting my hair colored wasn’t even an option, and my hair became less of a priority. With so many serious issues at hand, it felt superficial to worry about my next appointment. I reflected on my priorities and let go of what no longer served me, including the constant need to cover my grays.”
Maura Judkis, writing for The Washington Post, shared her experience of choosing to go gray during the pandemic. “I was 34. My husband reassured me that I wouldn’t look old. I still got carded regularly, but I knew the gray would end that. Perhaps the contrast of a young face with gray hair could be a unique choice, like mom jeans.”
The reality is that covering gray hair requires effort, and many of us are too busy for that. Even if I don’t have many gray hairs yet, I can’t imagine trying to hide them anytime soon.
The pandemic forced many of us to adapt to new realities, including stepping outside our comfort zones regarding personal appearance. It allowed us to accept aspects of ourselves that we previously viewed as flaws. Embracing gray hair and letting roots show became a common theme, similar to those little frogs popping up in that arcade game.
Ultimately, hair dye can only mask the gray for so long before it returns. They were there before the dye, so why not embrace them? Ask yourself: who are you coloring your hair for? Is it for yourself or to keep up appearances?
Just as we accept changes in our bodies and lives, we should embrace our gray hairs. Make the most out of this transition, pandemic-style!
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Summary
Gray hair is a natural part of aging that many individuals are learning to embrace rather than conceal. With societal pressures and pandemic shifts, more people are reconsidering their hair care routines and accepting their gray strands. The journey of self-acceptance includes recognizing the beauty of gray hair and understanding that it reflects life’s experiences.
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