The beauty of grey hair

Just like they detest thinning hair, most women hate grey hair. If anything, many pluck off any grey hairs they see protruding from their scalp.

Grey hair is caused by the cessation of pigment production in the hair follicle, leading to the hair losing melanin and becoming translucent. It then looks either silver or white in colour.

Of course, its development is genetically programmed. Stress as result of illness, poor diet, and prolonged mental and emotional strain cause grey hair to develop.

When you find a grey hair on your head, you have two options if you intend to get rid of it: Either pluck it or ignore it. The common belief is that it is wiser to leave it because if you pluck it, many more greys will grow in its place.

Plucking grey hair will, for sure, get rid of the hair albeit temporarily. Experts say that if there is a grey hair you must get rid of, cut it off carefully.

When you pluck a grey hair, a new grey hair grows in its place because there is only one hair that can grow per follicle. The black hairs surrounding the grey will not turn white until their own follicles’ pigment cells die. Avoid plucking out these beautiful silver hairs. Instead, colour the hair if you don’t like it.

Here is why you must never pluck off that grey hair:

Hair texture: Plucking ruins the texture of your hair. Each time you pluck a grey hair, you risk damaging the natural texture of the strand. This may cause the new growth to be wiry.

Temporary solution: Plucking will not get rid of grey forever. Whether you pull it or not, the follicle is still grey and will grow as grey. You will neither get new greys nor reduce the amount of grey in the long run by plucking.

Scalp damage: Plucking traumatises the follicle, and over time, a message is sent to the hair follicle that there is no need to produce hair in that area and the follicle goes into rest, eventually shrinks and no longer produces a hair shaft, which may lead to a bald patch. Repeated trauma to any follicle can also cause infection and scar formation. It could also lead to you damaging your scalp.

Waste of time: Diva, you surely have better things to do with your time than stand in front of a mirror worrying about your grey hairs. They look great. Ask the ladies who are wearing grey wigs and weaves; they look awesome. Get out and join your girlfriends for some fun!

Thinning: Plucking could permanently thin your hair. Experts say that plucking damages the roots of the hair, which could lead to permanent loss of hair growth in that area. You end up with hairless patches on your head.

Cut it instead: If you hate the grey, cut it out; it is quicker and safer. By cutting, you won’t be tugging at the follicle.

Grey is the in thing: Yes it is, haven’t you heard? From hair bloggers, celebrities ... literally everyone trend-conscious is going grey on purpose. Your grey is natural; thus you save on the cost of buying hair dyes or the wigs and weaves. Rock it!