Premature graying- Fixable?

[firecat88]

Premature gray hair runs in my dad's side of the family. By the time he was in his 30s, my dad was completely gray. I have very very dark hair (i.e. so dark a shade of brown that it's often mistaken for black), and have noticed a few silver strands over the past few years. This year, though, it seems to be getting worse. Is there some way that I can, I dunno, stop it or at least slow it down? XD

Also, my mom thinks that I should, at some point, color my hair so that the grays don't show up. Is this advisable, or should I just leave it alone?

[tacohuman]

unfortunately, if it's gonna happen, it's gonna happen. i also come from a family of early grayers, and i noticed my first grays at 18. now, at 32, i have a significant amount of gray in my hair. i used to color it, but too much of that over a long period is not good for your hair, and it gets expensive to maintain, as once the color starts growing out, the gray shows right back up and can potentially stand out even more. now i just accept it as is; it's much easier and cheaper.

[zombiequeen]

My husband is 21 and starting to grey, but he's always wanted to dye his hair silver, so it's the cheap and gradual way to do it.

[ArcticChicken]

If you want to dye your hair, go ahead. Otherwise, don't.

[firecat88]

I have considered getting it dyed. I've heard, though, as tacohuman said, that it can be expensive and is not good for your hair if done too often. I've also heard that it can be pretty damaging if done improperly.

[42_42_42]

Hair dyes have improved a LOT. Most don't contain any ammonia anymore, and thus don't do as much damage to the hair. While getting it done in a salon by a professional colorist is going to provide the best results, it is a LOT more expensive than doing it at home. If you take proper care of your hair: follow the directions on the dye kit, don't dye too often (more than every 4-6 weeks), use shampoo and conditioners made for colored hair, and get deep-conditioning treatments periodically, you should be fine to color your hair at home. The home-use kits are very easy to use.

Of course, if you're like me and have super oily hair naturally, you can color your hair and skip conditioners and still have hair that's in great condition (I used to dye my hair specifically to dry it out some!).

[ArcticChicken]

I use henna, and it doesn't appear to have damaged my hair at all.

[Food Lady]

I see nothing wrong with using a semi-permanent color every month if it makes you feel better. $5 or $6 a month? Very doable. But some people look awesome with gray. My friend is 32 but looks 40 because of his graying. He's hot anyway.

[malmalthekiller]

I started getting grey at 16 and I started dying my hair that age, too, so it evens out.

[Becks]

Thanks to maternal side of the family genetics, I've been going gray since I was 12. I alternate between dying it and just letting it be.

[blas]

Going gray is in my top 5 list of fears.

[BarbieGirl]

My dad seems to think Peanuts help with that. he's been eating raw peanuts every day for as long as I can remember, we always had a big ol bag of peanuts from costco or the like sitting around. He's 72 and just recently started going gray. My mom on the other had has been dying her hair for something like 15 years. I have been not so lucky, I just turned 29 and I totally skipped going gray, I'm getting WHITE hair. Although If I get blonde highlights every so often it's not too noticeable.

[Mr. Rager!]

Let it go gray, girls like it. (some girls, anyway.)

[firecat88]

Let it go gray, girls like it. (some girls, anyway.)

Do guys like it? XD

[tacohuman]

Do guys like it? XD

i do, actually. my wife is freaking out that she's going gray now at 29, but i think it looks pretty hot on her.