going gray in your 20's

[Rachael]

I'm 26 and just found a few white strands of hair. I know it shouldn't be that big of a deal, but I didn't think I would get even one strand of white hair in my 20's. I am naturally light to medium brown, but just getting a few white hairs has me worried that all my hair will go white/gray early. My maternal grandmother had all gray hair by the time she was 30 and she was always mistaken for a grandmother when she was a young mom in her 30's. So this worries me. However my mom didn't go gray until recently and she's 55.

I have previously dyed my hair to have different hair color. Now I'm thinking of getting brown hair dye for gray coverage. I am so scared of aging early just like my grandmother did. I still look young and people usually guess I'm in my young 20's, but still finding white hairs has me afraid of aging early.

 

[taximom]

First gray hair at 16

I have never colored my hair. Many people have told me that I need to but it doesn't bother me or my husband. Right now the gray just looks like highlights.

I have not been told I look older than my age. Actually people think I am much younger than I am. I am still "carded" occasionally to buy alcohol.

Do what feels right for you.

 

[chronicfun]

first gray at 25

I didn't start to color until 30, I just had a few here and there. Now, when I take a little too long to color, they just seem concentrated at the temples. If you're like your grandma though, you may want to start coloring when you feel you need to.

You are not alone...many younger women do it! I swore I never would, but I changed my tune!

 

[Lottalove]

Have you started any new meds lately?

or changed an older one? My mom went white headed almost overnight (in two weeks or so) and it was due to a change in her body while she was on a certain medication...when she stopped the drug (? unk what?) her hair returned to "normal."

Just a thought...

 

[imacacher]

I'm 25...had them for years!

I've had grey hairs since college---but like yours, they aren't grey, I went straight to white. I don't have a ton,but I have dark brown hair (that I don't color), so they are very obvious.

My mom was the same way.

 

[newbieteach]

Don't worry, you aren't alone. I am 26 and I have been getting grey/white hairs for a couple of years. I just started coloring my hair this past year. I have it pretty good because my mom was dying her hair in high school. I don't think you have to worry about it too much. Good luck!

 

[SC]

I found my first one when I was 23; I'm now 27. I pluck it out when it grows back, but it keeps coming. I dye my hair, though, so there may be more than just this one. I wouldn't worry about a few strands.

For what it's worth, my brother has always had a gray patch of hair on the side of his head. He's only 24 now, but it's been there for as long as I can remember, and it hasn't spread.

 

[Random]

I'm 28 and I started getting white hair when I was 17. I have a thick white streak on the top of my head (kind of like Rogue from the X-men, except natural...when that movie came out, people thought I dyed my hair to look like the character!). I also have lots of white hairs scattered over my head.

It doesn't really bother me. I think that it makes me look unique. I colour my hair sometimes, but my hair grows so quickly that I have white roots at the top of my head within a week. I prefer to just be white, rather than have white roots.

 

[jen517]

I blame it on the kids in our classes...

 

[JennieB]

I noticed my first at 22. I found out I was preggers 2 days later. Coincidence???? I don't think so