Gray hair is not a problem in older adults, but younger people get overwhelmed when they start noticing a few loose silver strands sprouting here and there. Pulling out loose gray hair might temporarily solve the problem. But will it do any damage to the scalp, or worse, cause two to grow back in its place?
Hair begins to turn gray when hair follicles experience a decrease in melanin-producing cells, the cells that give hair and skin pigment. It’s a completely normal part of aging, although the exact age at which we notice gray hair is largely determined by genetics. Still, we may not be happy with it and may not want to dye our hair. So what’s the worst that can happen if we pull our hair out?
They grow back the same color
Pulling out a gray hair will only remove it temporarily. But just like hairs that fall out naturally, hair will grow back over time. And when it does, it will be the same color as the one we took it out of, even if we eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.
Once a specific hair follicle loses pigment-producing cells, that hair follicle will only regrow gray hair. That is, after reaching the gray side, there is no natural way to return. However, pulling out gray hair will not cause more to grow in its place. It’s just just a myth.
Plucking them will not cause additional gray hair. When hair is pulled out, it does not affect other surrounding hairs as each follicle has its own genetics. However, pulling out those gray locks is not a great idea, especially if it becomes a habit. Pulling out a hair repeatedly can damage the follicle, which could lead to infection or scarring .
Over time, this could even traumatize the hair follicle to the point that it stops growing altogether. And if we’re getting several gray hairs repeatedly, we could end up with a bald patch.
Gray hair cannot be removed
The truth is that it is not possible to remove gray hair and return it to its original color. There is no way to reduce the risk of infection, scarring, or hair loss that occurs from pulling out a hair. If we can’t stand the appearance of gray hair, we can try cutting it out. If someone needs to remove their gray hair, the best way is to cut it very carefully with small scissors. This will prevent trauma to the hair follicles.
So removing gray hair shouldn’t be dangerous, except as often as we do it. If a gray hair comes off once, it’s not likely to be a problem. However, when done repeatedly, it can result in a bald spot due to permanent hair loss.
So if those silver locks are really bugging us, it might be time to start thinking about hair color options.
