Why Men’s Hair Goes Grey and What You Can Do About It

January 6, 2025

Grey hair doesn’t happen overnight, though it can feel like that. One day you’re doing that last mirror check and you see it – the beginning of the salt in your pepper. Some men’s hair goes grey as early as their late 20s or early 30s. Others see the first silver strands much later. The good news is that you have more control over your greying process than you might think.

If turning grey is unsettling, you’re not alone. A recent survey¹ shows that 44% of male respondents feel self-conscious about turning grey, 70% feel it makes them less attractive, and most want to delay going grey until age 50 at the earliest.

Not Ready to Be a Silver Fox?

For many men, going grey triggers anxiety about aging. I hear this from my male clients, and I certainly felt it when I saw my first grey hair at age 27. At first I didn’t mind too much. I thought a bit of saltiness gave me some gravitas. But I wanted it to stay at about 15%.

If you’re thinking that grey hair is down to your genetics, you’re not alone. But before you reach for the dye bottle, consider this – over 70% of the reason you go grey is due to the aging process and your nutritional and lifestyle choices. That’s right. Only 30% of greying is caused by your genes.

Why Does Men’s Hair Go Grey?

Men’s hair goes grey in the same way as women’s, but the pattern of grey hair growth is very different. Men often notice their first greys at the temples and in the beard, while women tend to see them starting along the top of their part.

Your hair goes grey because of cellular damage to your hair follicle. The follicles are where the pigment is produced that gives your hair its unique color. When pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) are damaged or aren't reproduced, your hair goes grey, and then white.

These lifestyle factors are a major cause of pigment loss and grey hair:

Smoking
Oxidative stress
Nutritional deficiencies

Your hair’s natural color is created by a unique blend of pigments (types of melanin). Dark browns and blacks come from eumelanin, and lighter gold and yellow colors come from pheomelanin. Melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes that cluster around the roots (follicles) of each hair strand. When melanocytes are weakened they stop producing melanin. The result – fading and greying hair.

But that’s not the end of the story. If your grey hair is still producing some pigment, there’s still a chance to reverse the greying process by boosting your melanin production.

How Grey Hair Repigmentation Works

Yes you can restore grey hair to its original color. One key way is targeted nutrition. The other is to directly protect your hair follicles from oxidative stress (cellular damage caused by environmental factors).

Grey hair repigmentation with Arey’s The System works in two distinct ways:

Not Today, Grey – a nutritional supplement that boosts hair health and melanin production.
To The Root™ – a serum that protects your hair follicles from environmental damage and supports melanin production.

Most of us suffer from deficiencies in vitamins like B12 and D that are necessary to maintain healthy, pigmented hair. As a Trichologist I know that the quality of your hair reflects the quality of your nutrition, but even I was never very good at eating a balanced diet – pizza for breakfast anyone? Not Today, Grey was the first supplement I ever took regularly.

The less grey hair you have, the greater the repigmentation results you’ll see from boosting your nutrition with the antioxidants and minerals in Not Today, Grey. Our 2024 Gold Standard Clinical Study showed the best results in people like me with less than 30% grey hair.

Is It OK for Men to Dye Their Hair?

To dye or not to dye. That is the question. According to a recent survey² around 38% of men currently use some form of hair color. And it's a trend that is on the rise.

Here’s what I advise my male clients when it comes to hair color:

✅ Take it slow: don’t go from George Clooney silver to Keanu Reeves jet black in one go. Build up gradually and think about leaving some greys to keep a natural look.

✅ Consult a professional: your stylist can help you find the color and coverage that’s right for you. At-home dye kits can end up too dark – you may get a better result with professionally-applied highlights.

✅ Don’t skip the vitamins: even if you are coloring your grey, you can still support your hair color and scalp health with The System.

✅ Protect your scalp from chemical damage: chemicals in hair color can be harsh on your scalp and hair follicles. Using a scalp repair serum like Calm It Down® before and after coloring can reduce any irritation.

What You Should Use to Take Care of Your Greying Hair

Greying and aging hair needs specialist care. Arey products are Credo Clean Certified so they won’t irritate or over cleanse your hair and scalp. Our products that touch your scalp also contain our Mela-9® Complex that protects and boosts your hair’s pigment naturally.

Arey, Proactive Care That Gives You Control Over Grey Hair

I know how important men’s hair is when it coming to being out there in the world. Hair health issues and grey hair can be a challenge. That's why we offer up to 25% off on all subscription orders to help keep you on track with your hair health goals. Because we believe that science + consistency = results.

We are Arey.

Have questions? Check out our FAQ page or say hey@areygrey.com.

Jay Small with customer

AuthorJay SmallJay Small is a sought-after hair stylist and Trichologist in Los Angeles with over 22 years of experience. His clients consist of high-profile business and creative leaders. He trained as an apprentice to the owner of Paul Mitchell and worked in education and product development for Paul Mitchell Systems. Jay is incredibly passionate about the creative process both in terms of styling hair and developing effective products.

REFERENCES:

My Grey Hair Reversal Story by Arey Trichologist Jay Small

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