As a 48 year old natural ginger redhead, I confirm ginger hair definitely does go grey! The effect does seem to be more subtle in people with natural ginger hair compared to people with darker hair. This seems to be for several reasons, which we will explore below.
What gives hair its colour?
First, it’s important to understand what gives hair its colour. The pigment that gives hair its characteristic hue is called melanin, which is produced by special cells called melanocytes located at the base of each hair follicle. There are two types of melanin: eumelanin, which produces brown or black hair, and pheomelanin, which produces red or ginger hair. In addition to determining hair colour, melanin also helps protect hair from damage caused by the sun’s UV rays.
So, what causes hair to turn grey?
As we age, the melanocytes in our hair follicles gradually stop producing melanin, which causes the hair to lose its colour and turn grey or white. Whilst age is the most common cause of greying hair, it can also be caused by a variety of other factors, including genetics, stress, and certain medical conditions.
So does ginger hair go grey?
Yes! The process of hair follicles stopping melanin production occurs in people of all hair colours, including those with naturally ginger red hair.
Having said that, there does seem to be a difference in the process of greying for people with ginger red hair. Let me explain..
Ginger hair strands are often finer than darker hair strands
This seems to be especially true for the hairs of mine that are starting to go grey. They are soft and wispy, whereas the grey hairs I’ve seen on friends with darker hair are thick and coarse so are much more noticeable
Ginger hair may appear to grey differently than other hair colours
I’ve also noticed that as my hair has started to turn grey, it’s doing so via a pale blonde shade, which isn’t much lighter than my natural ginger shade. I’ve tried to show this in the photograph above. When I’ve seen friends with darker hair start to go grey, the grey strands seem to be much more starkly silver grey in colour, and this is further highlighted against their darker natural hair colour. So ginger red hair may appear to grey differently than other hair colours due to there being less contrast between the natural hair colour and the soft golden blonde ‘grey’ hairs. The individual hairs may not stand out as much as with other hair colours, making the transition less noticeable.
Also, when red hair follicles stop producing their gingerish pigment, the hair strands of a natural ginger go grey slower than other hair colours as they fade from red through to rose gold to blonde, before gently changing into a soft, pale blonde or white. This has been referred to as an autumnal effect, like the leaves on trees displaying their fantastic range of colours as they move through the Fall.
The pattern of ginger red hair greyness compared to other hair colours
Again this is in my experience, but the grey hairs for me have been mostly around the sides of my ears, so are naturally hidden by the rest of my hair falling forward over this area. In friends with darker hair, I’ve noticed they tend to get single, thick strands of grey hair along the top of their head, as well as around their ears. The top of the head is obviously much more visible than the sideburns.
Ginger hair going grey in men
Of course we need a note for the men here. My brother has dark blonde hair on his head and a ginger beard. Interestingly, he seems to have gone mostly bald (aged 47) before I noticed much grey, and as he shaves it’s not obvious what the colour of his beard would be, but occasional stubble still appears to be gingery blonde. Perhaps it is losing pigment, ie ‘going grey’, but, as with my hair, it is doing so via shades of blonde as far as I can make out.
So, does ginger hair go grey more or less frequently than other hair colours?
Whilst there is no definitive answer to this question, some studies suggest that redheads may be less likely to go grey than people with other hair colours. This is because the gene that causes red hair is responsible for producing higher levels of the type of melanin pigment that’s known as pheomelanin, and this form of melanin may help protect hair from the oxidative stress that can lead to greying.
However other studies have concluded there is currently no scientific evidence to suggest that ginger hair goes grey differently than other hair colours, and that the process of greying is largely dependent on genetics and ageing, which affects the production of both types of melanin. As we discussed above, melanin is the pigment responsible for hair colour, and as we age, the amount of both types of melanin in our hair decreases, leading to grey or white hair.
What age do redheads go grey?
A survey reported by the Daily Mail in the UK says ladies should start worrying in their 30s: specifically, ages 30, 32, and 35 (for redheads, brunettes, and blonds, respectively). I’m not sure how true this is. I would love to know your thoughts in the comments below!
Achromotrichia definition
I’ve put this word in here as it comes up a lot regarding ginger hair going grey. Simply put, achromotrichia is the absence of pigment in the hair. With regard to ginger red hair in particular, the theory is that whilst non-redheads tend to go grey and then to fully white hair as they lose the dark melanin pigment (eumelanin) in their hair, redheads retain their ginger melanin pigment (pheomelanin) for a lot longer which is why they go through the range of golden colours as the pigment gradually fades.
Conclusion
All hair can and will eventually go grey, even though it seems that ginger red hair does so at a softer pace. However it’s worth noting that everyone’s hair is different, and there is no guarantee that having ginger hair will protect you from going grey at any age. Additionally, it’s important to remember that greying hair is a natural and inevitable part of the ageing process, and there is no shame in embracing your grey hair as a sign of wisdom and experience.