Though going gray is a near-universal human experience, spotting those first silver strands can feel like an unwelcome surprise—especially if they crop up sooner than you’d expected. While graying is often associated with middle age, the reality is that many people spot their first gray hairs in their 20s or 30s. While it’s normal, you still may find yourself wondering what causes gray hair in your 20s (or if there’s anything you can do to slow the process).
Unfortunately, there’s no single answer: There are a lot of factors that can influence when you begin to go gray, including your lifestyle, habits, and, of course, genetics. Ahead, we’ll explore some of the most common factors that can contribute to hair graying at 20 (or thereabouts). Plus, we’ll share some tips on caring for your changing mane—whether you want to camouflage those grays or embrace your new ‘do.
What Can Cause Gray Hair In Your 20s?
There are a number of factors that can contribute to gray hair in your early 20s, but the biggest one is genetics. If your parents started going gray before their 30th birthdays, there’s a high likelihood that you will, too.
But going gray isn’t a matter of genetics alone. When—and how quickly—your hair begins to gray can be influenced by a number of factors, including:
- Natural aging: Over time, the cells that produce melanin—the pigment that gives your hair its color—can become damaged. As the amount of pigment in your hair decreases, your strands may become gray, silver, or white.
- Exposure to environmental stressors: Some research suggests that chronic exposure to environmental stressors like air pollution and UV radiation could contribute to how quickly hair turns gray.
- Stress: Short bouts of stress aren’t likely to lead to gray hair in your 20s. But some research suggests that prolonged periods of stress could affect your hair’s color, as well as its density and overall healthy appearance.
- Hormonal imbalances: Hormonal fluctuations or imbalances can lead to hair graying earlier than it otherwise would, research shows.
- Your diet: In order to grow healthy, pigmented hair, your body needs certain essential nutrients. Being deficient in these nutrients—which include copper and iron—can lead to you sporting gray hair in your 20s or earlier.
- Certain medical conditions: There are some medical conditions that can contribute to hair turning gray or white. If your hair begins graying before you turn 20, it may be worth scheduling a chat with your doctor to figure out why.
Can You Reverse Gray Hair In Your 20s?
This is probably not what you want to hear but so far, there’s no guaranteed way to reverse gray hair. Some research suggests that it may be possible to slow or reverse graying, but the science just isn’t quite there yet. Plucking your grays isn’t the solution, either. While doing so will temporarily reduce the amount of visible grays you have, those hairs will grow back in eventually.
Good hair day by @hair.dominatrix.
How Can You Hide Gray Hair In Your 20s?
Managing gray hair in your 20s doesn’t have to mean hiding it—with proper care, silver strands can make a gorgeous, stylish statement. But if you’re not ready to transition to gray, there are plenty of things you can do to camouflage, blend, or conceal them. Ahead, we’ll share some of the best techniques for keeping those grays at bay until you’re ready to rock them.
Visit the salon
The most effective way to hide gray hair in your 20s—or anytime, really—is to dye your hair. Gray hair is more porous than pigmented hair and often has a coarser, more wiry texture. In practice, this can make it tricky to cover grays at home with your standard boxed dye. Instead of attempting a DIY hair transformation (and risking a frantic last-minute corrective color appointment), we suggest hitting the salon and asking your stylist to dye your hair with Redken Color Gels Oils.
This salon-only color is designed specifically for gray hair and provides up to 100% gray coverage without the use of harsh ammonia. The liquid formula adheres easily to coarse grays, delivering vibrant, saturated results no matter which shade you choose. And, it’s infused with hair-friendly oils to help restore your hair’s healthy look and feel. In fact, after one in-salon treatment, hair is left 78% shinier* and up to 30% more conditioned.** Plus, it’ll feel softer and silkier—the perfect complement to your new (non-gray) hue.
*vs. Uncolored hair**vs. Non-conditioning shampoo
Blend with highlights
If your monthly salon date for root touch-ups is starting to wear thin, you could consider slowly transitioning to gray with highlights instead of a full head color. Highlights (or lowlights depending on your natural color and what look you prefer) can help soften the contrast of gray hair and make those strands appear intentional. The multi-dimensional color can also help make your strands appear fuller, thicker, and shinier.
But, as with all-over color, making the move to highlights is one that’s best left in the hands of a professional. An experienced colorist can help soften the look of any harsh lines and ensure a natural-looking end result. If you’re not a fan of standard highlights, consider asking your colorist for herringbone highlights. This technique involves placing the foils at an angle to ensure a soft finish and seamless blend. Or, consider balayage—this highlighting technique involves hand-painting strands for a lived-in look, and it’s generally considered lower maintenance than traditional highlights.
Good hair day by @andrewryanwalder.
Choose the right hair color
Whether you’re opting for full coverage or finding your path to the perfect level of blending, identifying the best color for you is going to make a huge difference in your end result. You can choose any color you’d like, but keep in mind that gray hairs will appear more obvious the darker your hair is. So if you opt for a darker hue, like chocolate brown, you may need to commit to more frequent touch-ups.
It’s also important to consider your skin tone and undertones. If your skin is warm-toned, shades with golden or reddish undertones—think golden blonde or caramel brown—will tend to be the most flattering. Those with cooler skin will likewise look best in cool hues, like ashy blonde or mushroom brown. If you have neutral undertones, pretty much any color will look great on you, so you’ll want to make your choice based on how much upkeep you’re willing to put into your color.
Pick up a root spray
If you’re in between salon visits or you’re still deciding what to do with the few grays that cropped up so far, consider picking up a root touch-up spray to disguise those stray grays. The L’Oréal Professionnel Hair Touch Up Root Concealer is a great pick, as it applies easily, won’t smudge, and comes in an array of shades to complement various hair colors. Keep in mind that root touch-up sprays aren’t a permanent solution—they last around one day (or until your next shampoo), so you’ll need to use them daily to keep those grays hidden. If that sounds like too much work, highlights or permanent hair color may be a better choice.
Stock up on quality haircare
No matter what coloring approach you’ve decided on, you’ll want to build a solid haircare routine to keep your strands looking and feeling their best.
If you opted to dye your hair, you’ll want to reach for a color-safe shampoo and conditioner to help preserve your color. Try the Pureology Strength Cure Shampoo and Conditioner. The sulfate-free duo helps repair damaged, color-treated hair, enhances softness and shine, and protects strands against premature color fading. If you settled on a lighter hue, like ash blonde, it’s also a good idea to add a purple shampoo to your weekly routine to help combat brassiness. The Kérastase Blond Absolu Bain Ultra-Violet Purple Shampoo is a great pick—it contains highly concentrated violet pigments that help neutralize yellow undertones for a pure, bright blonde. Plus, the hyaluronic acid-infused formula helps strengthen and repair color-treated hair while subtly boosting your color. (Purple shampoo can also be useful for those who’ve decided to embrace their newfound grays).
It’s also a good idea to arm yourself with a deep conditioning mask to help combat the drier or coarser texture of your grays. Try the Pureology Hydrate Superfood Treatment Mask. It’s loaded with nourishing avocado oil and coconut oil and deeply hydrates hair to enhance softness and shine. The Biolage Professional Color Last Deep Treatment Pack Hair Mask is another option worth considering, as it’s designed specifically for color-treated hair.
Finally, you may want to consider limiting your use of hot tools to avoid drying out your hair further. When you do need to heat style, be sure to prep your strands with a heat protectant, such as the Redken Acidic Color Gloss Heat Protection Leave-In Treatment, to help minimize the risk of unnecessary damage.
Next Up: Ash Gray Hair Color: 17 Stunning Iterations To Try Now
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Header photo credit: @autumntunnell.
