As we get older, our scalp produces less natural oil, which normally protects hair from damage. Without this protection, a chemical builds up in the hair roots that gradually washes out the color, turning our hair gray.

As we age, damage from oxidative stress can harm the cells that give hair its color, especially because the body’s natural antioxidants weaken over time — this leads to grey hair.

As we age, our hair might turn gray because of a buildup of a natural chemical called hydrogen peroxide in the hair, and our body's ability to clean it up weakens — this messes with the pigment-making process in hair.

Going gray isn’t just about getting older — it’s because of damage from stress inside the hair roots, where too much hydrogen peroxide builds up and the body can’t fight it off anymore.

Scientists think that when there’s too much damage from natural body chemicals (oxidative stress) and not enough protection from helpful antioxidants, it might cause hair to turn gray earlier than normal.

Gray hairs have more damaging chemicals like hydrogen peroxide and less of the protective enzymes that normally keep those chemicals in check.