Going gray might happen because the stem cells that keep your hair colored stop working properly as you age, according to studies in people and specially tagged mice.

Going gray might happen because the stem cells that keep your hair colored aren't working properly as you age.

Going gray might happen because the stem cells that give rise to hair color cells get damaged over time, not because the color-making cells themselves stop working. Keeping these stem cells healthy could be key to keeping your hair colored as you age.

As we age, the stem cells that give color to our hair can start acting up — they might turn into pigment cells too soon or in the wrong place, which could be why our hair turns gray.

As mammals get older, their hair turns gray because the cells that give hair its color don't get replaced properly—and if their DNA gets too damaged, this process happens even faster.

When the stem cells that give your hair its color get worn out or change too early because of stress in the cells, they stop making pigment, and your hair turns gray permanently.