If you reduce your stress, your gray hairs might actually grow back some of their color — meaning the cells that give hair its pigment aren't permanently dead once hair turns gray.

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 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.

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.

When mice experience sudden stress, it causes the cells that give hair its color to panic and leave their home in the hair follicle, burning out too soon and making the fur turn gray forever.

Stress might be turning your hair gray by messing with your cells, and relaxing could help your hair get its color back.