“The plucked hairs didn’t grow back at all”: This dermatology professor warns against this method for treating gray hair
You may have already given in to this impulse: spotting a gray hair in the mirror and plucking it out right away. Behind this habit lies a widespread belief, and science finally has a clear answer to offer. What dermatologists say about gray hair might change your habits.
The Legend of the Plucked Hair: What Science Really Says
Many people believe that pulling out one hair causes two to grow back. However, according to Desmond Tobin, a professor of dermatology at University College Dublin, this is just a myth. The scalp is covered with follicles—tiny hair-producing factories—each of which produces only one hair at a time.
Therefore, pulling out a single hair will never cause multiple hairs to grow back from the same follicle. The biological process simply does not work that way. Consequently, the idea that this action can make your hair grow thicker is unfounded.
On the other hand, repeating this action regularly can have much more serious consequences. Over time, the damage caused to the follicle can become irreversible. The hair may then fall out permanently.
The iconic example of 1990s eyebrows
Desmond Tobin recalls what happened in the 1990s and early 2000s. Back then, ultra-thin eyebrows were all the rage. Many people who regularly plucked their eyebrows eventually found that their hair follicles were no longer producing any hair.
“The hairs that had been pulled out didn’t grow back in pairs—they didn’t grow back at all.”
This specific case illustrates just how dangerous it is to repeat this action. Furthermore, the dermatologist points out that pulling a hair out by the root carries the risk of breaking it. The tiny drops of blood visible on the skin are a sign that the entire follicle has been removed, and this process is irreversible.
What Really Influences the Appearance of Gray and White Hair
So, can we do anything to prevent gray hair from appearing? The answer is not so simple. According to Desmond Tobin, the phenomenon is largely genetic. The hair of our loved ones can therefore give us an idea of what lies ahead for us.
- Genetics plays a major role in the development of gray hair.
- Chronic stress can accelerate certain aspects of biological aging.
- Poor-quality sleep also contributes to hair damage.
- Nutritional deficiencies can accelerate the aging process of hair.
- Regularly pulling out hair can lead to permanent loss of the hair follicle.
In addition, other factors can accelerate hair aging. Chronic stress, poor sleep, and nutritional deficiencies are among the factors that weaken the hair. However, these factors do not explain everything, as genetics play a major role.
However, it would be wrong to believe that this natural process can be completely reversed or stopped. Making lifestyle changes can limit certain effects, but they do not eliminate the genetic component. Caution is therefore warranted when faced with promises of miracle products.
Gray Hair: An Unjustified Bad Reputation
However, gray hair isn’t all bad. It often grows just as well—if not better—than colored hair. Desmond Tobin points out that gray and white hair seems to grow better.
In men with salt-and-pepper beards, for example, white hairs generally grow more between trims. This is therefore an often-overlooked aspect of this natural phenomenon. Thus, the transition to silver hair is not necessarily synonymous with a loss of hair vitality.
What You Need to Know to Take Care of Your Hair Follicles Every Day
The first rule is simple: avoid pulling out your gray hairs. This action, as harmless as it may seem, can cause lasting damage to the follicle. Therefore, preserving the follicle must be the priority.
Similarly, lifestyle habits play a significant role. Reducing stress, getting enough sleep, and eating a balanced diet can help slow down some of the effects of hair aging. These changes won’t work miracles, but they do help protect the overall health of the scalp.
So, accepting the natural evolution of your hair is still the best approach. Gray hair has its own vitality, and mistreating it will only make matters worse. Taking care of your hair follicles means, above all, leaving them alone.
By clearly drawing the line between myth and reality, dermatologists are doing us a real favor. What we thought was just a tip turns out, on the contrary, to be a potentially irreversible step for the health of your gray and colored hair.
