James Chudley noticed his first gray hair at 16, when a classmate spotted it during a biology lesson. By 19, there were too many to pluck, and an anti-gray shampoo left his bath blue. He considered dye, but worried about how it might look. Now 22, the Surrey-based personal trainer-in-training says he has gradually become more comfortable with his hair, though he sometimes brings it up first to head off comments.
Chudley’s experience reflects a growing willingness among some men to wear their gray hair naturally, including those who start going gray unusually young. Model and musician Charlie Jeer, 24, says his Silver hair has become part of his public identity and helped him stand out in modeling. He has received criticism online, but also hears from other young men who have faced similar reactions and are choosing to wear their hair confidently.
Gray hair is common with age, as the pigment-producing cells in hair follicles become less active. The source reports that graying often begins in people’s early 30s and becomes more noticeable over time. Going gray in the teens or early 20s is less common. Dermatological science professor Desmond Tobin says genetics are usually the main factor, and family members’ hair can offer clues about when graying may begin.
Stress and nutrition may also play a role, although Tobin says there is no strong evidence that young people are broadly going gray earlier than previous generations. He is skeptical of supplements and serums that promise to restore pigment. Sleep, reducing stress and an antioxidant-rich diet may help, he says, but are unlikely to substantially change the outcome for someone genetically predisposed to early graying.
The shift toward acceptance exists alongside a growing market for products that promise to slow or reverse gray hair. The global anti-gray market is projected to grow from about $1.3 billion to $2 billion by 2031, according to Deep Market Insights. Researchers are studying hair pigment and the cells involved in producing it, but the article notes that current treatments have not generated evidence strong enough to satisfy regulators.
For 25-year-old data analyst Saavan Varambhia, whose naturally black hair made the silver strands especially visible, the initial worry about looking older than his peers gradually gave way to seeing gray as a way to stand out. His father also has white hair and has retained a full head of it. Varambhia says he hopes to go fully gray later rather than sooner, but plans to embrace it when it happens.
Sources: GQ.