Blonde hair turning grey is a natural part of aging for many people. As we get older, the pigment cells in our hair follicles gradually die off and stop producing melanin, the pigment that gives hair its color. This causes new hair growth to come in lighter and more grey over time. But when do blondes typically start to go grey? And why do some blondes seem to grey later or not as noticeably as those with other hair colors? Let’s take a closer look at the greying process for blonde hair.
When do blondes start to go grey?
There is no set age when blonde hair will start to turn grey. The onset of grey hair is primarily influenced by genetics. However, most Caucasians with naturally blonde hair will begin to see at least some grey hairs by their mid-30s. For many blondes, the greying process will be noticeable throughout their 40s and 50s. By age 50, about 50% of blonde hair has turned grey. And by age 65, most blonde hair is predominantly grey or white.
While genetics plays a key role, other factors can impact when grey hairs may start to sprout for blondes:
- Oxidative stress – Free radical damage from factors like sun exposure, smoking, and pollution can accelerate greying.
- Nutrient deficiencies – Low levels of nutrients like vitamin B12, copper, and iron are linked to premature greying.
- Illness – Certain medical conditions are associated with early onset of grey hair.
- Ethnicity – Those with darker complexions tend to grey later than those with fairer skin and hair.
For most natural blondes, the emergence of grey hair falls within a relatively normal range. While you may find a stray grey in your 20s, significant greying tends to start in the 30s and 40s. However, every person will grey at their own pace based on genetics, lifestyle, and health.
Why do some blondes seem to resist greying?
Even within the blonde population, some people seem much more resistant to the greying process. They may reach their 60s or 70s before they sport more than a sprinkling of grey hairs. Why do some blondes seem to stay golden for so long?
A few factors play into why certain blondes seem to “escape” greying for longer:
- Genetics – Lucky genes can delay the onset of grey hair by decades for some.
- Hair color – Very light blonde and golden shades can camouflage early greys. The lighter color makes the transition less noticeable.
- Hair texture – Coarse or thick hair tends to grey more slowly than fine hair.
- Scalp environment – A healthy scalp with good circulation promotes melanin production.
- Stress management – Chronic stress can accelerate greying, while low-stress lifestyles slow it down.
- Healthy habits – Things like not smoking, using sun protection, and eating well help delay greying.
Blondes who remain largely “grey-free” into their senior years likely have a combination of natural and lifestyle advantages working in their favor. But eventually, most blonde hair will turn grey due to the ageing process.
How does blonde hair turn grey?
The greying process occurs in the hair follicle, which cycles through three phases of hair growth:
- Anagen phase – Active hair growth phase that lasts 2-7 years.
- Catagen phase – Transitional resting phase that lasts 2-3 weeks.
- Telogen phase – Resting phase that lasts 2-4 months before the hair sheds.
The hair follicle contains pigment-producing melanocyte cells that inject color into the hair shaft. As we age, the melanocytes gradually reduce in number and activity. With each new hair cycle, less melanin reaches the hair. This causes new hair growth to emerge lighter and more grey.
For blondes, the natural hair color already contains low levels of melanin. As melanocyte function declines, even subtle losses of pigment trigger the onset of greying. Each hair cycle produces hairs with less melanin, eventually fading to white.
This greying process doesn’t happen overnight. It occurs progressively over years to decades. The rate of greying depends largely on genetics, with some blondes going grey rapidly while others resist it for longer.
Early greys often start at the temples and the frontal hairline before spreading to the back and top of the head. In younger people, these first stray greys can be plucked or covered up with dye. But eventually grey overtakes other shades as melanin production decreases.
What causes blonde hair to grey?
Greying of blonde hair, like all hair colors, stems from age-related losses of melanin pigment in the hair follicles. Let’s look at the key culprits behind this melanin decline:
- Fewer melanocytes – We have about 615,000-1 million melanocytes per square inch on our scalps. From age 30 onwards, we lose about 10-20% of melanocytes per decade as they die off faster than they can be replaced.
- Less melanogenic enzymes – The melanocyte cells contain enzymes like tyrosinase that produce melanin. Activity of these enzymes decreases with age.
- Oxidative stress – Free radicals can degrade melanocytes and cause them to underperform. This speeds up greying.
- Reduced hair growth cycles – We experience shorter anagen growing phases as we age, limiting melanin incorporation into hair.
Essentially, our pigment cells decline in number and vitality as we get older. Hairs grow in faster without getting infused with as much melanin. This steadily reduces hair color intensity and increases greyness.
While greying is inevitable with age, some lifestyle factors are thought to accelerate the process:
- Genetics – Premature greying runs in families.
- Chronic stress
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Illnesses like thyroid disorders
- Hormonal changes
- Sun exposure
- Smoking
- Environmental pollutants
- Certain medications
Minimizing exposure to these influences may help delay the onset of grey hair to some degree. However, greying will eventually occur as melanocytes decline with age.
Do all blondes turn grey?
Most blondes will eventually turn grey with age, often significantly so by their 50s and 60s. However, a small percentage of fair-haired people appear resistant to greying even into old age. These so-called “non-greyers” maintain their blonde or red hair well into their 80s, 90s or beyond.
Scientists estimate about 1-2% of Caucasians are non-greyers who do not show significant age-related pigment loss. Their melanocyte cells seem hardier and better able to churn out melanin for decades longer than average.
While most blondes grey to some degree sooner or later, a lucky few seem to defy this norm by staying golden through their senior years. Genetics play a key role in determining who may remain a “blonde for life.”
Do blondes go grey faster than brunettes?
Since blonde hair already contains less pigment than darker shades, it may seem logical that blondes would grey sooner and faster than brunettes. But is this really the case?
Research has not found conclusive evidence that natural blondes go grey significantly earlier than those with darker brown or black hair. The age of onset appears connected more to genetics than hair color. Many studies show more variation within hair color groups than between them.
However, while blondes may not grey faster, the process can be more immediately visible. A few stray grey hairs quickly stand out against light blond hair. Meanwhile, early greys blend in better among darker shades.
This can create the perception that blondes grey faster, when in reality the lighter hair simply shows the signs sooner. Overall hair quality also plays a role, with fine and fragile grey hair being more conspicuous.
While hair color alone does not influence greying rates, other genetic and lifestyle factors contribute to how early and how quickly grey overtakes each person’s hair.
Do men or women go grey sooner?
On average, men tend to begin the greying process a few years earlier than women. By age 30:
- About 10% of men have some grey hair
- Only about 5% of women have some grey hair
By age 50, around 50% of both men and women have 50% grey hair. However, more men tend to reach this threshold of greying a few years earlier than women.
What accounts for this difference in greying timeline between the genders? Hormones are thought to play a role:
- Estrogen may help preserve melanocyte activity in women.
- Testosterone may contribute to hair going grey sooner in men.
Stress and hair care routines may also be factors. Ultimately, genetics remain the main influence on when an individual starts to go grey.
| Age | Percentage of men with some grey hair | Percentage of women with some grey hair |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 10% | 5% |
| 40 | 23% | 15% |
| 50 | 50% | 50% |
| 60 | 67% | 65% |
| 70 | 85% | 70% |
While men grey a bit earlier on average, both genders see significant greying by mid-life. Genetics remain the main factor in determining each person’s greying timeline.
Can blonde hair turn grey without first darkening?
For most blondes, their light-colored hair doesn’t abruptly turn grey or white overnight. Instead, it typically undergoes subtle darkening before transitioning fully to grey.
During the initial greying process, grey and blonde hairs intermingle. The Grey/blonde mix can come across as subtle darkening or “muddying” of the hair color. Some describe this transitional phase as a “salt and pepper” look.
This temporary darkening occurs because:
- Each strand contains a mix of grey and blonde hairs.
- Grey hairs also contain some residual pigment that darkens their appearance before they grow in fully white.
However, in some cases blonde hair can go grey without an intermediate darkening phase. This is more likely when:
- Greying happens rapidly over a short period of time.
- Hair starts greying early in life like during adolescence.
- Someone has very fine textured hair that shows the loss of pigment quickly.
Sudden or early greying allows less opportunity for partially pigmented grey hairs to emerge. Blonde hair may seem to white out surprisingly fast. But for most, subtle darkening precedes the complete transition to grey or white locks.
Conclusion
While blonde hair may grey subtly and slowly for some lucky folks, most natural blondes will notice significant greying by their 50s and 60s. The timing of the first scattered grey hairs depends heavily on genetics. But age-related pigment loss eventually overtakes melanin production, turning golden locks silvery white. While surprising early greying can occur, blonde hair more commonly undergoes gradual darkening before complete greying. With patience and care, blonde hair can remain lush and attractive at any stage between golden and grey.