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What to know before plucking your gray hairs
Plucking your gray hairs may not be the best course of action.
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Some people are also worried that if they do pull out their hair, more will grow back in its place. (Shutterstock/File)
F
inding gray hairs can be distressing for some, and it can be tempting to pluck them and hope they never return. But according to Toronto dermatologist Dr. Martie Gidon, that may not be the best course of action.
Dr. Gidon explained to Reader’s Digest that even if you pluck a gray hair, it will grow back and remain the same color.
“Gray hair already has a coarser texture than naturally pigmented hair, and it will grow back as coarse as before it was pulled,” Dr. Gidon said. She also warned that if you do choose to pluck them, the new replacement hair has the potential to become ingrown, which could then lead to infection and scarring.
Read also: Study says losing your hair is probably normal
Some people are also worried that if they do pull out their hair, more will grow back in its place. “That won’t happen, or I shudder to think what would happen to our eyebrows,” said hairdresser Marc Anthony. “However, it is better to leave it be. There are so many options for gray hair these days — including just leaving it gray.”
“Tobacco smoke, sunlight and wax-based hair products can give gray hair a yellow tinge, so try to avoid them,” advised Anthony for those who do choose to leave it gray. Instead, turn to a shampoo that’s blue-based (for gray hair) or violet-based (for blonde, white or gray), to keep your hair from going dull. (sul/kes)
