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Why is my hair going grey early? Genes, health and what reverses
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Most early grey hair is inherited. Twin studies suggest genes explain up to 90% of the difference in when people go grey. Research also links early greying to a small set of health causes, including low vitamin B12, smoking, thyroid disease and vitiligo. For a few of those causes, colour has come back once the cause was treated. For grey hair driven by genes and age, no treatment has been shown to reverse it.
This post explains what counts as early, what the research connects it to, what can reverse, and when grey hair is a reason to see a doctor. It is general information. It is not medical advice, and only a doctor can say whether your own grey hair points to a health problem.
What counts as going grey early
Hair turns grey when the follicle stops making melanin, the pigment that gives hair its colour. The American Academy of Dermatology describes this as hair follicles no longer creating melanin, so each new hair from that follicle grows in without colour.
"Early" depends on your background. A 2024 review in the International Journal of Dermatology defines premature greying by age: before 20 in white people, before 25 in Asian people and before 30 in Black people. So a few grey hairs at 28 count as early for someone of European descent, and sit inside the normal range for someone of African descent.
Why it happens: genes first, then health
The same review reports that as much as 90% of the variation in hair greying can be attributed to genetic factors, based on studies of twins. The American Academy of Dermatology says the same thing in plainer words: if your parents' hair turned grey early, your hair might too.
This is the most useful fact to start with. If a parent or grandparent went grey in their twenties and you are healthy otherwise, the most likely explanation is that you inherited the same timing. There is no test that confirms it, and no treatment that changes it.
The rest of the variation comes from other factors. These are the ones with published evidence.
Vitamin B12. The 2024 review reports that studies found lower vitamin B12 levels in people with premature greying than in people without. Low B12 has other signs that matter more than hair. The NHS lists extreme tiredness, pins and needles, a sore and red tongue, mouth ulcers and problems with memory and vision among them.
Smoking. A 1996 study in the BMJ found that smokers had 4.4 times the odds of grey hair compared with non-smokers, as summarised in a 2014 paper on tobacco and greying. The 2024 review notes the link in both men and women and gives the proposed reason: tobacco produces harmful oxygen molecules that damage the pigment cells in the hair follicle.
Thyroid disease. Several studies have found a link between autoimmune thyroid disease and premature greying, according to the same review.
Vitiligo. The review names vitiligo, a condition where the body attacks its own pigment cells, as one of the autoimmune causes of premature greying. The American Academy of Dermatology describes vitiligo as areas of skin that look lighter than your natural skin tone, white, or even pink, and says it can turn hair grey early.
Copper and vitamin D. The review reports lower copper levels and more vitamin D deficiency in people who went grey early. Copper helps the chemical steps that make melanin. These links come from comparing groups of people, and they do not show that taking copper or vitamin D prevents grey hair.
Stress. The American Academy of Dermatology says stress has been shown to speed up signs of aging, including grey hair. Our post on what stress does to hair covers that evidence in detail.
The review also notes that some studies have linked premature greying with obesity and heart disease. Those links are associations. They mean the two things turn up together more often than chance, and they are a reason to keep up normal health checks.
Related readDandruff or dry scalp? How to tell which one you haveCan early grey hair reverse
For most people, no. The American Academy of Dermatology states that there are currently no effective medical treatments to add colour back to your hair.
There are three documented exceptions, and each is narrow.
The first is vitamin B12 deficiency. A 1986 case report in JAMA Dermatology described a man whose low B12 came from pernicious anaemia, a condition that stops the body taking in B12. After B12 injections, the colour of his skin and hair returned to normal. That is one person, and it applies only when a real deficiency is the cause. Taking B12 when your levels are normal has no evidence behind it for grey hair.
The second is thyroid disease. The 2024 review reports cases where grey hair regained colour after the thyroid disorder was treated.
The third is stress. A 2021 study followed 14 people and found single hairs that regained colour during a period of low stress. The authors describe this as limited to rare, isolated hair follicles, most likely early in greying, and say it will probably go unnoticed in most cases.
For grey hair from smoking, no study has shown that stopping brings colour back to hairs that have already turned. Stopping removes one factor linked to further early greying, and it has health benefits far beyond hair.
Supplements and oils sold for grey hair
Shops sell many capsules, serums and oils that promise to bring colour back. None of them has published evidence of reversing grey hair caused by genes and age, and the American Academy of Dermatology says there are currently no effective medical treatments that add colour back.
The 2024 review does say that vitamin repletion could address a component of premature greying. Repletion means bringing a level that is low back up to normal. That only helps when a blood test shows a real shortage. Taking extra B12, copper or vitamin D on top of normal levels has no evidence behind it for hair colour. Take a blood test first, and take a supplement only if the test shows a need.
Does plucking a grey hair make more grow
No. This one is a common belief with nothing behind it. Each follicle grows one hair. A dermatologist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences explains that plucking a grey hair will only get you a new grey hair in its place, because the pigment cells in that follicle are no longer making colour. The hairs around it are not affected.
People often believe plucking causes more grey because the number of grey hairs rises over time anyway. The plucking and the increase happen in the same years, so one gets blamed for the other.
Plucking does carry its own risk. The same source warns that repeated trauma to a follicle can cause infection, scarring or bald patches, and the American Academy of Dermatology says plucking can cause hair thinning. If a single grey hair bothers you, cut it close to the scalp with small scissors.
When to see a doctor
Early grey hair on its own, in a healthy person with a family history of it, does not need a doctor. See one if the greying comes with any of these:
- tiredness that does not go away, pins and needles, a sore red tongue or memory problems, which can be signs of low B12
- a thyroid condition you already know about, or one that runs in your close family
- white or pale patches of skin, which can be a sign of vitiligo
- grey hair that appears quickly in one patch, or together with hair loss
A doctor can order blood tests for B12, thyroid function and other levels. A dermatologist is the right specialist for patchy greying, skin changes or hair loss.
Two people, both grey at 24
Two examples show how the same symptom can lead to different next steps.
The first person is 24, of European descent, and has a few dozen grey hairs above the temples. Their father was grey by 30. They feel well, sleep well and have no other symptoms. By the definition used in research, this is premature greying. The family history explains it, and nothing in the picture needs a doctor. The choices are about style: leave it, blend it or colour it.
The second person is also 24 and also has new grey hairs. For six months they have felt tired most days, and lately they have had pins and needles in their feet and a sore tongue. No one in their family went grey early. The grey hair here is one of several signs that point to something like low B12, and a blood test is the right next step. If a deficiency is found and treated, the tiredness and nerve symptoms are the main reason to treat it. Any colour that returns is a bonus, and the case reports suggest it is possible but uncommon.
Related readDo hair masks actually work? What they can and cannot doLiving with early grey hair
If the grey is inherited, the choices are about how you want it to look. Some people cover it, some blend it, and some let it grow in. Our guide to covering grey hair explains why grey resists dye, then compares full coverage, blending with highlights and lowlights, and growing it out, with the upkeep each one needs.
Grey hair also behaves differently from pigmented hair. Many people find it drier and harder to control, and a cut that worked before may need to change. Our post on hairstyles for grey and silver hair covers the cuts and the care that suit it.
If you want to see how a cut or a colour change would look on your own face before you book, Kurli can show you several styles on your own photo, with the reason each one suits you.
Common questions
Why do I get grey hair at a young age?
The most common reason is your genes. A 2024 review of premature greying reports that up to 90% of the variation in greying comes from genetic factors, based on twin studies. Research also links early grey hair to low vitamin B12, smoking, thyroid disease and vitiligo, so a doctor can check for those if the greying came with other symptoms.
Is grey hair genetic?
Mostly, yes. Twin studies suggest that as much as 90% of the difference in when people go grey comes from genetics. The American Academy of Dermatology says that if your parents' hair turned grey early, yours might too, which is why family history is the first thing worth asking about.
Is grey hair reversible?
Usually not. The American Academy of Dermatology says there are currently no effective medical treatments that add colour back to grey hair. The exceptions are rare cases where greying was caused by a treatable problem, such as vitamin B12 deficiency or thyroid disease, and colour returned after that problem was treated.
Can grey hairs turn black again?
In rare cases, yes. Case reports describe colour returning after vitamin B12 deficiency or thyroid disease was treated, and a 2021 study of 14 people found single hairs that regained colour during a period of low stress. For grey hair caused by genes and age, no treatment has been shown to bring the colour back.
Is grey hair a copper deficiency?
It can be linked to one. A 2024 review notes that studies found lower copper levels in people with premature greying, and that copper helps the process that makes hair pigment. Most early greying is genetic, so ask a doctor for a blood test before taking copper supplements.
Can grey hair caused by smoking be reversed?
No study has shown that stopping smoking brings colour back to hairs that are already grey. Smokers go grey early more often than non-smokers, so stopping removes one factor linked to further early greying, and it has many proven health benefits beyond hair, from lung function to heart disease risk.
Can grey hair due to thyroid be reversed?
Sometimes. A 2024 review of premature greying notes that several studies found a link with autoimmune thyroid disease, and that grey hair regained colour after the thyroid disorder was treated. It will not happen for everyone, and thyroid treatment should be for the thyroid itself, managed by a doctor.
Should grey hair be plucked?
No. Plucking does not stop grey hair, because the same follicle will grow another grey hair. The American Academy of Dermatology says plucking can cause thinning, and repeated plucking can damage the follicle. Cutting a grey hair close to the scalp with small scissors is a safer choice.
Do grey hairs grow back?
Yes. If you pull out a grey hair, the same follicle grows a new one, and it comes back grey because the pigment cells in that follicle are no longer making colour. Repeated plucking can damage the follicle, and some damaged follicles stop growing hair at all.
Is grey hair at 30 normal?
For many people it is. A 2024 review defines premature greying as grey hair before age 20 in white people, before 25 in Asian people and before 30 in Black people. So for a white or Asian person, grey hair at 30 is past the early threshold, while for a Black person it sits at the edge.
Can you get grey hair at 20?
Yes. Grey hair before 20 counts as premature for white people, and before 25 for Asian people, by the definition used in dermatology research. Most early greying runs in families, but a doctor can check vitamin B12, thyroid function and other causes if you also have symptoms such as tiredness.
Can you get grey hair from stress at a young age?
Stress is linked to grey hair, and the American Academy of Dermatology says stress has been shown to speed up signs of aging, including grey hair. The human evidence is small. A 2021 study of 14 people found single hairs that lost and regained colour in step with stress, and the authors said this happens in rare, isolated hairs.
What grey hair says about your health?
In most people, early grey hair says more about their family than their health. Research has linked premature greying to low vitamin B12, thyroid disease, vitiligo and smoking, and some studies have found links with obesity and heart disease. If your grey hair came with other symptoms, it is worth asking a doctor.
Is grey hair dead hair?
No. A grey hair grows from a living follicle in the same way as a coloured hair. The difference is that the follicle has stopped making melanin, the pigment that gives hair its colour, so the new hair has none, though it grows at the same rate as any other hair on the head.
Do grey hairs go away?
Rarely. Most grey hairs stay grey for life. The exceptions documented in research are hairs that regained colour after a treatable cause such as vitamin B12 deficiency was corrected, and a small number of single hairs that regained colour when stress fell, both reported as unusual cases rather than a general pattern.
Can grey hair be reversed naturally?
No supplement, oil or food has been shown to reverse grey hair caused by genes and age. The American Academy of Dermatology says there are no effective treatments to add colour back to grey hair. If a deficiency is found in a blood test, correcting it is the only natural step with evidence behind it.
Who do you get grey hair from?
From your family, through the genes you inherit from both parents. Twin studies suggest genetics explain up to 90% of the variation in when people go grey. If one or both of your parents went grey early, the American Academy of Dermatology says you might too.
Does vitamin B12 deficiency cause grey hair?
It can, and it is one of the few causes where colour can come back. A 1986 case report described a man with low B12 from pernicious anaemia whose grey hair and skin colour returned to normal after B12 injections. A 2024 review also found lower B12 levels in people with premature greying than in people without it.
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