Spotting a stray white hair often leads to the urge to pluck it out, usually accompanied by the warning that doing so will cause several more to sprout in its place. This fear of multiplying gray strands has been passed down through generations. Understanding the science behind hair color and hair growth can address this query. While the direct answer is no, the mechanical process of removing a hair does carry consequences for the hair follicle itself.
Addressing the Myth of Spreading Gray Hair
The belief that pulling out one white hair will cause others to appear is a misconception that lacks any biological basis. Hair color is not contagious, and the process of graying is localized to the specific hair follicle, which operates as an independent unit. When a hair is plucked, only that single hair is removed, and surrounding follicles are not stimulated to change their function or color production. The appearance of more white hairs after plucking is simply a coincidence reflecting the natural progression of the aging process already underway. The hair that regrows from the plucked follicle will be white because its pigment-producing machinery remains depleted.
Why Hair Turns White
Hair color is determined by melanin, a pigment produced by specialized cells known as melanocytes located within the hair follicle. These melanocytes inject pigment into the keratin protein cells that form the hair shaft. Hair turning white, medically termed canities, begins when these melanocytes slow down or stop producing melanin entirely. This depletion is primarily a result of aging, which gradually reduces the number and function of melanocyte stem cells. Genetics strongly dictates the timing of this process, though oxidative stress may accelerate the dysfunction of these cells.
What Happens to the Follicle When Hair is Plucked
While plucking does not cause surrounding hairs to turn white, the act of yanking a hair out by the root inflicts mechanical trauma on the follicle structure. This forceful removal temporarily damages the hair bulb and surrounding tissue. The follicle must then repair itself to begin a new growth cycle, and this repeated process can lead to long-term consequences. Repeated trauma can result in inflammation and the formation of scar tissue, eventually leading to permanent destruction of the follicle. This damage is known as traction alopecia, or it can cause the new hair to grow at an incorrect angle, increasing the risk of painful ingrown hairs or folliculitis.