Graying usually starts in 30s and gradually increases over the next several years. When our bodies are functioning well, cells in our hair follicles called Melanocytes generate pigments -- the chief one being Melanin. When the Melanocytes stop producing these pigments, we sprout a transparent hair, which appears as an unsightly gray due to the color of the dead cells that comprise the strand.

Why does this happen? The most common reason is heredity; premature gray hair is yet another thing we can blame on our parents. But there are also several medical conditions characterized by graying of the hair. A B-12 deficiency, a thyroid imbalance, and anemia can all cause premature gray hair. And if you needed yet another reason to quit smoking, there is new evidence that smokers are four times more likely to go gray at a young age.

The common belief that psychological shock or trauma can turn hair gray overnight is cause for a fair amount of controversy. While some people claim such an occurrence, our scientists question the actual time frame involved.

Hair typically turns gray as a result of the natural aging process. The pigment in the hair shaft comes from cells at the base (root) of the hair. These cells are genetically programmed to make a certain amount of pigment (Melanin) starting at a specific age. At some point in the aging process, these cells start to make less pigment until the hair has little pigment at all. A white hair has no pigment, and a gray hair has some pigment but not as much as red or brown hair. Melancor works to revitalize these dead cells that compromise hair strands.