Why does hair turn gray as we age?

Answer: Pigment cells stop working

Lack of vitamins in diet — Wrong. While severe malnutrition can affect hair health, gray hair is primarily caused by the natural aging process, not diet.

Pigment cells stop working ✓ — Correct! Hair color comes from melanin produced by cells called melanocytes in hair follicles. As we age, these cells gradually stop producing pigment and eventually die. Without melanin, new hair grows in gray or white.

Stress causes color loss — Wrong. Severe stress can accelerate graying, but the primary cause is age-related decline in melanocyte function, not stress alone.