How long should the graying process take?
A. There’s no hard and fast rule for that, due to all the physiological factors that can influence the rate at which melanin production diminishes. But if your hair seems to be graying rather rapidly, keep in mind the normal process of shedding. Most people lose approximately 50 to 100 strands of hair a day. The gray strands become more noticeable as the darker strands disappear. A condition called telogen effluvium, in which actively growing hairs suddenly enter telogen, or the resting phase, can speed up shedding to 300 hairs a day. This condition mainly affects women in their forties, fifties and sixties, as a response to physical or psychological stress. Major surgery, loss of a loved one, depression, or, yes, sudden shock, can start the process. So can a shortage of protein or iron in your diet. Your body shifts hairs into resting gear to conserve its nutritional balance. They fall out; you seem to gray faster.
