Amber Minogue

But under stress, research has shown that the nervous system releases hormones that overstimulates these cells.

This means that the melanocytes use up their melanin reserves prematurely, and once they're depleted, the hair turns grey or white.

Interestingly, there might be.

A 2021 study from Columbia University, published in eLife, suggests that the process could be reversible, at least under certain conditions.

The study was small, involving just 14 volunteers aged 35 and older.

The researchers monitored their hair using high-resolution scanners and asked them to keep a stress diary over the course of a year.

So what did they find?

They notice subtle changes in hair colour, sometimes too faint for the naked eye to detect, but seem to be linked to life events.

In one surprising instance, a participant's grey hairs actually turned brown again after taking a holiday.

This suggests that grey or white hair may in some cases regain its original colour.

While this is an exciting find, it doesn't mean we found a cure for grey hair.

The study suggests that managing stress through proper diet, sleep and techniques like yoga or meditation might help delay premature greying.

But once hair turns white at a certain age, that change is generally irreversible.

Also, keep in mind that other factors play a role in hair whitening, such as genetics, hormonal imbalance, autoimmune diseases or even psychological trauma.

So the causes of grey hair are often a mix of different influences.

There you have it.

Now you know if stress really causes grey hair.

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