Genetics and Hair Color

Hair with lightening
Photo: Maaleenn/Shutterstock
Q: My question: I'm 43 and my hair is down to the middle of my back. Towards the front, from the face to about 3 inches back, it is light blond/gray mix that I like. But in the back, a V shape, from the scalp to the end it is honey/auburn colored. People say they like it, but I think it looks like a sloppy home dye job.
 
Are the lotions and soaps I use on my face causing this lightening or do I just have 'stripe' caused by my genetics? I never use any skin bleaching agents. I don't want to color or dye my hair as much as correct anything I'm doing wrong.
 
A: It is possible that your facial cleansers, lotions and soaps are contributing to this condition, but most likely only in the sense that they may be making your hair more porous than might naturally be the case. This being said, if this is the case you will likely be seeing a differentiation in the texture and condition of the lighter hairs caused by the harshness of these products.
 
What is more likely, however, is that this is a simple matter of genetics and that the lighter hair color at the front of your face is a result of your body's natural aging process. Many people don't realize that as we get older our hair color naturally may change over time. Sometimes these changes can be as much as 2-3 levels or more.
 
For example, as a small child, I had yellow-blonde hair (from photos I would judge it to be level 8). By the time I was 12, my hair had darkened to a level 5-6 (light-medium brown), and was a solid level 4 (medium brown) by the time I was 20. However, in the last twenty years, my hair's color has been gradually lifting as I age, back to a level 6 (light brown).
 
And another thing many people don't realize is that your hair's follicles act independently of one another. Natural hair colors look natural because of the subtle variations in color between each strand. This is because each follicle works on its own. Follicles in one area of the scalp may show signs of aging sooner than others, and some may be on the same biological schedule. Environmental and health/medical factors can often affect these schedules - stress-related or illness-related hair loss is an example.
 
It's these factors that are most likely responsible for the pattern of lighter/graying hair you are experiencing. If you are happy with the look (and you are getting compliments) feel free to continue enjoying your hair's natural uniqueness without worry.
 
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See also:
 
Hair color and genetics
 
Hair and the aging woman
 
The 4 basic hair color categories