White hair
Hair that has lost its pigment and appears white or grey with age or other causes
No single value: White hair is a material, and its colour varies. The background shows its family, white.
White hair is hair that has lost its pigment, turning grey or white as melanin production in the hair root ceases. This process, called greying or canities, often happens naturally with age but can also result from genetics, stress, medical conditions, or environmental factors.
- White hair results from loss of pigment, not a white dye.
- Genetics mainly determine when hair turns white.
- Stress and medical conditions can trigger early greying.
- Melanin loss starts at the hair root and spreads gradually.
What colour is White hair?
White hair is the result of a gradual loss of pigment in the hair strand. Instead of containing melanin, which gives hair its colour, white hair has little or no pigment. This makes the hair appear white or grey, depending on how much pigment remains. The process typically starts at the roots and spreads over time, and can affect hair on the head, face, and body. White hair stands out from other hair colours because it reflects light differently, making it look lighter and sometimes even silvery.
Where does White hair come from?
The term 'canities' comes from the Latin word for 'grey hair' or 'old age.' Greying of hair is a natural part of ageing, but the timing and pattern are largely influenced by genetics. Some people may be born with white hair due to inherited traits, while others develop it later in life. Environmental factors and certain medical conditions can also play a role in when and how hair loses its colour.
How is White hair made?
White hair is not produced by adding a pigment but by the absence of melanin. Melanin is made by cells called melanocytes at the base of the hair follicle. When these cells stop working or die, new hair grows in without pigment, resulting in white or grey strands. The process can be gradual, with some hairs turning grey before becoming fully white.
White around the world
What the white family means from country to country.
The Taliban flag is white with the Muslim declaration of faith in black. It replaced the black, red and green tricolour of the republic in 2021.
Politics and protestSacred and holySource: Flag of AfghanistanThe Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo wore white headscarves as they marched to demand news of children who disappeared under the dictatorship of 1976 to 1983.
Politics and protestMourning and deathCourageSource: Mothers of Plaza de MayoThe wiphala, a square flag of 49 small squares in seven colours with a white diagonal, stands for the Andean peoples. It has been a second national flag since 2009.
Politics and protestPrideSource: WiphalaOn New Year's Eve crowds on the beaches dress in white for peace in the year ahead. The custom comes from the Afro-Brazilian religions, whose followers wear white.
Luck and prosperityFestival and celebrationSacred and holyHopeSource: New Year's EveAn ordinary citizen's kabney is white with fringes. It must be worn to enter a dzong, the fortress that houses both monks and government offices.
Purity and peaceSource: KabneyA red cross on white, the Swiss flag reversed, marks medical staff and aid workers in war and must not be attacked under the Geneva Conventions.
Protection and healingTrustSource: Emblems of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent MovementShades and relatives of White hair
White hair can appear as a mix of grey and white strands or as fully white hair. The process may start in different areas, such as the nose hair, scalp, beard, or eyebrows. Some people experience patchy loss of pigment, as in conditions like vitiligo or piebaldism. Albinism is another condition where hair may be white or pale blond due to a lack of pigment.
Questions people ask about White hair
What colour is white hair?
White hair is hair that appears white or grey because it lacks pigment. This happens when the cells that produce melanin in the hair root stop working, so new hair grows in without colour.
Why does hair turn white as people age?
As people get older, the stem cells that make pigment in hair follicles gradually stop working or die. Without pigment, hair grows in white or grey. This process is mostly controlled by genetics.
Where does the name 'canities' come from?
The word 'canities' comes from Latin, meaning 'grey hair' or 'old age.' It refers to the process of hair losing its colour and turning grey or white.
Can white hair be caused by something other than ageing?
Yes, white hair can also result from stress, certain medical conditions, nutrient deficiencies, or genetic traits. Some people may even be born with white hair due to inherited conditions.
Good reading and sources
- Greying of hair on WikipediaEncyclopedia
- More pictures on Wikimedia CommonsPictures
- Wikidata recordOpen data
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Greying of hair", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Rang rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. The swatch is an approximation: named colours are not fixed standards, and every screen shows them a little differently. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
More of the white family
All of white
White
Zinc oxide
A white inorganic powder used in pigments, ointments, ceramics and electronicsPigment · 🇮🇳 India +2
#FFFFF0
Ivory
A soft off-white shade with a hint of yellow, named after animal tusksNamed shade
#FDF8FF
Zinc white
A cool, low-toxicity white pigment made from zinc oxidePigment
White
Lead white
A dense, opaque white pigment once used in art, home, and cosmetics worldwidePigment · 🇨🇳 China +2
White
Barium sulfate
A dense, white mineral used in pigments, X-rays, and industryPigment
White
Antimony trioxide
A white antimony compound used in flame retardants and glassmakingPigment · 🇨🇳 China +4
White
White lead
A historic opaque white pigment once made from lead and vinegarPigment
#FFF8E7
Cosmic latte
A pale beige shade found by averaging the light of over 200,000 galaxiesNamed shade