Will More Gray Hairs Grow If You Pluck Them? 4 Misconceptions About Gray Hair and Hair Loss

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The video explains whether plucking gray hair makes more grow, whether stress can turn hair white overnight, how gray hair and hair loss are related, and whether black beans or supplements can restore dark hair.

Are Premature Gray Hair and Age-Related Gray Hair Different Phenomena?

White hair that appears at a relatively young age is commonly called premature gray hair, but both premature gray hair and the gray hair that increases with age are related to a decrease in hair pigment. When changes occur in the production and transfer of melanin pigment in the hair follicle, newly growing hair may appear white or gray. [1]

Various factors, including family history, age, and health status, are involved in when graying begins and how it progresses. Therefore, the mere presence of a few gray hairs does not allow a definitive conclusion about a specific disease or nutritional deficiency.

Misconception 1. Will Two Hairs Grow if You Pluck a Gray Hair?

Plucking does not create new hair follicles or increase the number of hairs. Even if gray hairs seem more noticeable nearby after plucking, that alone does not mean plucking increased the gray hair.

That said, a habit of repeated plucking is not recommended either. The American Academy of Dermatology advises that plucking gray hair can cause thinning, and that the hair that grows back may also be gray.

How Should You Manage a Few Bothersome Strands?

In the video, Director Yoo Hwa-jung explains that if one or two gray hairs bother you, trimming their length is preferable to plucking. Take care not to injure the scalp when cutting. If you choose a cover product or hair dye, please check the product's directions and precautions.

There is no need to worry excessively if you have already plucked one or two strands. A single pluck does not mean permanent hair loss. What matters is not plucking the same area repeatedly, and having the area checked if a wound or inflammation develops.

Misconception 2. Can Stress Turn Your Hair White Overnight?

The link between stress and gray hair should be distinguished from the story that all existing hair turns white overnight. Hair pigment is related to the process by which hair is formed in the follicle, so changes in newly grown sections after stress should not be explained as the same phenomenon as sudden discoloration of existing hair.

Therefore, definitive statements such as "stress has nothing to do with gray hair" or "rest will always bring back dark hair" should be avoided. If a sudden change in color is accompanied by significant hair shedding, it is advisable to check whether there is another cause.

Misconception 3. If You Have a Lot of Gray Hair, Will You Avoid Hair Loss?

Having a lot of gray hair does not make you exempt from hair loss. A change in hair color and hair becoming thinner or falling out are different changes that need to be observed.

The video also addresses the popular belief that having a lot of gray hair prevents hair loss. Even if your gray hair stays the same, if your part widens, the hair at the front thins, or overall density decreases, hair loss should be evaluated separately.

If you take comparison photos, try to keep the lighting, angle, part position, and whether the hair is wet or dry similar. However, rather than determining the cause from photos alone, if changes persist it is better to have your scalp and hair condition examined at a consultation.

Misconception 4. Will Black Beans or Gray Hair Supplements Turn Hair Dark Again?

Including black beans or black sesame in your diet is different from the treatment claim that eating them will turn gray hair back to dark hair. No reliable effect of specific foods or supplements in reversing ordinary gray hair has been established. The literature on managing gray hair also describes the limitations of treatment options and the importance of evaluating the cause. [1]

The Mechanism of Catalase Is Not the Same as a Supplement's Effect

The fact that catalase and oxidative stress appear in hair pigment research does not mean that taking or applying catalase supplements will restore gray hair. The biological role of an ingredient and the effect of an actual product when used in people must be verified separately. [1]

Treatment of a Confirmed Deficiency Is a Separate Matter

If there is a confirmed cause, such as vitamin B12 deficiency, treatment of that problem may be considered. This does not mean supplements are recommended for everyone without a deficiency, or that taking them will always restore color. The need for testing and treatment is determined based on medical history and symptoms. [4]

If Gray Hair Shampoo Makes Hair Look Dark, Has Pigment Function Been Restored?

Supplementing color so gray hair is less visible is different from restoring the pigment-producing function of the hair follicle. The video explains how some gray-coverage shampoos change the apparent color by coating and tinting the hair.

However, not all products work with the same ingredients or mechanisms. Rather than judging the effect or level of irritation by the name "gray hair shampoo" alone, check each product's ingredients, directions, and precautions.

Have These Changes Checked at a Consultation

Gray hair itself is a common change, and seeing gray hair does not by itself mean testing or treatment is needed. The video advises looking into the cause when the following changes are also present.

1. When It Increases Rapidly at a Relatively Young Age and Other Symptoms Are Present

A retrospective study of 71 people reported an association between premature graying and vitamin B12 deficiency or hypothyroidism. However, these are small-scale data from a specific region and do not mean that all gray hair is caused by a deficiency or thyroid problem. Family history, diet and health status, and accompanying symptoms are reviewed to decide which tests are needed. [4]

2. When White Hair Clusters in Only One Area or Skin Color Also Changes

It is important to determine whether the change has been present for a long time or appeared recently. If it is accompanied by changes in scalp skin color or patchy hair loss, it may be necessary to differentiate whether the change is related to conditions such as vitiligo or alopecia areata. A specific disease is not diagnosed based on appearance alone. [1]

3. When Hair Density Decreases Rapidly Along with Graying

Separately from color changes, check whether the amount of shedding, hair thickness, part, and hairline are changing. Rather than assuming it cannot be hair loss because you have gray hair, it is better to have the cause of persistent density changes evaluated.