Name: Jessica
Status: Student
Grade: 9-12
Location: OH
Country: United States
Date: February 2008
Question:
When I was smaller I had bright blond hair that was
bleached from the sunlight. But when I moved up to Ohio it turned a dark blonde.
As you know, the sunlight acts like bleach to hair.
However, if the sunlight has broken down the chemicals in the hair how can hair
turn a darker color? Can hair eventually regenerate
from such torture?
Replies:
I tell my students that everyone assumes that when you are born you are
"finished". One of the traits that changes as you age is your hair color.
Very few people who are born with very light hair end up having that same
color as adults. Melanin deposition in your hair follicles continues as
you age. It was probably a coincidence that it happened as you moved.
Yes, your hair does lighten when you spend a lot of time in the sun, or
chlorine can do nasty things to your hair color if you spend a lot of time
in the pool. But in general, it was probably just time and age that has
darkened your hair.
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