Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-08-03
HOW THE HAIR GROWS
AND CHANGES COLOR
When Pigment Is Lacking Hairs Be-
come Gray or white-But Re
newal Changes Shade.

From the Journal Of the American Medical
Association.
II the pigment which produces the nat
ural color OF the hair is lacking, the
hairs present gray or white appearance.
The silvery color may further be due
to the presence of more or less air in
the hair. To account for the blanching
of the hair-the familiar accompaniment
of old age and a phenomenon which
frequently begins long before the middle
life is fairly concluded-various views
have been set forth at different times.
The silvery gray appearance which is
seen in aging persons is probably char
acterized to some extent by the occur
renee Of larger number of air cavities,
and not by the destruction of the pig
ment Hair pigment can be destroyed
only by the most vigorous chemical treat
ment Dry hairs contain more air, and
therefore will appear somewhat lighter In
color than moist ones: but black hair
may be dried to the utmost without be-
coming white, and the hair of num-
mics dried through the centuries still
show their pigment precisely as do fresh
hairs.
The explanation Of the familiar color
changes Of the hair is probably to be
found. not in destruction of pigment
already present, not in any bleaching of
hairs already formed. but rather In a
complete renewal Of the hair. Pigment
ed hairs fall out and are replaced by
unpgmented or white ones. The appear
ance Of gray or white hair ia therefore
attributable to the formation of a new
hair coat rather than by the alteration
Of the old one. Completely augmented
hairs never turn gray: they fall out. 1t
is, nevertheless, observed that the process
of pigment formation may cease during
the development Of a hair. In that event
the tip will remain augmented though the
base appears white.
How are we to harmonic these state
ments with the many published records
of hair having turned white suddenly as
the presumable consequence Of fright or
other profound emotion? A careful study
of the reputed instances has invariably
shown that they were mythical. 1t is
popularity related that Marie Antoinette
grew gray during the night after she
was condemned to be executed. 1t Is
true that at her death her hair was gray;
but her biographies all record that her
hair had been gray long before the time
of her death. 1t is also quite possible
| that the change in her hair while In
prison was due to the fact that she did
not have access to hair dyes and other
toilet preparations. This may serve to
| illustrate the value of hearsay evidence
| and popular tradition.
The conspicuous changes which the
color OF the fur OF certain species of
| animals undergoes at different seasons of
| the year becoming white in the winter
| months, affords an opportunity of in
| vesngating this pronounced transforma-
uon seemingly so closely related to what
| is seen in advancing age in man. The
| studies of Schwalbe have demonstrated
that here,too. there is no alteration Of
the color OF the summer fur. The dark
| hairs fall out as the season advance and
| white hairs grow in their place. No sud
| den changes are found when accurate oh
| servations are instituted