Dermatologists warn against the habit of plucking gray hair

Dermatology experts warn that plucking gray hairs is an ineffective habit that does not change the color of future hair growth. According to Professor Desmond Tobin of University College Dublin, the belief that plucking one gray hair causes multiple others to grow in its place is incorrect, as each hair develops from a distinct follicle.

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) notes that hair turns gray or white when follicles reduce or stop producing melanin, a process driven by genetics and aging. Plucking a hair does not alter the pigment-producing mechanism within the follicle; therefore, any replacement hair is likely to be gray as well.

Furthermore, frequent plucking can lead to thinning hair. Repeated trauma to the hair follicles in a specific area can damage them, potentially impairing their ability to produce new hair. This phenomenon has been observed in eyebrow thinning resulting from excessive plucking trends in previous decades.