Why is my hair turning red as I age?
Caleb Butler
Updated on April 04, 2026
The amount of pheomelanin pigment determine how red our hair is. They just aren’t using the pigment genes. The genes for making melanin might turn on or off over the course a person’s lifetime. If this happens in the cells at the bottom of your hairs, your hair might change color!
Why has my hair turned red?
“There are two primary causes of your hair color turning out too red or orange,” says Papanikolas. “Either the color you chose was too light, or you picked a color with warm undertones.
Why does my dark brown hair have red in it?
You may be wondering, why have these orange and red hues appeared in my hair? These brassy tones appear whenever you lighten brown locks – whether it be from balayage or blonde highlights. The bleaching agent removes the melanin in your hair, exposing the orange undertones underneath.
Can brown hair turn red?
“Dark hair has lots of natural red tones, so when you strip it there’s a lot of warmth underneath,” she says. “That red can turn into orange, too, and those are the tones you need to sustain a beautiful, bright, natural-looking red.” That means going red is possible without bleach — but only if your strands are virgin.
Can stress change your hair color?
A new study shows that stress really can give you gray hair. It causes them to rapidly turn into pigment cells and move out of the hair follicles. Without stem cells left to create new pigment cells, new hair turns gray or white.
How can I get red out of my hair naturally?
7 Ways To Boost Your Red Hair Colour and Stop Your Ginger Shade Fading
- Henna. Natural henna is the age-old way to both dye your hair red, as well as boost natural ginger shades.
- Cool rinsing.
- Cranberry juice.
- Carrots.
- Leave-in conditioner.
- Hair gloss.
- Low heat styling.
How do I get rid of red tones in my hair?
Green shampoo is one of the easiest ways to cancel out red at home. You can find a green toning shampoo at your local drugstore or add two or three drops of green food coloring (or green dye) to your shampoo. The green tones within the shampoo help to counteract the red dye on your strands.
How do I keep my hair red after dying it?
7 Ways to Make Red Hair Dye Last
- Wash your hair with cooler water.
- Gloss is your best friend.
- Use products with UV blockers.
- Use leave-in conditioner religiously.
- Instead of frequent washes, opt for dry shampoo.
- Cut it with all the heat styling.
- Use a color depositing or color-safe wash and care.
Why does your hair change color when you get older?
As people get older, their hair often gets darker. But genes don’t direct melanocytes to produce melanin with the same consistency for your entire life—hormones can activate or deactivate certain genes. As melanin decreases, new hair comes in gray or even white.
Why is my hair changing colors?
The bottom line: Several factors can change the color and texture of hair throughout your lifetime. They include stress, chemical hair treatments, heat styling, genetics, aging, medical conditions and illness. and pregnancy.
Why does red hair darken with age?
The more melanin produced in the hair follicle, the darker the color. The genes control the amount of melanin produced according to the coding. It is not only blonde hair that darkens with age; red hair often darkens as well. As people age, and the hair turns gray or white, less melanin is produced.
Why your hair changes color as you age?
Hair color change. This is one of the clearest signs of aging. Hair color is due to a pigment called melanin, which hair follicles produce. Follicles are structures in the skin that make and grow hair. With aging, the follicles make less melanin, and this causes gray hair. Graying often begins in the 30s.
Why is my brown hair turning into black hair?
The main cause of your black hair turning brown is because of stress. This health problem is the root cause of your hair changing its natural colour. If your black hair is turning light brown then it could be due to your regular hot baths. Having a hot bath can in time remove the natural oils and texture from your hair leaving it dry and rough.
Why does my hair turn red?
If you live in an area where water is very hard, you may have mineral deposits accumulating on your hair and scalp. Hard water minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, iron, copper and lead, can affect hair color greatly. If your brown hair color is turning red very quickly, this might be the culprit.