Why don’t eyebrows go grey at the same time as head hair?

Why don’t eyebrows go grey at the same time as head hair?

Your head hair doesn't change colour all at once, but colour isn't the only thing that changes about your eyebrow hair, which may account for a delay.


Asked by: Anonymous

Head hair doesn’t change colour all at once, but many men have grey hair when their eyebrows are still dark. All kinds of body hairs change colour when ageing hair follicles stop producing the pigment melanin that makes hair dark. Eyebrow hairs also change texture, grow bushier and longer with age. Their different structure may explain their different rate of greying.

Read more:

Subscribe to BBC Focus magazine for fascinating new Q&As every month and follow @sciencefocusQA on Twitter for your daily dose of fun science facts.

© Getty Images