Why doesn’t Pubic Hair Turn Gray

As soon as we are born, we begin to age. It may sound pessimistic, but it’s true. From the moment we travel down the birth canal, emerge into the light, and take our first breath, each day and every breath mark a step toward the inevitable. However, there’s no need to panic—time does move quickly, but you should still embrace life and all the experiences it offers. The key point is that aging begins at birth, and as we age, our bodies undergo changes both internally and externally. One clear example of these changes is our hair. As we age, hair often undergoes transformations in color, thickness, and sometimes even falls out completely. A common fear for many as they grow older is whether their hair will turn gray or, worse, fall out, leaving them bald. Most people’s hair will at least turn gray over time. Another concern, particularly for those over forty noticing graying head hair, is whether their pubic hair might also turn gray. So, can pubic hair turn gray?

Understanding Hair and Its Changes

To answer this question, we need to explore two key aspects: what pubic hair is and what determines hair color in general.

Pubic hair refers to the hair in the genital area, including the frontal genital region, the crotch, and sometimes the upper inner thighs, collectively known as the pubic region. Pubic hair grows due to androgens (steroid hormones) present in the skin of the genital area. This makes pubic hair an example of androgenic hair, which develops only after puberty and differs from the hair on your head or other parts of your body. It’s important to understand that pubic hair is distinct from head hair, so the process of graying may differ between the two.

Hair color changes are a natural part of aging and one of its most visible signs. Hair color is determined by a pigment called melanin, produced by hair follicles. As we age, hair follicles typically produce less melanin. Specifically, melanocytes—cells present in both the skin (epidermal) and hair (bulbar)—are responsible for giving your skin and hair their color. Bulbar melanocytes determine whether your hair is dark or light. Their activity is primarily influenced by genetics or disease, not by stress. So, contrary to popular belief, stress from your kids, job, or spouse won’t cause your hair to turn gray. Bulbar melanogenic cells, located where hairs originate, produce two types of melanin: eumelanin, a dark melanin granule resulting in dark hair, and phaeomelanin, a lighter melanin granule responsible for blonde or red hair.

The presence of these melanocytes varies based on age and genetics, affecting hair color. For example, many people have light hair as children but develop darker hair as adults. Similarly, different types of hair contain varying proportions of eumelanin and phaeomelanin. In pubic hair, eumelanin (dark) melanocytes are typically more dominant than phaeomelanin (light) melanocytes, making pubic hair darker than head hair. Across your body, natural hair colors result from the interplay of these melanins, with everyone’s hair being unique. As your body changes throughout life, so can these melanin levels, potentially causing hair—including pubic hair—to turn gray if the right combination of light and dark melanocytes is present. However, graying is genetically determined across the body, from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. Since pubic hair is younger than head hair by at least a decade, it typically takes longer to gray. Additionally, because it’s a different type of hair, it may gray later or not at all.

In conclusion, just like the hair on your head, pubic hair can indeed turn gray. It may take longer than head hair, but those hairs “down there” can eventually shine silver. Don’t believe me? Ask Grandpa—though I apologize if that image crosses the line!