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A Guide To Gray Chest Hair: When, Why, And What To Do

July 31, 2023
A Guide To Gray Chest Hair: When, Why, And What To Do

Aging is a phenomenon even the toughest of men can only hold off for so long. That begs the question, does chest hair go gray?

Yes, chest hair does go gray. As with other types of hair, over time it becomes less and less likely to regrow with pigment. It can be difficult to predict when chest hair will start going gray, as it may not be at the same time as your scalp hair does.

We’ll talk about the why, the when, and what to do about it.

The stereotype that men age well does hold truth. When embraced, it’s not hard to look distinguished. But if you were keen to ditch those grays, you do have options. 

Disclaimer – Please note that this is an opinion-based style and grooming blog. The content is not professional or personalized advice. If you do have concerns about an unnatural rate or distribution of greying chest hair, be sure to see a clinician.

Why Does Chest Hair Go Gray?

Based on our reading, a hair strand doesn’t lose its color once it’s set.

Once the hair sprouts out of its follicle, it stays that way until the end of its growth cycle when it falls out. 

But as you get older, the new hairs are less and less likely to grow with color attached as the follicles produce less pigment.

It doesn’t mean that existing hairs are losing color. Just that the new ones don’t have as much.

When Does Chest Hair Go Gray?

As you get older, it becomes more and more likely that you’ll see a gray sprout out here and there. Your chest hair is no different. 

But this is a difficult one to answer. Every man is different, and genetics does seem to play a role. 

It’s impossible to predict, but an indicator would probably be your elder family members. If you really are curious, perhaps ask them to see when they started going gray

Does Chest Hair Go Gray When Head Hair Does? 

Not necessarily. In fact, it often doesn’t seem to. You’ll never really know which parts of your body will start to gray first.

It’s pretty common to see a full head of jet black hair on the head, but with a tuft of graying hair on the chest.

So, you may be in a position where you may feel the need to dye your chest hair, but not your head hair.

What Does Gray Chest Hair Look Like?

It looks like this. 

this is exactly what gray chest hair looks like

As you can see, distinguished. But, it may not be to everyone’s taste. Chest hair is one of the most divisive topics in men’s grooming today. 

It isn’t as universal as it was a few decades ago. Shifts in mainstream culture have led more and more men reaching for their clippers, trimmers, and wax to get rid of it. 

People talk less about the color of chest hair and more about whether it should exist in the first place. 

Gray chest hair can be perceived and valued in different ways due to culture and personal preference.

Ultimately, it’s up to you how you choose to see it and deal with it. The opinions of your closest friends and family may also play a role. 

Can You Prevent Chest Hair From Going Gray?

It doesn’t seem to be possible. Graying is a natural part of aging and can’t be stopped.

Having said that, if you did want to do something about chest hair you can see that’s already gone gray, you do have two options: 

  1. Trim it off. This may be the simplest and most practical solution for you. Trimming your chest hair is pretty quick when done correctly. If you weren’t particularly fond of your chest hair anyway, this may be the option for you. 
  2. Dye it. Chest hair dyeing is pretty popular, especially among the subgroup of men who do want to hold on to their chest hair.

How To Dye Gray Chest Hair 

If you have skin concerns, be sure to seek professional advice before attempting any dyeing. This won’t be appropriate for everyone.

It wouldn’t make sense for me to give you a specific step-by-step routine, as this really depends on the product you choose to use.

Each one will have its own specific instructions you should follow. 

As always, I don’t advise using hair dye on anything other than your scalp hair. It’s just too harsh for facial and body skin.

The dye you use on your body should ideally be all-natural or nearly all-natural, gentle, and appropriate for use on the chest. 

It’s important to note that you won’t be able to find a specific “chest dye” yet. Unfortunately, it doesn’t exist yet. Maybe it will one day.

Conclusion

A guide to graying chest hair for men who want to reclaim the past, or are anxious about the future. 

It’s simply a thing that happens, should be expected, and shouldn’t be feared

This article aims to do one of two things. It may have changed your own perception of white or gray chest hair to one which is more positive. Or, it has given you a couple of ways of correcting it if you really aren’t a fan. 

Or, you may have just been curious as to whether it actually even happens or not. 

Whatever the reason, thanks for sticking around until the end. I hope you found what you were looking for.