My 3 Yr Old Daughter Is Showing Grey Hair!! HELP

Updated on December 14, 2009
N.M. asks from Bridgewater, NJ
11 answers

Hi, My 3 year old girl has black straight hair but I have noticed that several strands of hair have turned grey. It's not whole strands of hair but it's spotty like parts of the hair has lost color. From a distance, it's not easy to spot them but I can see them when I look closely. I'm very concerned and worried that this is happening at such a young age. Have any other moms noticed something similar? I use Aveeno baby shampoo. I'm thinking of changing brands but I'm not sure what's the cause.

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L.S.

answers from New York on

It is funny you say this. My daughter, who is 6 now, also has straight black hair. I remember she had this one strand that was gray, but I haven't seen it in at least a year. It probably fell out and maybe it is growing back black like the rest. I don't know if it's possible but I do know that now she doesn't have any strands of gray. I wish the same thing for you!

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S.T.

answers from Albany on

I wouldn't worry about it so much. My mother said that I had a strand or two that was white. It was like a birthmark. Because when I was a teenager and I was doing my hair and came across couple. I freaked out and my mother explained that I had it as a baby and it was like a birthmark.
I wouldn't worry about it. If you freak and worry about it then your child will be too and be so self-conscious of it for her whole life. Just tell her that they are birthmarks and they were given to her as a beauty mark if you want to make it a blessing thing for her....

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K.P.

answers from New York on

My aunt Laura has had grey hair since she was 9. She is now over 60 and has a head full of grey. Her hair has always been luxuriously long and healthy. She just had a long patch in the front which was totally grey. She says it helped build her character. She is a beautiful person both inside and out.

Don't panic about your little one. Give her confidence and self esteem not fears and insecurities. Relax and be encouraged.

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T.W.

answers from New York on

I too went to school with a guy that had a spot about the size of a quarter of gray/white hair in his light brown hair which was a birthmark.

My 14 month old son has strawberry blond hair but on the top he has a fairly large spot of so blond it is almost white hair.

What do you mean by spotty? Is it a patch or is it the same strand growing black then gray then black?

I have no real advice except that it is probably not as uncommon as maybe we would all think. I would just check with her pediatrician and make sure it isn't something she is lacking in her diet or a problem with absorbing certain proteins/vitamins from her food.

Good luck and let us know!

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K.G.

answers from Jamestown on

First of all, relax. Most kids/babies go through periods of having different colored stands in their hair.
My daughter had blond, very light hair and had one strand of black hair that came through.

It's probably not the shampoo. I was a hair dresser for several year and never heard of shampoo removing natural hair color (unless it was made to do that specifically).

My mother in law also got a grey streak as a kid and so did my aunt. Both have lovely hair to this day.
If you are overly concerned with it, ask your doctor when you take her for a check up.... and try not to cut it... not that it will cause more to grow, but it just will continue to grow and you'll be forever cutting it to get rid of it... it's hardly worth it.

And please don't make a big deal about it to your daughter....if you don't let it bother you, it won't bother her either.

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M.T.

answers from New York on

I really don't believe that a shampoo would cause hair to lose pigment, that would happen from the inside out. Honestly, I'd suggest asking your pediatrician for a referral to a dermatologist, they deal with hair issues and it could be something medical.
Good luck

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M.O.

answers from New York on

Dear N.,

There IS a dermatological condition in which a patch of the scalp loses its ability to produce pigment. This causes a streak of gray hair. It's most famously associated with Susan Sontag. I don't think this condition is associated with any real medical problems -- it just makes people look striking and distinguished at a young age :). Now, after all this, of course, I'm completely blanking on what this condition is called, but ask around, check with your pediatrician, etc.

Best wishes,

Mira

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G.C.

answers from New York on

Hi N.,
I've had grey hair since I was a kid too, as did a few of my cousins. Theirs went away in their late teens but mine never did so I've had grey (salt & pepper hair) for most of my life. So I'm sure your daughter is fine, although I completely understand why you'd be concerned, I worry about everything too. Grey hairs are just hollow hairs without any pigment and I don't think shampoo would make any difference.

Gloria
http://centraljersey.citymommy.com

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J.R.

answers from Buffalo on

I found one gray strand at the age of 4 on my daughter. and another now that she is 5... No idea why either. I do cut the one strand because it sticks out. her hair is straight and the gray hair went curly so it really stood out. I know you shouldn't cut gray hair but that seems like the right thing to do with her hair type?? I am waiting patiently to see what the answers are??

N.T.

answers from New York on

Hi N.:

Are you sure it's grey hair? Is she under great stress/how does she respond to stress? What is her current diet? These are some areas I would explore with you in a consultation because many factors could play a role in this happening.

Contact me if you would like to address the issue in depth.

My best,
N.
www.wholecreations.com/wombfull.html
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H.V.

answers from Jamestown on

I had a friend when I was in high school, who had a spot of grey hair. She said it was always there, a birth mark. So that's how I always thought of it. I suppose it could be a birth mark. don't know for sure. maybe you could google it. or check with the Dr?

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