BellaSugar

Definition: Eumelanin

BellaSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:00:21 -0800

Simply put, melanin is pigment, but there are two types of melanins that give hair color its own distinctive coloring. I already gave you the scoop on pheomelanin, the pigment that produces red and yellowish strands, so let's move on to eumelanin. As you might have guessed, eumelanin gives skin and hair black and brown coloring. Therefore, people with darker skin tones will have more of this color-determining substance.

There are two different types of this pigment: black and brown. The smaller amount of brown one has, the lighter or more ashen blond the hair will be. In turn, the higher the amount of brown, the darker or more brown the hair will be. As for black eumelanin, in high quantities, it's what makes the hair black. But in lower levels, it's responsible for causing the hair to become gray. So now you can dazzle your friends, giving them their own custom "hair reading," all thanks to your expert hair color knowledge.

Have Scientists Found a Way to Turn Back the Gray?

BellaSugar — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:00:00 -0700

Did you ever think it might be possible to actually reverse gray hair, turning it back into the natural color it once was? It does sound rather outlandish - even fantastical - but according to scientists at L'Oréal's research and development center near Paris, the treatment could be just about 10 years away from coming to fruition.

"When hair goes gray, there is a progressive disappearance of the melanocytes (pigment-producing cells) from the hair. While there are still melanocytes in the hair, there is still hope that it could be re-pigmented," L'Oréal's Patricia Pineau told the Daily Mail. Supposedly, the process would involve some type of oral component, along the use of specially formulated haircare products. What do you think of this treatment in the works? Is it just messing with Mother Nature, or do you welcome what science has to offer when it comes to antiaging developments?

Bella Quiz: What Does Your Hair Say About You?

BellaSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:00:26 -0700

From a biological perspective, hair is like a little diary giving clues about your personality, from where you live to what you smoke to what you tend to eat. But from a social perspective, hair can give clues about you in a whole other way. It might be stereotyping, but it is human nature for people to form impressions about other people within mere seconds. "Hair and identity are inseparable - whether you're consciously making a statement or not, your hairstyle does express something about you," anthropology professor David Coplan of Wits University in South Africa told True Love magazine. When it comes to hair, can you guess what general impressions people make based on the length and appearance of other women's hair? You be the judge.

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Young and Gray? You Might Just Want To Stick With it

BellaSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:00:09 -0700

No matter your age, I'm sure you remember the first time you spotted a gray hair on your head. For me, I was 24. A random occurrence, I thought, although my dad was pretty much completely silver-haired by his late twenties, so I couldn't be too sure. The majority of you said you have already found your first gray hair, and since my initial unearthing, I've detected several more "natural highlights," as my hairdresser likes to say. But would it be so bad to be a young gray-haired lady, after all? Vogue writer Sarah Harris doesn't think so, recalling her early discovery of gray strands as a teenager.

"I was 16 and mortified," Harris tells The Times. By her twenties, she truly started to embrace her light locks, saying, "I slowly grew fond of the way my silver flickered when it caught the light." While she realizes that she's lucky to have a soft, silken texture to her hair, Harris acknowledges it's a lot of work. "Gray hair, unless styled and conditioned, can look washed-out and neglected. Grooming is crucial," she says. Therefore, she spends more time on her strands, protecting her hair from the sunlight to reduce yellowing, all while investing in good shampoos specifically designed for silver tones. To find out why she'll probably stay with the gray for a while, just keep reading.

16 Sexy Silver Foxes

BellaSugar — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:00:15 -0700

Recently, I caught a rerun of Paula's Party on the Food Network, where silver-haired TV personality Jay Manuel, of ANTM fame, dished out hair color tips to fellow silver-haired host Paula Deen. If I'm not mistaken, I believe he said he uses a toner by the name of "Silver Lady" to get that distinctive lustrous shade. This got me to thinking about other silvered stars. So, whether you call it white, ultra-platinum, silver, or gray, check out some other celebrities with stunning sterling locks.

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Have You Found Your First Gray Hair Yet?

BellaSugar — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:00:23 -0700

I found my first gray at the age of 24. It was pretty exciting, so much so that I snipped it and saved it in my journal. (Dorky, I know.) So far, there haven't been too many more grays, but I don't think about it much one way or the other. Have you found your first gray yet? And if so, what was your reaction?

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Why Gray Hair Goes Gray

BellaSugar — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 09:01:01 -0700

There's no fighting it: We're all destined to become gray ladies in time. Thanks to Tara Parker-Pope's blog, here's a bit more about what makes that so.

We know that hair turns gray as we age, but scientists are beginning to understand exactly how it happens. Our hair cells produce hydrogen peroxide, and over time, it builds up, blocking the synthesis of melanin (which provides the natural color to our hair). So when our hair turns gray, it's like a bleaching process from the inside out. That's only one part of the process, though. Researchers are using this discovery to examine whether stress can cause accelerated graying, which may sound like a vain pursuit - but that's not the case. By studying the stem cells involved in graying, scientists hope to discover treatments for melanoma. Think of that the next time a silver hair surfaces on your head.

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How Much Do You Know About Gray Hair?

BellaSugar — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:00:10 -0800

Perhaps you've found your first gray hair - or you already have a head full of them. Many women begin to spot gray hairs around age 30, but others start becoming silver foxes as early as their teens or as late as their forties. Think you know all there is to say about gray? Take this quiz to find out.

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Love It or Hate It? Gray Is the New Pink

BellaSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 06:00:22 -0700

Some of my favorite gray ladies include Betty White, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Barbara Walters. I didn't think I'd ever be adding Pink to that list, but this weekend, the singer showed off a new hair hue (or. . .absence thereof?). While it may not be super flattering with her coloring, I think the color is daring and kind of awesome. Of course, Pink probably isn't actually going gray, but would she be Pink if she sported a hair color that occurred in nature?

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Gray Hair - Pluck It or Leave It?

BellaSugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:00:02 -0700

Whenever a pesky gray pops up here and there, a not-so-nice phrase sounding quite similar to pluck it comes to mind. Ah, those gray hairs. We all get them - they're just an inevitable part of the aging process. Mr. Bella in particular gets them now and then, and when I reach for the tweezers, he never seems too pleased. What do you do about the occasional gray hair?

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