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Your hair color isn’t just determined by your genes: Going gray, explained

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This advertising content was produced in collaboration between Vox Creative and our sponsor, without involvement from Vox Media editorial staff.

There are a lot of myths and misinformation about why men go gray. You’ve been warned about stress and genes from distant relatives, but the science behind losing your hair color is more complex than any one factor. Turns out, your environment and habits can also speed up the graying process. Here’s the science behind going gray, and the rule of 50’s that just may predict whether or not you’ll end up a silver fox — after all, getting caught off guard is never a good look.