im 21 years old, im not depressed or anything, i actually love life, but i got a lot of grey hair on my left side of head, i do stay up all night hacking, i just love building stuff, im actually thinking this could be from me hacking, thats only reason i got the gray hair? is this normal
Ask HN: is it unusual for hackers to get grey hair, should i be worried?
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Re: Ask HN: is it unusual for hackers to get grey hair, should i be worried?
#2It is probably nothing but please go ask a doctor. If you google hard enough you'll find lots of reasons to think "it's nothing" and some good paranoia-inducing reasons to think.. ask a doc.
Re: Ask HN: is it unusual for hackers to get grey hair, should i be worried?
#3I'm one of the only hackers/startup guys I know in my age bracket (late 30's) that does NOT have grey hair. It's not common from my observations to see grey hair around 30 in this business.
Re: Ask HN: is it unusual for hackers to get grey hair, should i be worried?
#4I had a few white hairs from time to time in my early 20s. Now I'm 29 and getting perhaps a few percent grey/white hairs on both sides. But men on both sides of my family have gone full-on grey/white from 50 or so so I'm not concerned (I quite like the idea really).
One of the signs of serious stress is going bald or having clumps of hair falling out. If you're not at that level, I wouldn't pay much attention to it. But, as always, see a doctor if you're worried.
Re: Ask HN: is it unusual for hackers to get grey hair, should i be worried?
#5[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: is it unusual for hackers to get grey hair, should i be worried?
#6You should move your monitor around or get a second one and place it to the right of your head. Also, check the Feng Shui of your office.
If an unusually high-power CRT were to blame, you would have no hair on the left of your head instead of just white hair. Asymmetric UV exposure could bleach parts of your hair.
Re: Ask HN: is it unusual for hackers to get grey hair, should i be worried?
#7From my research, gray hair is genetic, but stress can trigger changes.
I've been a computer geek since I was 7 or 8. I started graying at 16. I'm 41 and my hair is completely white now. I wouldn't worry about it. Your only problem will be how first impressions go. But if you accept yourself as you are, it won't hold you back.
I just cut it really short now.
It's like baldness, it is better to accept it with some dignity than look like an insecure dope with a toupee or a comb-over.
Re: Ask HN: is it unusual for hackers to get grey hair, should i be worried?
#8I think of them as silver. And silver hair is cool. Aged, wisened.
Re: Ask HN: is it unusual for hackers to get grey hair, should i be worried?
#9[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: is it unusual for hackers to get grey hair, should i be worried?
#10Grab a bottle of womens hair dye. The stuff for men leaves too many greys behind.