White hair often feels coarser or wirier than pigmented hair due to changes that occur as hair loses its color and as we age.
When hair turns white, it's primarily because the hair shaft loses pigment (melanin). This process affects the hair's structure, making it feel different.
Key Reasons White Hair Feels Coarse
Based on available information, the coarseness of white hair is linked to two main factors:
- Changes in Hair Structure: As our hair loses its pigment, it becomes thinner and more brittle, leading to a coarse and wiry feel. The absence of pigment can alter the physical properties of the hair strand itself.
- Decreased Natural Oils: As we age, the natural oils produced by our scalp, which help keep our hair soft and moisturized, decrease. This lack of moisture further contributes to the wiry texture. These natural oils, also known as sebum, play a crucial role in maintaining hair's flexibility and softness.
How These Factors Interact
The combination of a drier scalp producing less oil and the structural changes within the unpigmented hair strand results in hair that is often perceived as being less manageable, more brittle, and having a rougher, wirier texture compared to its younger, pigmented counterpart.
While the individual thickness of a white hair strand might vary from person to person, the overall feel is often described as coarse primarily due to these combined effects on moisture and structural integrity.
