Translation guide
Describes hair that has lost its natural color, typically due to aging. Japanese distinguishes between the color, individual strands, and the overall appearance.
Describing the color of hair that is gray or white with age.
The most common word for gray/white hair. Can refer to a single strand or the overall condition.
I've been getting more gray hair lately.
He has hair streaked with gray.
To become gray-haired; to go gray.
My father went gray when he was young.
Literally 'white hair'. Used when emphasizing the white color, often for completely white hair.
My grandmother has pure white hair.
Loanword from English, used in fashion/beauty contexts.
Lately, styles that make the most of gray hair are popular.
Referring to one strand of gray hair.
Can mean a single gray hair when used with counters like 一本 (いっぽん).
I found a gray hair.
Describing a person who has gray hair.
Expressing the concept of gray hair associated with age or experience.
Proverb meaning 'wisdom of age', often linked to gray hair.
Gray hair is a sign of wisdom that comes with age.
灰色 (はいいろ) means 'gray' as a general color, but 灰色の髪 sounds unnatural for human hair. Use 白髪 instead.
白髪 (しらが) specifically means hair that has turned white/gray with age. 白い髪 (しろいかみ) can refer to naturally white or dyed white hair.
I'm starting to get gray hair.
She dyes her gray hair.