Kaneki’s unique white locks have long been one of his most striking characteristics, leaving fans intrigued as to their cause and purpose.
Why did Kaneki’s hair turn white?
One popular theory suggests that Kaneki’s hair turned white due to intense stress or trauma; hair can sometimes turn white as a result of stress or trauma. A competing theory states that his RC cells could have caused this change, as these organisms have long been known to cause white hair in humans. Jason used a brutal form of torture on Kaneki that drastically decreased his RC cell count, leading his hair and nails to turn white as well as possible Marie Antoinette Syndrome – which occurs when one’s hair turns white due to fear or anxiety. Kaneki’s hair turned back black during season two of Tokyo Ghoul, an indication of his extreme stress due to the cruel treatment from others he endured.
Extreme stress: Kaneki’s hair turning white was caused by severe stress.
He needed to come to terms with his true nature as an animal and embrace its many traits in order to survive, although this was no easy decision for Kaneki; nevertheless, it was his only chance at saving both himself and Touka from harm. Kaneki was suffering both emotionally and physically at Yamori’s hands; being tormented 2-3 times per day for 10 days resulted in him turning white as his hair turned brittle from constant stress and anguish, signifying their loss of humanity. Unsurprisingly, this same event is responsible for Takizawa’s hair turning white in Tokyo Ghoul Re. Ishida often uses different hues of hair color to symbolize certain characteristics in his characters.
Exposure to RC cells:
People have often wondered why Kaneki’s hair turned white, and there are various theories as to the cause. One is exposure to RC cells – what gives ghouls their abilities. Another theory suggests stress caused his locks to change color as well. Or there could be the Marie Antoinette Syndrome at play here which causes white hairs in response to trauma. Kaneki’s hair was white once more when the CCG raided his hideout in Tokyo Ghoul: Re, due to repeated injuries from Yamori’s torture. Dr. Shiba explained that half-ghouls like Kaneki can become stronger as more injuries accumulate due to rc cell tubes being formed from breaking bones; Ayato’s horrific injuries led him to gain strength beyond his kagune; this also explains why Kaneki’s hair went white again when they raided his hideout. This also explains why his hair turned white once again when his hideout was raided by CCG agents.
Half-ghoul nature:
Kaneki may have had his hair turn white due to his transformation into a ghoul, who are human-like creatures that live among humans and feed on human flesh. Kaneki Ken, however, is an introverted college freshman without any friends or family; after being attacked by a ghoul and turning into one, however, his life becomes considerably more complicated. Kaneki’s transformation caused him to age faster than normal, which may have resulted in his hair turning white as is common among elderly individuals. Kaneki’s newly whitened hair symbolizes his resolve to stay alive, signifying that he has cast aside his previous self and decided to fight for something worth living for. Furthermore, this change reflects Arima and their relationship, further emphasizing their color difference while showing Kaneki is fully invested in his quest against Arima and CCG.
