Hair pigmentation is primarily determined by the type and amount of melanin produced by hair follicles, which in turn is influenced by genetics. The two main types of melanin, eumelanin, and pheomelanin, are responsible for the wide range of natural hair colors, from black to blonde and red.

Hair Pigmentation

Melanin is a natural pigment found in most organisms, responsible for the color of skin, hair, and eyes, and plays a crucial role in protecting against ultraviolet radiation damage. Its production is influenced by genetic factors and environmental stimuli, and it is synthesized through a complex process involving the enzyme tyrosinase within melanocytes.

Melanin

Hair follicles are dynamic organs found in the skin responsible for hair growth, cycling through phases of growth, regression, and rest. They play a crucial role in skin health and are influenced by genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors, impacting conditions like hair loss and hirsutism.

Hair Follicles

Genetics is the study of heredity and variation in living organisms, focusing on how traits are passed from parents to offspring through genes. It encompasses the molecular structure and function of genes, gene behavior in the context of a cell or organism, and patterns of inheritance across generations.

Genetics

Eumelanin is a type of melanin pigment that is primarily responsible for the black and brown colors found in human hair, skin, and eyes. It plays a critical role in protecting the skin from ultraviolet radiation damage by absorbing UV light and neutralizing free radicals.

Eumelanin

Pheomelanin is a type of melanin pigment responsible for the red and yellow hues in human hair, skin, and other tissues, and it plays a significant role in determining the variation in human coloration. Unlike eumelanin, which provides darker pigmentation, pheomelanin is more susceptible to UV radiation and can contribute to increased oxidative stress and photodamage in tissues exposed to sunlight.

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