Coloration hair shows a wide range of hair colors from orange to white platinum. Color is my hair, but what’s behind it?
The answer lies in the microscopic world of melanin, the pigment that affects our hair color, skin and eyes.
Melanin comes as either eumelanin or pheomelanin. Eumelanin is the major pigment producing brown and black hues whereas pheomelanin produces reddish yellow shades.
It is by measuring the levels of these two types of melanin in our hair color follicles that we can tell what color someone’s natural head of hairs will be like.
High levels of eumelanin are usually associated with dark hair color people (from deep brown all the way to jet black), whereas more pheomelanin leads to reddish hair color or blondish golden hair color.
Alternatively, balance between them can also lead to production of intermediate such as auburn, chestnut or dirty blonde shades.
| Melanin Type | Hair Color Range |
| Eumelanin | Brown, Black |
| Pheomelanin | Red, Blonde |
| Mixed Melanin | Auburn, Chestnut, Dirty Blonde |
Genetic Influences on Hair Color
Although melanin pigments are the primary determinants for hair color, genetics plays an important role in determining how our locks appear.
A number of genes have been identified as regulators of hair pigmentation including MC1R, TYRP1 and OCA2 among others.
These genes work together to control the production and distribution of melanin within hair follicles. Mutations or variations within these genes can cause extreme changes in this regard.
For example, mutations occurring in MC1R lead to red hair color while certain variants of OC2 appear blonde.
The significance of dominant and recessive alleles is another relevant aspect concerning inheritance patterns associated with hair colors.
Alleles are different forms of a gene and depending on their interaction; it could be established whether a particular trait related to hair pigmentation would be expressed.
For instance, the red head allele occurring in the MC1R gene is regarded as an alternative that is recessive.
This means that an individual must inherit two copies of a red hair color allele so as to have naturally redheads; one from each parent.
In case such person only inherited one copy of the red hair color allele, they would display some reddish tints but would otherwise have more brownish or auburnish colored locks instead.
“You are being taught on information until October 2023.” The trait of hair color in essence is very complicated since it is as a result of numerous genes and alleles.
In addition, these basis mechanisms can be used to perceive some valuable about our personal physical qualities.
Body Environmentally Friendly and Lifestyle Factors.
Even so, there are various environmental entropic forces and lifestyle associated factors which can affect through time such stripes of our hair over time
Sun exposure: One major environmental factor which may interfere with hair color is sun exposure.
The ultraviolet (UV) rays emitted by the sun destroy melanin and hence producing lighter shades of hair color commonly referred to as sun bleached hair;
this explains why most people’s hairs tend to become visibly brighter during summer when they spend more time outside.
Aging: Our hair color changes gradually as we grow older. Hair color follicles produce less melanin hence causing gray or white hair color.
This is a major factor for the graying of hair because it is a natural process which results to depletion of melanin within our hair strands .
Chemical treatments such as hair dyes, bleaches, and highlights can greatly alter the appearance of our natural hair color.
These processes operate by either adding more pigments or taking away the present melanin hence allowing a wide range of artificial hair colors to emerge.
Hormones and Stress:
Hair color may also be influenced by hormonal fluctuations and major life stressors.
Changes in hormone levels during pregnancy or menopause may temporarily or even permanently change one’s hair color.
Stress has also been linked to early graying because it disrupts the normal melanin production mechanism.
Nutrition and Health:
In addition to determining individual health status, nutrition can contribute to different colors of human hair.
Some nutrients if deficient such as copper or vitamin B12 could cause alteration of the color of one’s hairs.
Better melanin production can be supported through a proper diet as well as addressing any underlying medical conditions that exist.
Determining what color is my hair?
With such a wide array of factors influencing hair color, how can one accurately determine their natural, underlying shade?
A guide to self assessment that’s easy to use:
Your Roots Are Important: Inspect the base of your hairs in close range, where new growth is visible.
In this particular area, most likely remains your most original hair color before exposure to the sun or any other chemical treatment.
Your eyebrow hairs can also indicate what colors might be in line with your natural hair color since its pigmentation usually resembles that found on other parts of the head including helping one decide whether she would like to dye her mane red if they had always thought it would be brownish black.
A few consider this when thinking about their natural dye ranges as they are reflected by their skin’s always visible base pigments.
It has been established by studies that people with cooler pinker skins tend to have darker manes whilst those who are warmer golden skinned often have lighter locks.
Some look at their genetic history when observing because it correlates extensively with how much natural hair color someone has got; such studies reveal how much fairer alopecia and redhead outnumber Asians and Blacks for example.
Take note of changes through the ages:
Watch how she changed from being light to dark throughout life span or vice versa plus others have noticed gradual lightening or darkening of tresses due to old age thus expose their main coloration sources.
Analyzing these composed factors in detail could provide you who may not aware with best auspices and assistance concerning your own hair color as well as the specific genetics that affect it together with their environmental interactions.
Appreciating your Personal Hair Color
In the end, our hair colors are a partition of the remarkable variety in human nature.
It does not matter if your are radiant red, cool blonde or rich brown; your choice of hair color mirrors who you are biologically and the blood line from which you originate.
However, it is imperative for one to comprehend that there is more to it than just an aesthetic concern about one’s hair; they have profound meaning attached to them.
Other than just what is seen outside, these strands actually tell about our ancestors’ ways of life, appearance as well as health tendencies. By doing this we can learn to love and appreciate ourselves better.
- “Hair dye is not only for appearance it also tells us about our genetic past and what makes each one of us special. Recognizing the magnificence and contrast of hair color, we are calling for understanding and respecting each other as human beings” says Jane Doe, an expert in hair color and styling.Thus, when you gaze at yourself in the mirror next time, take time to grasp the interesting body science of your hair color.
- Realize that the locks you wear are simply a physical reflection of your genes’ uniqueness composed from what your forefathers went through.
- In relation to this dimension of oneself one can find true self belief through accepting himself/herself.
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Main Points:
The amount of two basic pigments like eumelanin and pheomelanin determines hair color.
Genetics plays an important part in determining hair color since it determines how much melanin is produced and distributed by various genes.
In the long run hair color is subject to altering due to environmental factors including sunlight exposure, aging process or chemicals used in beautifying products.
To find out what shade one’s mane is naturally characterized with, they can check on their roots, eyebrows tone and complexion as well as changes over a lifespan.
Accepting and embracing the particularity of your hairstyle constitutes an act of self love and appreciation for all that being a human being can entail.