Why does human hair only grow in as black, brown, red, blond, or gray?
(Lansing State Journal, February 15, 1995)


Human hair gets it color from specialized cells in the hair follicle called melanocytes that produce the pigment for hair.

These melanocytes produce three pigments.  How much and what type of pigments the melanocytes produce is ultimately determined by genetics.

One pigment is called tyrosine melanin, and is found in dark hair such as black or brown.  The more tyrosine melanin produced, the darker the hair.

Another type of pigment is called pheomelanin and is found in lighter hair.

The third pigment is called trichosderin and is responsible for red hair.  Albino hair is the result of the melanocytes producing little or no pigment at all.

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