• Question: Why do people have different hair colours.

    Asked by to Andrei, Ekbal, Gemma, Helen, Ruth on 24 Jun 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Gemma Marsden

      Gemma Marsden answered on 24 Jun 2014:


      Your hair colour is determined by the amount of the pigment, melanin you produce. (Melanin is also found in your skin).
      We have 2 types of melanin in our hair and the different amounts of these pigments determine our hair colour. As a blonde, I have low concentrations of both types of pigment.
      Our genes determine what our natural hair colour will be – which is why hair colour runs in families.
      Although we know of one gene that is involved in the inheritance of hair colour, it is much more complicated than this as red haired parents can have brown haired children.
      Obviously, when you are older, if you don’t like your hair colour you can change it!

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