What Determines Hair Color and Texture

Hair color comes from two pigments — eumelanin (dark) and pheomelanin (light).
The mix and amount create every shade from blond to black.
Texture depends on follicle shape — round for straight, oval for curly.
Genes control pigment type and distribution across your scalp.
Hormones can darken or lighten hair throughout life.
Gray hair appears when pigment cells stop producing melanin.
Environmental stress and smoking may hasten graying.
Ethnic variation in follicles gives global diversity in hair form.
Even identical twins can develop slightly different hair shades.
Hair color is a visible fingerprint of your genetics and aging.