Why Your Hair Color Changes Over Time
Did you have a full head of bright blonde hair as a kid? You might have noticed that your hair color changed as you grew older—maybe from pale blonde to darker blonde, or even chestnut brown. But why does this happen?
Different Pigments
Many people think hair color stays the same until old age, when it gradually turns gray. In reality, hair color can change much earlier, and it’s mostly due to genetics. The key players are pigments called melanin, which also determine the color of your skin and eyes.
Eumelanin: Controls how dark your hair is. More eumelanin means darker hair.
Pheomelanin: Determines the warmth of your hair. People with red hair have high levels of pheomelanin, while pale blondes have less.
The combination of eumelanin and pheomelanin creates the unique color of your hair.
Why Hair Darkens With Age
So why does hair often darken as we grow older? It all comes down to genetics. When you’re young, not all hair-color genes are fully active, resulting in lighter hair. As you age, more genes are activated, increasing eumelanin production, and your hair becomes darker.
Next time you look at baby photos, you’ll understand why everyone’s hair seems so different!