Written by Melodie Garcia, Hairdresser at Golden Ocala.

Have you ever wondered why we have hair on our head? Why do some people have more hair than others? How come there are so many different shades of hair color? Genetics play a big part in how much hair you end up with, but the color of your hair varies from person to person. Let me help you understand some of the reasons we have these beautiful locks on our head.

The Purpose of Hair

Your hair serves many different purposes in relation to your body. Not only does hair protect your head from direct sun exposure, but also it regulates body temperature. When it is too hot, your hair acts like insulation and when it’s too cold, it maintains your body heat.

Your hair has many different roles.

What Determines Hair Color?

There are two types of pigments that give hair its beautiful color: eumelanin and pheomelanin. If a person has a low concentration of brown eumelanin, they will have blonde hair. On the other hand, if a person has a high concentration of brown eumelanin, their hair will be brown. The genetics of hair color are not yet firmly established, but according to one theory, at least two gene pairs control a person’s hair color.

Eventually, most of us end up with grey hair. However, there is a very small percentage of people who do not. The age when our beautiful hair turns grey is largely determined by genetics.

Every follicle on our head contains pigment. Our hair also is made of keratin, which is the protein in our hair. Keratin retains melanocytes, color pigments that creates the color in our hair. As we age, the keratin that retained our melanocytes disappears, producing the grey hair we see.

The pigment in our hair determines its color.

Keeping Beautiful Results

With our beautiful color line at the Golden Ocala Salon and my advanced professional hair care expertise, we can explore how to turn back the hands of time and achieve amazing hair color results customized specifically for you. Call (352) 402-4350 to schedule your appointment today. For more hair care tips and tricks, check back on our blog.