Hair color is the result of pigmentation due to the presence of the chemicals of melanin and phaeomelanin.
Human beings have many variations in hair color and hair texture. In general, the more melanin present, the darker the hair color; less melanin, the lighter the hair color. Usually the color of children's and adults' hair varies from pale yellow (blonde) to deep black. Hair may also come in more than one shade of color on one's head. As an example, the shade of one's hair color may change from a light shade to a darker one as time elapses.
The ethnic distribution of colors has historically varied by geographic area. For example, black hair predominates outside of Europe, with the darkest shades occurring in East Asians. Black, brown, blonde and red hair occur in Europeans with the lighest shades occurring in Northern Europe.
Considerable differences in hair color and texture exist between individuals of similar ethnicity, and immigration and global travel have greatly increased the diversity of hair characteristics in many countries. People also dye their hair to colors that do not occur naturally.
