Which pigment is responsible for giving natural hair color and is produced by specialized cells in the hair follicle?

• A. Melanin
• B. Carotene
• C. Keratin
• D. Hemoglobin

Answer: (A)

Melanin is the pigment responsible for natural hair color, produced by specialized cells in the hair follicle called melanocytes. These cells synthesize melanin and pass it into the cells that form the hair shaft, so the color you see comes from how much and what type of melanin is deposited. More eumelanin gives brown to black shades, while more pheomelanin gives red to yellow tones; combinations create the full spectrum of natural hair colors. Graying happens when melanocyte activity declines, leading to less pigment in the hair. Other substances like carotene aren’t produced by pigment cells in the follicle, keratin is the hair’s structural protein, and hemoglobin is the blood pigment and not involved in coloring the hair.