What is melanin?

Melanin is primarily known as a color pigment responsible for the natural color of hair, skin, and eyes in humans and other organisms. It plays a crucial role in determining the pigmentation and can vary in type and concentration, resulting in different shades and colors. For instance, higher levels of eumelanin typically lead to darker hair colors, while lower levels can result in blonde or red colors due to the presence of pheomelanin.

Understanding melanin’s role as a pigment is essential for anyone in the cosmetology field, as it impacts hair color treatments, skin assessments, and overall aesthetic choices. While proteins are indeed important components of hair, and nutrients and skin layers play critical roles in health and appearance, melanin specifically refers to the pigmentation aspect, which is pivotal in various cosmetic applications, such as coloring hair or understanding skin tone variations.