What determines our hair color?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the factors that determine hair color, including genetic influences and potential changes over time. Participants explore the variability of hair color across different body areas and the implications of these differences.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Conceptual clarification, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses concern about their hair color differing from their family's and questions whether medical advice is needed.
  • Another participant explains that hair color is influenced by multiple genes, which can lead to variations from parents and changes over time.
  • It is noted that some men may have redder beards compared to the hair on their heads, which could be due to light reflection or sun exposure.
  • There is a mention of common hair color changes from childhood to adulthood, with a question about the role of hormones in these changes.
  • One participant suggests that the phenomenon of children being blonde and later developing darker hair is heritable, indicating a genetic basis for this process.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that hair color is genetically determined and can change over time, but there is no consensus on the specific mechanisms involved, such as the role of hormones.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about genetic inheritance and hormonal influence on hair color changes remain unresolved, and the discussion does not clarify the specific genetic processes involved.

Casio
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I woould like to know what determines our hair color ? Its not only on my head, but even on my face, chin-cheeks (beard), my arms, my body, that that color is is not brown, there are quite a lot of (yellow+red=orange) hairs growing. I was born to have brown hair, differing from my parents and any members in my family. Please tell me, you nice biologists if I need to see my doctor for more advice and even any diagnoses if necessary ? I am really worried. :frown:
 
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Hair color is determined by several genes, so it's not at all unusual to get a mixture of hair colors, or to even differ quite a bit from your parents. It's even pretty common for someone's hair color to change as they get older. So, no need to worry about the color of your hair being different in your beard than on your head. I've noticed a lot of men tend to have redder beards than the hair on their head. It might also just be the way the light reflects off shorter hair than longer hair, or the amount of sun exposure bleaching some hair.
 
You speak like a doctor :biggrin:
Thank you, Moonbear.
 
Moonbear said:
It's even pretty common for someone's hair color to change as they get older.

very common when children are born with blonde hair then go to brown...or even black hair as an infant then lighter as they grow up...don't hormones also play a role in hair color change?
 
This "blond as children, darker as adult" is heritable, so there must be genes for it (the whole process). I don't know the process, but it has to work in both men and women, so I wonder if hormones would serve.
 

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