California Cosmetology Written ExamHaircoloringMedium
A colorist explains to a client that her natural hair displays warm red and yellow undertones rather than deep brown or black tones. Which type of melanin is primarily responsible for producing red and yellow pigment in natural hair?
- AMelanocyte
- BPheomelanin
- CEumelanin
- DKeratin
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: B. Pheomelanin
Pheomelanin is the melanin type responsible for red and yellow tones in hair, while eumelanin produces brown and black pigment. Keratin is a structural protein, not a pigment, and melanocytes are the cells that produce melanin.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Melanocytes are the cells that produce melanin, not the pigment itself.
- C. Eumelanin produces brown/black pigment, not red/yellow tones.
- D. Keratin is the structural protein of hair, unrelated to pigment.
Melanin Types
Eumelanin produces brown/black pigment; pheomelanin produces red/yellow pigment; both are produced by melanocytes in the hair bulb.
- Eumelanin = brown/black pigment
- Pheomelanin = red/yellow pigment
- Melanocytes produce melanin in the hair follicle
Memory trick: 'Eu' for 'Ebony/brown', 'Pheo' for 'Fiery red-yellow'.