Different hair colors - Photos by PR Photos
All it takes is a walk down the hair color aisle in your local market or beauty supply store to realize the overwhelming number of available shades and tones. The sheer variety of hair colors accounts for the
unique names you’ll find.
Of course, knowing the name of one particular hair color product doesn’t guarantee that another product with the identical color will have the same name. Such are the hazards of naming conventions and a free-market
economy. However, understanding basic color families can help you make better choices and more easily explain exactly what color you want.
The Basics:
Hair color falls into four basic categories: Blonde, Brunette, Redhead, and Gray. Every possible hair color fits into one of these categories, with some colors bridging two categories simultaneously.
All hair color results from the presence or absence of melanin in the hair's cortex. Melanin comes in two forms: eumelanin, responsible for black and brown shades, and pheomelanin, responsible for red
and yellow/blonde tones. The combination of these melanin types creates all natural hair colors. The absence of melanin results in gray hair.
Let’s explore the color categories and their relationships.
Brunette:
Ranging from coal black to burnished wood, brunettes fall within levels 1 through 5 and predominantly contain eumelanin. Common hair shades in this category include rich chocolate brown, sable, and moon-kissed brown.
Brunettes - Photos by PR Photos
Here, we see a sampling of celebrity brunettes who showcase the sensuality of dark hair. Who needs to be a blonde bombshell when you can be a beautiful brunette? Featured photos include
Victoria Justice, Jennifer Beals, and Teri Hatcher.
Blonde:
Blonde shades range from very light brown to near-white platinum. Blondes contain small amounts of pheomelanin and sometimes eumelanin, typically falling between levels 6 and 10 in lightness. Popular
blonde tones include honey, sun-kissed, and harvest gold.
Blondes - Photos by PR Photos
Kristin Chenoweth, Lucy Lawless, and Nikki Griffin bring the "BOOM!" back with their sunny tresses. From Kristin's bright sunshine gold short style to Sarah's soft fawn-colored long locks, it's easy
to see why blondes are often preferred.
