Keratin itself is colorless. The color of hair, skin, and nails, which are all made of keratin, comes from a pigment called melanin.
Melanin is produced by special cells called melanocytes and comes in two main forms: eumelanin (brown/black) and pheomelanin (red/yellow). The ratio of these two pigments determines the color of our hair, skin, and nails.
- Hair: Different levels of melanin determine hair color from blonde to black.
- Skin: Skin color is also determined by melanin levels, ranging from pale to dark brown.
- Nails: Nails, like hair, are naturally clear, but they can appear pink due to the blood vessels beneath.
Therefore, keratin, as a structural protein, does not have a color of its own.
