Florida Barber License Practice Test

What term is used to describe yellow to red hair pigments?

1. Eumelanin

2. Pheomelanin

3. Melanin

4. Keratin

The correct answer is: Pheomelanin

The term that describes yellow to red hair pigments is pheomelanin. This type of melanin is responsible for the lighter shades of hair color, such as blonde and red hues. Pheomelanin contributes to the overall color by providing warmth and brightness, differentiating it from eumelanin, which is the pigment responsible for darker hair shades, such as brown and black. Understanding this distinction is important for barbers and stylists, as it allows them to better identify the underlying pigments in a client's hair and choose appropriate coloring techniques or products to achieve the desired results. The other terms refer to different aspects of hair and skin pigmentation. Melanin, while encompassing both eumelanin and pheomelanin, does not specify the yellow to red spectrum. Keratin, on the other hand, is a protein that constitutes hair structure rather than pigmentation.