Why Your Beard Color Is Different Than Your Hair Color

Ever wonder why your beard hair is a different color than your head hair? Sure you have, that's why you're reading this!

And if this isn't you, I bet you have a buddy who's beard is a different shade than what he's rockin' up top.

When this happens, it's most often red that sprouts out. Some may refer to it as orange, copper, or ginger, but you get the idea.

To sum it up, this happens due to a mutation in a chromosome involved in producing hair pigment.

Don't worry, it's not dangerous.

In this article we'll break down why this happens.

Genetics And Hair Color

All of your hair color is genetic, this includes your head hair and beard hair alike. You can thank your ancestors for the color you've been dealt, and the combinations over the years can result in a wide range of color combinations.

Scalp hair, by default, is white. The specific shade of color of your hair is determined by the amount of melanin in your hair, both head and beard.

Melanin is a type of organically developed pigment, and there are two sorts of melanin:

Eumelanine which infuses hair with brown and black pigmentation.

Pheomelanine which infuses hair with red and yellow pigmentation.

Science talk is cool and all, but...

What Causes Beard To Be Different Color

As I mentioned above, this happens due to a mutation in a chromosome involved in producing hair pigment.

That mutation occurs on the MC1R gene on chromosome 16 in the DNA sequence.

This MC1R gene is critical in making a protein involved in the production of the melanin that determines red hair I mentioned above.

Every person inherits two different types of MC1R, one from each parent.

Though If you inherit a mutated version of the gene from BOTH parents, you're likely to have red hair from head to toe.

But if only one of those MC1R genes is mutated, you may very well end up with red hair in your beard, but not on your head.

So you can thank your parents for this one!

Age

Age can certainly influence hair and beard color, but it doesn't really impact the difference between the head and beard hairs.

Age will primarily just influence it changing color over time to grey and white which is caused by a decrease in Melanin production over time.

What Else Causes Beard Color Change?

Besides your natural pigment, stress and malnutrition can change your hair color.

Grey coloring of your hairs (head or beard) are directly linked to stress, whereas dull, unhealthy looking hair can be a result of vitamin deficiency.

If you're not eating the best diet regularly, you can choose to supplement with a product like Beard Boost to help keep the health and growth of your beard strong.

Can A Beard Have Multiple Colors? Why?

It is completely normal and very common for a beard to have multiple colors. A man can have brown hair on his head but have a beard with a mix of red, blonde, brown, black, and eventually grey or white hairs all at once. This fascinating phenomenon is primarily due to genetics and the complex science of hair pigmentation. Here’s why it happens:

1. The Two Types of Melanin

All hair color, whether on your head or your face, is determined by a pigment called melanin, which is produced by cells called melanocytes located within each hair follicle. There are two types of melanin:

• Eumelanin: This pigment is responsible for black and brown shades. The more eumelanin a hair has, the darker it will be.

• Pheomelanin: This pigment is responsible for red and yellow/blonde shades.

The final color of a single strand of hair depends entirely on the ratio of these two melanin types present in that specific follicle. A hair with lots of eumelanin will be dark brown, while one with high pheomelanin and low eumelanin will be red.

2. Genetics: Different Follicles, Different Instructions

This is the primary reason for a multi-colored beard. The genetic code that tells the follicles on your scalp how much of each melanin type to produce can be different from the instructions sent to the follicles on your cheeks, chin, or upper lip. This is why you can have a uniform hair color on your head while your face displays a mosaic of different colors. A follicle on your chin might be genetically programmed to produce mostly red-toned pheomelanin, while a follicle right next to it is programmed to produce brown eumelanin.

3. The "Red Beard" Gene (MC1R)

The most common example of this is a man with brown hair having a distinctly red beard. This is linked to a specific gene called MC1R. The job of the MC1R gene is to help convert the red pigment (pheomelanin) into the black/brown pigment (eumelanin).

• If you inherit two mutated copies of the MC1R gene (one from each parent), you'll likely have red hair all over.

• If you inherit only one mutated copy, you are a "carrier." You may have brown or blonde hair on your head, but the red pigment isn't fully suppressed and can express itself strongly in your beard follicles, resulting in red patches or a completely red beard.

4. The Influence of Age

As you get older, the melanocyte cells in your hair follicles begin to slow down and eventually stop producing melanin altogether. When a follicle runs out of pigment, it produces a hair that is unpigmented—appearing white or grey.

This process does not happen uniformly across your entire beard at the same time. It's common for the chin or sideburns to start showing grey hairs first while the mustache remains dark, adding yet another layer of color to the mix and creating the classic "salt and pepper" look.

In summary, a multi-colored beard is a direct and visible expression of your unique genetic code, where different hair follicles are given different recipes for hair color, which is then further influenced by the natural aging process.

Can Diet Or Supplements Change The Shade Of A Different-Colored Beard?

Diet or supplements cannot change the fundamental, genetically determined shades of a different-colored beard.

The unique combination of red, brown, black, or blonde hairs in your beard is locked in by your DNA. These genetic instructions tell each individual hair follicle what mixture of pigments (black/brown eumelanin and red/yellow pheomelanin) to produce. No food or vitamin can rewrite this genetic code to, for example, turn a naturally red patch of hair into brown.

However, diet and supplements can have a minor and indirect impact on the quality and vibrancy of your beard color in a few specific ways:

Where Diet & Supplements CAN Have a Minor Impact

1. Correcting a Nutritional Deficiency (The Biggest Exception): This is the only scenario where a change in "shade" might be observed. The production of melanin pigment requires certain nutrients, most notably copper, zinc, iron, and vitamin B12. If you have a severe deficiency in one of these, it can impair melanin production, potentially leading to premature graying or causing hair to appear lighter or duller than its natural state.

   • What this means: In this specific case, correcting the deficiency by improving your diet or taking a targeted supplement could help restore your hair to its original, genetically intended color. You aren't changing the color, but rather allowing the follicle to function properly again.

2. Improving Hair Health and Vibrancy: A balanced diet rich in protein (for keratin production), vitamins (like biotin), and healthy fats contributes to stronger, healthier hair with a more robust cuticle. Healthy hair reflects light better, making its color appear deeper and more vibrant.

   • What this means: While the pigment itself hasn't changed, a healthy, shiny brown hair will look much richer than a dull, lifeless brown hair. This can be perceived as an enhancement of its shade.

3. Potentially Delaying Graying: Some research suggests that oxidative stress contributes to the aging of hair follicles and the decline of pigment production. A diet rich in antioxidants (found in fruits, vegetables, and green tea) can help combat oxidative stress throughout the body.

   • What this means: This won't reverse existing gray hairs or change your beard's current colors, but it may contribute to the overall health of your follicles and potentially delay the onset of new gray hairs.

What Diet & Supplements CANNOT Do

• Change Your Natural Color Mix: They cannot turn a red hair brown or a black hair blonde.

• Reverse Age-Related Graying: Once a follicle has stopped producing melanin due to the natural aging process, no food or supplement can restart it.

• Create New Colors: Your diet cannot introduce a pigment that your genetics haven't already coded for.

In conclusion, you should view diet and supplements as tools to help your beard reach its maximum genetic potential for health and vibrancy, not as tools to alter its fundamental colors.

Are Different Head and Beard Hair Textures Common?

It is incredibly common for head hair and beard hair to have different textures, and in fact, it is more the norm than the exception. Many men have straight, fine hair on their heads but find their beards are coarse, wiry, and curly.

This difference is completely normal and stems from the fact that head hair and beard hair are fundamentally different types of hair, driven by different biological factors. Here’s why their textures vary:

1. The Primary Reason: Androgenic Hair vs. Scalp Hair

The most important distinction is the type of hair. Beard hair is a form of androgenic hair, which means its growth is stimulated by androgen hormones, primarily testosterone and its more potent derivative, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), during and after puberty. It is a secondary sexual characteristic.

Your scalp hair, on the other hand, is not directly dependent on these same pubertal hormones for its initial existence. This fundamental hormonal difference means the follicles on your face are programmed to produce a different kind of hair than the follicles on your scalp.

2. Follicle Shape Determines Curl

The texture of a hair strand (whether it's straight, wavy, or curly) is determined by the shape of the hair follicle it grows from.

• Round Follicles produce straight hair.

• Oval Follicles produce wavy or curly hair.

• Flat, Elliptical Follicles produce very curly or coily hair.

It is very common for a man to have rounder follicles on his scalp, resulting in straight hair, but more oval-shaped follicles on his face, which produce a curlier, more unruly beard. These follicle shapes are determined by your genetics.

3. Hair Thickness and Coarseness

Androgenic beard hairs are typically much thicker and coarser in diameter than scalp hairs. This increased thickness contributes significantly to the "wiry" and stiff feeling of a beard compared to the softer, finer texture of head hair.

4. Growth Cycle and Pattern

Beard hair and scalp hair also have different growth cycles. Head hair typically has a much longer growth phase, allowing it to grow to great lengths. Beard hair has a shorter cycle and often grows at different, less uniform angles across the face, which also contributes to its overall texture and appearance.

In summary, you should not expect your beard hair to have the same texture as your head hair. They are two different types of hair, activated by different hormones, growing from differently shaped follicles, and resulting in uniquely different textures.

Are Hair Texture Differences Linked To Color Differences?

When it comes to beards, it’s common for hair texture differences to be linked to color differences. Many men notice that the hairs of one color feel distinctly different from the hairs of another color in the same beard.

This is because the genetic instructions that dictate a hair follicle’s color (the type and amount of melanin pigment) are often related to the instructions that determine its texture (the thickness of the hair strand and the shape of the follicle).

Here’s how this typically breaks down by color:

The Red Hair Connection

This is one of the most common. The red hairs in a beard often feel different from the brown or black hairs.

• Why it’s different: Red hairs, which are rich in pheomelanin, are often thicker in diameter than the brown or blonde hairs. This increased thickness makes them feel coarser, more wiry and often gives them a curlier or more unruly growth pattern. The genetic expression that results in red pigmentation is often packaged with the trait for a thicker hair shaft.

The Gray/White Hair Connection

This is the most direct and noticeable link between a color change and a texture change.

• Why it’s different: When a hair follicle stops producing melanin and the hair turns gray or white, its structure changes. Gray hairs are notorious for being coarser, stiffer and more wiry than the pigmented hairs they replace. This is because the loss of pigment is often accompanied by a change in the hair’s cuticle layer and a decrease in sebum (oil) production from the gland at the base of the follicle, leading to a drier, more stubborn texture.

The Brown and Black Hair Connection

Even dark hairs can vary.

• Why it’s different: The follicles producing darker black hairs (which are dense with eumelanin pigment) can be programmed to create a thicker strand than the follicles producing lighter brown hairs. A man might notice the hairs on his chin are coarser and darker, while the hairs on his cheeks are softer and lighter brown. So there you have it, you’re not crazy if your red patches feel curlier or your gray hairs feel like wires. The connection between color and texture is real and genetic. Each hair follicle has its own set of instructions and these instructions for color and physical structure are often linked, that’s what makes your beard so unique and complex.

Final Thoughts

If you are someone who's beard is a little more red than the rest of your beard, we encourage you to embrace it!

Be proud of the beard you were blessed with and wear it with pride.

I hope you found this article helpful. If you did, leave a comment below!

Thank you for your support, and know that you can hit us up if you ever need anything.