Baby Hair Colour Change: What Age Does Baby Hair Colour Change?

Wondering what colour your new bundle of joy’s hair will be? Join the club. When it comes to baby hair colour change, the possibilities seem virtually endless, although there are a few caveats to consider before weighing in on what colour your baby’s tresses will actually be.

Join us for a peek into the wonderful world of baby hair colour and how it often changes over time.

What Age Does Baby Hair Colour Change?

When does baby hair change colour? That’s a tough one to answer!

Because human hair colour is determined on a variety of factors including hormones, genes and even seasonal and environmental shifts, it is safe to say that baby hair colour change could happen at virtually any age.

Having said that, many may discover that a newborn hair colour change is prominent, especially among European cultures. Sometimes, as hormones shift in both babies and the mother, it can cause the hair that baby was born with to fall out and, surprise, your baby may end up with a hair colour, and texture, that is completely different than what he or she previously had been given.

Why Do Babies Hair Colour Change?

Why Did My Baby’s Hair Change Colour?

There is a lot of science that goes into what colour your baby’s hair will end up being.

Is there a set colour? Yes!

And when is it determined? At conception.

It is at conception that your little one’s hair colour is determined. Both mum and dad will each provide 23 chromosomes which then serve to determine certain attributes your child will have including gender, eye colour and, you guessed it, hair colour.

But that doesn’t mean your baby will be born with the exact hue he or she will end up with.

As previously mentioned, factors such as hormones can play a big role in your baby’s hair colour.

Also, it isn’t unusual to see an increase in the amount of melanin, or eumelanin to be exact, that makes your baby’s hair darker over time. In this case, you’ll see your baby’s hair gradually get darker, even if he or she was born a blonde.

How Long Does It Take For a Baby’s Hair to Change?

So, how long does it take for a baby’s hair to change colour? Well, that depends.

Some see a change in hair colour in as few as a couple months after a baby’s birth, while others might see a gradual change over time, and even into adolescence.

There really is no set and definitive rule regarding hair colour, although there are a few ways that you may be able to predict what your child’s final hair colour will be in advance…

How Can You Tell What Colour Your Baby’s Hair Will Be?

What Colour Hair Will My Baby Have ?

This is where things get tricky. To know what colour your baby’s hair will be may be virtually impossible, but you may be able to rule out a few options by virtue of genetics.

Let’s say that a baby has two parents that are both dark -aired. In general, brown, and especially black, hair is dominant over blonde hair. In this case the chances are high that the baby will also have dark hair.

If a baby has two parents, one with blonde hair and one with brown, the darker hair colour is still the dominant but that doesn’t mean the baby will surely be a brunette. Rather, if the darker haired parent has, say, a parent or grandparent with blonde, or even red, hair, there is a chance that the baby could end up with the same.

This is because it takes at least two recessive, or non-dominant, genes to manifest a recessive trait, such as blonde hair. In this case, the dark-haired parent will also carry a blonde or red-haired trait, which in turn, will pair with the lighter-haired parent’s recessive trait, yielding a blonde result in the child.

Phew!

Do Babies Get Darker or Lighter?

Can a baby’s hair change from dark to light?

With the prior information, you may be wondering can a baby’s hair change from dark to light? The answer is yes. Because baby hair often falls out, the hair that grows in its wake can often be lighter than before. Some parents even claim to notice a gradual change in hair colour, from dark to light over time. Before they knew it, their little brunette had gone full-on blonde! And a blonde newborn could easily end up a lovely brunette. It happens!

Take Proper Care of All That Hair!

Despite the colour of your baby’s hair, it is imperative that you strive to take care of precious baby tresses, and not to stress when it falls out, changes colour or changes texture. This is especially true for newborn hair care.

Be sure to use the right products and to gently brush and massage your baby’s scalp to keep it free from tangles and the much dreaded “cradle cap”. To help with this, check into our all-natural baby brush made from goat’s hair to gently keep your baby’s hair neat and in place and to gently slough away any yellowing or dead skin your baby may have on his or her head.

Need more ideas to take care of baby hair? Check out How Can I Make My Baby’s Hair Grow Faster and Toddler Hair Growth Products to Help Your Baby’s Hair Grow for more information.

To conclude, the ever changing colour and texture of your baby’s hair might be a wild ride. Bear in mind, though, that if you both come from a dark-haired family, the chances of a light-haired baby might be quite rare. If you are interested in learning even more about baby hair colour and the science behind it, check out this article about how to tell what colour your baby’s hair will be.